Sydney FC and the Central Coast Mariners have played out a 0-0 in their final hit-out ahead of the start of the Hyundai A-League 2017/18 Season.
Both sides created opportunities in the behind-closed-doors clash on Thursday, but neither could find the net in an entertaining 90 minutes.
Daniel De Silva, Connor Pain and new skipper Alan Baro had the best opportunities, while Milos Ninkovic and Bobo went closest for the Sky Blues.
But it ended goalless as both sides turn their attention to their season openers, with Sydney FC travelling to Melbourne Victory while the Mariners host the Newcastle Jets in an F3 Derby.
WHAT THEY SAID
Sydney FC boss Graham Arnold: “It was an excellent final hit out for the boys ahead of next week’s opener.
“We probably should have had three or four goals with the amount of chances we created and on another night we would have.
“But it wasn’t about that this evening, it was about ensuring we are right to go next week and we are.
“The players I needed to get through 90 minutes did so and we are now looking in excellent condition for the opening round.”
Central Coast Mariners coach Paul Okon: “In the first half we were excellent.
“I think we could have gone into the break a goal or two up but overall we were defensively solid. I never thought that at any stage we were going to concede.
“We end pre-season on a positive note with another clean sheet and we know that’s an area from last season we needed to improve on. No injuries, minutes into the legs and now we move onto round one.”
TEAMS
Sydney FC: 1. Andrew REDMAYNE (GK), 4. Andrew WILKINSON, 5. Jordy BUIJS, 6. Joshua BRILLANTE, 7. Michael ZULLO (22. Seb RYALL), 8. Paulo RETRE, 9. BOBÔ, 10. Miloš NINKOVIĆ, 11. Adrian Mierzejewski, 13. Brandon O’NEILL, 17. David CARNEY (16. Anthony KALIK, 73’).
Subs Not Used: 30. Tom HEWARD-BELLE (GK), 2. Aaron CALVER, , 19. Chris ZUVELA, 25. Christian GONZALEZ.
Central Coast Mariners: 18. Tom GLOVER (GK), 3. Joshua ROSE, 4. Jake MCGING (19. Harry ASCROFT, 75’), 5. Antony GOLEC, 6. Tom HIAERIEJ, 9. ASDRÚBAL (17. Josh BINGHAM, 75’), 10. Daniel DE SILVA (7. Andrew HOOLE, 75’), 11. Connor PAIN (21. Lachie WALES, 85’), 13. Kwabena APPIAH (12. Trent BUHAGIAR, 75’), 15. Alan BARÓ, 23. Wout BRAMA (16. Liam ROSE, 45’).
Subs Not Used: 1. Ben KENNEDY (GK), 8. Blake POWELL, 14. Adam BERRY.
