Al Hassan Toure has stolen the show at Allianz Stadium, scoring a hat-trick to help Sydney FC secure an A-League Men’s win over strugglers Central Coast.
Al Hassan Toure scored a hat-trick as Sydney FC heaped further misery on a winless Central Coast with a 4-1 home thumping.
The one-cap Socceroo completed a first-half brace, before hitting the scoreboard again in the 50th minute.
Gabriel Popovic, son of national team coach Tony, came off the bench in the 83rd and scored two minutes later, before suffering a cut above the eyebrow from friendly fire in the ensuing celebrations.
But a foul in the box from defender Ben Garuccio on Mariners midfielder John-Kymani Gordon denied the hosts a clean sheet, with striker Oli Lavale converting the penalty one minute into added time.
Toure’s efforts at least helped last year’s grand finalists nab their second win of the season and leaves the Sky Blues (2-1-1) second ahead of the weekend’s games.
It was also the first time Sydney have put together back-to-back wins at Allianz Stadium since 2023/24.
Central Coast drop to 11th (0-2-2) and are still hunting their first win under new coach John Hutchinson.
After a flurry of early chances for both sides, the door opened for the hosts when Scottish centre-back Noah McCann handballed from a Garrucio corner in the 27th minute.
Toure converted the penalty easily, drilling the ball straight as Mariners goalkeeper Andrew Redmayne dived to his right.
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It was Central Coast’s poor defence on transition that was ultimately their undoing.
The hosts added to their lead after Sydney shot-stopper Harrison Devenish-Meares managed to punch a Haine Eames corner kick over the pack to unleash a free-running Toure.
Toure offloaded to MLS-bound midfielder Akol Akon, before the 17-year-old nailed a cutback to help his fellow attacker score again in the 42nd minute.
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Another counter-attack – after striker Bailey Brandtman gave away the ball – was what helped Toure complete his hat-trick in the second half, with the Mariners simply happy to watch as Oriola Sunday carved down the midfield for the assist.
Sydney substitute Tiago Quintal found the back of the net in the 75th, but the goal was chalked off for offside.
ALEX TOBIN MEDAL VOTES:
3. Al Hassan Toure
2. Rhyan Grant
1. Diesel Herrington
