A Jason Cummings brace has ensured his Central Coast teammate Garang Kuol enjoyed a winning farewell, with the Mariners rising to second with a 2-1 home win over Melbourne Victory.
Kuol, the 18-year-old Socceroo who is heading to English Premier league club Newcastle, received a standing ovation from the crowd of 10,372 at Industree Group Stadium after playing 77 minutes in just his third Isuzu UTE A-League start.
Kuol was involved in Cummings’ first goal and made some trademark surging runs in an entertaining New Year’s Eve clash in Gosford, as the Mariners logged a third straight home win.
“The team wants to get to the new year on a high, I was happy with the three points,” Kuol told Network Ten.
Victory almost scored after 36 seconds but Storm Roux did well to block a goal-bound shot from Nani.
Cummings made it four goals from as many games since returning from World Cup duties.
He scored either side of a sweet 39th minute strike from Spaniard Cadete and although 10-placed Victory had several other chances through the game, the Mariners looked more likely to score in the final quarter.
“I thought everyone was a different class today, a solid performance and yet brilliant.” Cummings said.
Mariners coach Nick Montgomery revealed Cummings was one of a number of his players who were not in the best shape after they played in 37C heat in Melbourne last Monday.
“We played In tough conditions a few days ago, a few boys suffering from heat stroke and I didn’t think they would play tonight and one of them was Jason,” Montgomery said.
“He pops up with two goals today, so that’s the character of him, or the character of the team.”
Kuol’s sweeping pass found Roux on the right and the defender’s perfect cross was headed in at the far post by Cummings in the 11th minute.
Cummings, the Scotland-born Socceroo, thought he had a double in the 18th minute, when he slotted the ball home after it ricocheted around the area following a Mariners corner.
VAR determined it was offside, a decision that clearly upset the Mariners but was welcomed by Victory, who felt a goal kick should have been awarded rather than a corner.
Victory enjoyed a good spell with Jake Brimmer having a shot pushed away by Mariners goalkeeper Danny Vukovic who stopped another effort from impressive starting debutant William Wilson.
Cadete scored a delightful equaliser In the 39th minute, when Roux backed off and the Spaniard ran towards the edge of the penalty area where he curled a glorious left-foot shot into the net.
After ending a scoring drought stretching to April 2019, Cadente almost got his second off the night, just after halftime, but volleyed a Nani cross over from close range.
Cummings scored the winner in the 53rd minute with a close-range header after Brian Kaltak nodded a far post corner into his path.