Central Coast Mariners have overcome a disrupted pre-game travel schedule to beat the Brisbane Roar 2-1 in a controversial A-League Men clash at Redcliffe.
A 69th-minute penalty awarded to – and scored by – Mariners’ Beni N’Kololo had the Roar up in arms in a loss that keeps them back in 10th position on 16 points.
The Mariners moved up to second on 26 points after securing their first win in four matches.
Central Coast’s preparation for the match was turbulent after an electrical storm in Sydney on Thursday wreaked havoc on their travel plans.
Mariners CEO Shaun Mielekamp tweeted that the team’s Thursday flight was cancelled after a six-hour wait at Sydney airport.
The players stayed the night and instead caught an early flight to Brisbane on Friday after team manager Darren Dobson re-organised the logistics with panache.
Mielekamp went so far as to suggest Dobson was a “big candidate for man of the match” before a ball was kicked.
The much-anticipated return to the Roar of former Socceroos winger Robbie Kruse was put on ice because the 34-year-old welcomed the birth of his second child on Thursday evening.
It was the Mariners who took the lead in the 19th minute, when the Roar failed to clear a corner from James McGarry. Marco Tulio’s poaching instincts did the rest.
Tulio turned villain four minutes later when he brought down Carlo Armiento in the box. Jay O’Shea converted from the spot and the match was back on level terms.
The Mariners took the lead midway through the second half when N’Kololo slotted home a penalty, awarded after veteran defender Scott Neville was ruled to have fouled the Central Coast wide-man.
The Roar bench was fuming with the decision, which was confirmed by VAR, with assistant coach Graham Harvey booked for expressing his displeasure.
The home side lifted after the penalty call went against them but were unable to find an equaliser.
