A Daniel De Silva thunderbolt helped Central Coast Mariners overturn a 2-0 deficit to seal a memorable 3-2 win over Melbourne City at Central Coast Stadium on Wednesday night.
Matt Simon scored and assisted in his 200th A-League game before De Silva rattled home the winner from outside the box as the hosts returned to the top of the A-League table in some style.
The Mariners started the stronger of the two sides as they continued to display an improvement in performance in 2020/21 but it was City who proved more adept at converting in the crucial moments.
The visitors opened up a two-goal lead through Adrián Luna and Jamie Maclaren which will be remembered more for the creatively invasive assists provided respectively by Craig Noone and Florin Berenguer.
The Mariners took great displeasure in falling two goals behind after a very positive start to the contest and made immediate plans to reduce the deficit.
Ruon Tongyik ventured forward to hammer a header directly at an alert Tom Glover in City’s goal, before Jaden Casella pegged City back minutes later with a finish from Simon’s assist with five minutes on the clock in the first half.
The 200-game man would ultimately trump his first-half assist with a goal in the second stanza, luring Nathaniel Atkinson into a clumsy challenge to win a penalty for the hosts. Simon ultimately stepped forward to hammer home, sparking pure delight in the stands in Gosford and drawing the Mariners level.
Alou Kuol emerged from the bench for Stajcic’s side and immediately set about causing chaos, showing a lightning burst of speed to get ahead of Kerrin Stokes, drawing the City defender into a clumsy challenge which earned Stokes a second yellow and an early dismissal with half an hour to play.
The Mariners were throwing numerous attacks at City’s ten men in search of a winning goal, and that goal ultimately came off De Silva’s right foot. The Mariners’ number 10 sunk a dagger into City hearts with a brilliantly-struck goal to complete the three-goal turnaround, sealing a 3-2 win for the hosts and sending the resurgent Mariners back to the top of the A-League table.
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Key Moments
Noone cross picks out Luna perfectly to finish
The Mariners had enjoyed an excellent start to the game but were undone with one inquisitive pass by Craig Noone which found Luna in space in the box to finish with ease and put the visitors ahead.
Cutting in around from the right around Jack Clisby, Noone put the ball on his favoured left foot and curled a cross into the danger area.
Amongst a sea of yellow shirts Luna appeared in the right place at the right time to sweep the ball on the volley into the bottom right corner.
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514571001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6228624978001
Maclaren makes it too with brave finish to expert Berenguer through ball
A Gianni Stensness turnover in midfield handed possession to City who burst into attack with the ball at Florin Berenguer’s feet.
The Frenchman delayed as Kye Rowles stepped forward to close, waited until the Mariners defender had committed then played the pass through Rowles’ legs to find Maclaren storming in on goal.
An awkward, crunching challenge with the out-rushing Mark Birighitti meant Maclaren had to earn his goal, lifting a shot into the back of the net and colliding heavily with the Mariners ‘keeper in the process.
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514571001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6228625336001
Stensness makes amends as Simon feeds Casella a tap-in
After conceding possession in midfield before City’s second goal of the evening, Stensness leapt highest to send a thumping header forward and set the Mariners on their way to scoring their first goal of the contest.
Simon collected the ball from the Stensness header and fed Daniel De Silva, who in turn found Michal Janota o nthe tip of the box.
Three touches later the Mariners had the ball in the back of the net. Janota played a quick pass to Casella who fed Simon into the box, leaving the 200-game man an easy pass back to Casella to score into an open net.
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514571001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6228627926001
Simon converts from the spot after Atkinson sends him to the deck
A looping cross from Stefan Nigro was lacking in genuine goal threat before an Atkinson brain fade gifted the Mariners a chance to score from the spot.
That chance was given to Simon who laced the ball into the bottom left corner, spurring a heartwarming celebration shared between Simon on the pitch and his family cheering together in the stands.
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514571001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6228632629001
Kuol too quick for Stokes who earns second yellow for clumsy challenge
In need of a spark Stajcic turned to Kuol on the bench and injected him into the contest to immediate effect.
The 19-year-old tore forward with the ball caught awkwardly between Atkinson and Stokes. With neither City defender showing eagerness to collect Kuol charged desperately onto the ball.
In his desperation to minimise the danger Stokes took Kuol down; a yellow card followed – his second for the evening – and Stokes was dismissed from the contest.
De Silva blasts Mariners ahead with tremendous strike
From 2-0 down to 2-2, the Mariners had half an hour to go and hunt a third and complete an amazing comeback in Gosford.
And, with the home fans offering their raucous support, the Mariners set about doing just that, pulling ahead with a strike of supreme quality from De Silva.
Nicking the ball off Luna De Silva fed the ball to Kuol on the edge of the area. His battle with Curtis Good forced a loose ball which De Silva pounced on, sizing up the goal and fizzing a driven shot into the right side-netting – cue a whole team pile-on in celebration.
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514571001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6228638678001
