An Adam Le Fondre hat-trick helped strengthen Sydney FC’s bid for an A-League Men finals spot in a 5-0 win over Central Coast Mariners.
Le Fondre, who had only scored three times this season coming into Saturday night’s game, rediscovered the touch which had made him one of the competition’s most-prolific finishers during his time in Australia.
The Englishman was joined on the scoresheet by Anthony Caceres and Bobo as the Sky Blues moved up to fourth spot in the table with a crushing victory at Central Coast Stadium.
The win was vital for Steve Corica’s men as they prepare to host fifth-placed Adelaide United on Tuesday before beginning their AFC Champions League campaign later next week.
After a tense opening half an hour Sydney got their opening goal when full-back Rhyan Grant sent a delivery into the box.
Trent Buhagiar was offside but he held his run and strike partner Le Fondre took one touch before surging deep into the Mariners box and slotting past Mark Birighitti.
The 35-year-old had been clearly getting some stick for his seniority and ran towards the Mariners supporters and mimed as if to indicate he was hobbling with a walking stick.
Beni N’Kololo and Jason Cummings fired warning shots but the Mariners came up empty on either side of the break.
It was to their detriment because Sydney soon struck when Grant again made a nice break down the right and Caceres raced between Mariners centre-back Dan Hall and teed the ball past Mark Birighitti into the back of the net.
N’Kololo again tested Sydney goalkeeper Tom Heward-Belle but the Mariners’ inability to convert chances cost them dearly when Buhagiar made a break on the counter in the 57th minute.
Surging down the right Buhagiar delivered from the edge of the box and Le Fondre escaped the attentions of Hall to hit the ball with his first touch and send the travelling Sydney fans into raptures.
Barely two minutes had passed when Sydney cut the Mariners open down the opposite flank and after Buhagiar and Caceres combined Le Fondre completed his hat-trick from the edge of the box – his first treble since 2019.
The veteran forward was given a richly-deserved early mark by Corica with replacement Bobo scoring in added time to wrap up the rout.
