Thursday night preview: Macarthur FC v Central Coast Mariners

Central Coast Mariners travel to Campbelltown Stadium to face Macarthur FC in the first game of Matchweek 23 on Thursday, May 27.

The two sides head into the penultimate Matchweek of the 2020/21 A-league campaign level on 36 points. Earning three points on Thursday night would send either team into third spot on the table, but more importantly open up a five-point gap to seventh-placed Wellington Phoenix.

The Mariners notched a pair of 2-0 wins over Macarthur earlier in the campaign, winning at Thursday night’s venue Campbelltown Stadium in Matchweek 2 before returning to Gosford to clinch an identical victory in Matchweek 11.

Alen Stajcic’s side were unfortunate not to take a share of the points in a 1-0 defeat to Melbourne City in their last hit-out, while the Bulls return home after travelling to face Perth Glory in a 1-1 draw at HBF Park in Matchweek 22. Macarthur are unbeaten in six games heading into Matchweek 23.

A draw would take both teams to 37 points – just three points ahead of Wellington Phoenix who have a superior goal difference over the Mariners and Bulls.

With the Phoenix and Perth – placed seventh and eighth on the table respectively – well and truly in the hunt to steal a spot in the top six by the season’s end, winning this Thursday-night fixture is of absolute importance to both teams heading into the final days of the regular season.

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Match details

Macarthur FC v Central Coast Mariners
Thursday, May 27 2021
Venue: Campbelltown Stadium
Kick-off: 7.05pm AEST
Broadcast: FOX Sports 505
Stream: MyFootball Live App, Kayo Sports
Match Centre

Team news

Macarthur FC squad: 1.Adam FEDERICI (gk), 2.Jake McGING, 3.Antony GOLEC, 4.Benat ETXEBARRIA, 5.Mark MILLIGAN (c), 7.Ivan FRANJIC, 8.Denis GENREAU, 10.Loic PUYO, 11.Tommy OAR, 12.James MEREDITH, 14.Moudi NAJJAR, 15.Aleksandar SUSNJAR, 16.Nick SUMAN (gk), 18.Eddie CASPERS, 19.Michael RUHS 22.Liam ROSE, 27.Matt DERBYSHIRE, 29.Antonis MARTIS, 31.Lachlan ROSE, 33.Markel SUSAETA,

**2-4 to be omitted**

Ins: 2.Jake McGING (promoted), 4.Benat ETXEBARRIA (return from injury),11.Tommy OAR (return from injury), 18.Eddie CASPERS (promoted), 31.Lachlan ROSE (promoted)

Outs: 17.Kyle CIMENTI (not selected), 23.Walter SCOTT (not selected), 24.Charles M’MOMBWA (ankle — 1 week)

Unavailable: 6.Aleksandar JOVANOVIC (injury – calf 1-2 weeks)

Central Coast Mariners squad: 1.Mark BIRIGHITTI (gk), 3. Lewis MILLER, 4.Joshua NISBET, 5.Stefan NIGRO, 6. Gianni STENSNESS, 8.Oliver BOZANIC (c), 10. Daniel DESVILA, 11.Jack CLISBY, 12. Marco UREÑA,14.Daniel BOUMAN, 15.Kye ROWLES, 19.Matt SIMON, 20.Adam PEARCE (gk), 21. Ruon TONGYIK, 23. Dan HALL, 25. Matthew HATCH, 26.Jaden CASELLA, 29. Alou KUOL, 30. Jordan SMYLIE, 32. Max BALARD

**2-4 to be omitted**

Ins: 25. Matthew HATCH (Promoted), 32. Max BALARD (Promoted)

Outs: Nil

Unavailable: Nil