From triallist to Isuzu UTE A-League goalscorer; Sabit Ngor capped an incredible two months with his first A-Leagues goal as two-reigning champions Central Coast Mariners held Adelaide United to a 1-1 draw on Saturday evening.
Ngor came off the bench and equalised in the 62nd minute – cancelling out Luka Jovanovic’s first-half opener at Coopers Stadium in Adelaide.
The Mariners needed a spark in the second half after being outplayed by Adelaide in the Reds’ season opener following their round-one bye and they got it thanks to Mark Jackson’s half-time tweak and the introduction of Ngor.
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Two months ago, the 23-year-old – with “huge potential” – was playing for Heidelberg United in NPLM VIC, where he helped the Victorian giants upstaged the Mariners in the 2024 Australia Cup Round of 32, having previously made his professional bow via Western United in 2021. That performance initiated a trial in Gosford.
Fast forward to Saturday and Ngor’s goal within 17 minutes of his introduction spoiled Adelaide’s first game of the season while maintaining Central Coast’s unbeaten start after two draws to begin 2024-25.
“I think we have to be happy with the point because we didn’t perform today,” Central Coast boss Mark Jackson told Paramount+. “There’s various reasons for that.
“We changed it at half-time and moved our shape. We were a lot better in the second half and got us back in the game. I don’t think we deserved three points.”
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A dramatic late goal-mouth scramble denied Adelaide, who were left to rue their missed opportunities as the Mariners and Reds played out their first draw since 2018.
“You always want to win your home games,” Reds head coach Carl Veart told Paramount+. “On the balance of the game, in the first half we needed to make more of our control in the first half. We didn’t do that. In the second half we were little but too passive.
“Just the extra match conditioning Central Coast have got them back into the game.”
After the match, Paramount+ co-commentator Andy Harper said: “Given what Adelaide had established for themselves, you have to question the mentality of the players not to grasp that opportunity. The Mariners were there for the taking.
“You see it a lot in football. A much better second half (from the Mariners) care of the foundation laid by the tactical changes from the coach. “
In their season opener at the re-developed Coopers Stadium after a $53.6million off-season upgrade, the Reds had three academy graduates in the line-up and six South Australians in total, while a further three graduates were on the bench – including Ryan White who made his A-Leagues bow.
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As for the Mariners, their starting XI featured three academy graduates and another four among the substitutes.
The Reds were on the front foot from the outset against a Mariners team who lost 3-2 to Kevin Muscat’s Shanghai Port in the AFC Champions League Elite on Wednesday.
Adelaide deservedly broke the deadlock in the 10th minute via Jovanovic – now wearing the club’s number nine shirt. It was not the prettiest but it counted after the 19-year-old’s initial attempt was blocked by Brian Kaltak but the rebound found its way back to the Reds forward to managed to trickle the ball over the line.
It continued to be one-way traffic, with Mark Jackson’s Mariners rarely threatening in the attacking third. The team’s first real chance fell to Alou Kuol in the 25th minute but his header was straight at goalkeeper James Delianov.
Adelaide nearly doubled their advantage two minutes prior to the interval when Stefan Mauk almost looped a header over Dylan Peraic-Cullen, moments after he came close to bending a shot inside the post. Fortunately for the Mariners, the ball landed on the roof of the net.
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The Mariners emerged a different team in the second half, with a tweak in their formation bringing the visitors back into the contest following a “lifeless” opening 45 minutes, according to Paramount+ commentator Ben Homer.
Central Coast were almost exposed approaching the hour-mark after a turnover but Adelaide were unable to capitalise as Peraic-Cullen denied new signing Dylan Pierias.
The Mariners did put the ball into the back of the net in the 61st minute after Ryan Edmondson volleyed home, however, the Englishman was ruled offside.
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But Central Coast were not to be denied a minute later as substitute Ngor bundled the ball over the line after Peraic-Cullen smothered Vitor Feijao’s rebound but it only got as far as the former NPLM VIC star.
The Reds limped to the finish line after an injury to Panagiotis Kikianis left 37-year-old Isaias and 38-year-old Javi Lopez as the centre-back pairing, while Archie Goodwin came on for his Adelaide debut – replacing Mauk, who hobbled off with what appeared to be cramp.
In the words of Paramount+ co-commentator Andy Harper, there was “Championship scrambling” inside the final 15 minutes as Peraic-Cullen showed why he is so highly rated to help keep the Mariners on level pegging.
First, Peraic-Cullen kept out Pierias’ effort before Mikael Doka arrived just in the nick of time to thwart Ben Folami with a goal at the substitute’s mercy.
