Central Coast Mariners Youth produced a stunning second half comeback to defeat Newcastle Jets Youth 3-2 in Weston on Saturday.
The mini Mariners gave the junior Jets a two-goal start in the game, falling behind to strikes from Radovan Pavicevic and Brandon Lundy in the first 45, before putting their opponents to the sword in the second stanza.
Six minutes after the interval Sam Perre buried a penalty after the lively Trent Buhagiar was tripped in the box.
With just over 20 minutes to play, Hyundai A-League squad Anthony Kalik fired a sweet finish beyond Newcastle Youth custodian John Solari to restore parity to the contest.
Then in time added on at the end of the match, the young yellow and navy made their second half dominance pay dividends as Mason Versi fired an accurate finish past Solari to send the small, yet vocal support the Club had at Rockwell Automation Park home happy.
Central Coast Mariners Youth created a number of opportunities throughout the game in the Coalfields – Tom Slater and Kalik went closest for the Mariners in the first half. Both Slater and Kalik were a menace to the Newcastle backline in the second 45, but Perre, Versi, and substitute Lachlan Wales added to the team’s attacking threat.
Newcastle may have felt they should have been out of reach by the break – former Gold Coast United captain, Mitch Cooper, struck the woodwork for Jets Youth, while Central Coast Youth custodian Adam Pearce produced two strong saves to keep the mini Mariners in the game.
Newcastle Jets Youth 2 (Pavicevic 21’, Lundy 39’)
Central Coast Mariners Youth 3 (Perre 52’ (pen), Kalik 68’, Versi 90+1’)
Rockwell Automation Park, Weston
Central Coast Mariners FC: 1. Adam PEARCE (Gk), 3. Lewis BEUMIE, 4. Brian JAMBA, 5. Nic PETRILLO (7. Jesse CURRAN), 6. Jake MCGING (C), 8. Liam ROSE, 9. Trent BUHAGIAR (15. Mason VERSI), 10. Anthony KALIK, 11. Tom SLATER, 13. Sam PERRE (19. Lachlan WALES), 14. Yianni SPYRAKIS
Substitutes not used: 20. Nicolas SORRAS (Gk)
Yellow cards: McGing, Perre, Jamba
Red cards: Nil
Here’s how we covered the game on Twitter.
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