Macarthur FC were brought crashing down to earth as Daniel De Silva and Jordan Smylie consigned the A-League newcomers to a 2-0 defeat to Central Coast Mariners in Sunday afternoon’s historic clash.
Mariners’ forward De Silva struck a crucial blow after cleverly poking Josh Nisbet’s cut-back past Adam Federici on 36 minutes and although Ante Milicic’s side dominated the possession count and the chances, Smylie made the points safe for the Gosford club by side-footing home on the break late on.
It is back-to-back victories for Central Coast following their Round 1 F3 Derby triumph over Newcastle Jets, and the first time the club has won two away games in a row since their only A-League Grand Final victory in 2012/13.
Macarthur, meanwhile, must regroup after suffering their first competition defeat following their opening round win over Western Sydney Wanderers.
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Welcome to your new home, @mfcbulls ?#MACvCCM #RunWithTheHerd #MFCBulls #ALeague pic.twitter.com/NzPqXBOJhW
— A-League (@ALeague) January 3, 2021
Key moments
The sound of clanging cowbells greeted Ante Milicic’s side as Macarthur ran out at Campbelltown Stadium for the first time.
But despite the ecstatic crowd in Sydney’s south-west and the Bull’s dominance in first half possession, the Macarthur fans fell silent when De Silva applied a tidy finish from Nisbet’s cross from the byline.
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514571001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6219787505001
The Bulls’ signalled their intent in the second when Loic Puyo’s effort flew narrowly above the crossbar, while Mariners ‘keeper had to be wary of Matt Derbyshire’s header, and this chance for Denis Genreau.
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514571001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6219792629001
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The Mariners gloveman was at his best to keep out Ivan Franjic’s deflected strike on 75 minutes.
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514571001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6219792651001
But although Macarthur kept pressing for an equaliser, the Mariners hit the new boys with a sucker punch when Smylie converted Daniel Bouman’s cutback for 2-0.
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514571001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6219792668001
