In an entertaining, high-intensity contest Western Sydney Wanderers defeated nine-man Central Coast Mariners 2-0 in Gosford on Saturday night in the Hyundai A-League.
After last week’s 5-0 loss in the Sydney Derby, the Wanderers showed greater commitment and discipline, winning their first three points under new coach Josep Gombau.
For the hosts, they impressed in the first half with some excellent wing play but after going down to 10 men around the hour mark then nine men shortly after, it was too much for the Mariners who slumped to their second loss in as many weeks.
STORY OF THE GAME
- CCM CHANCE: Hoole with a great chance inside the first two minutes but scrambling defence saves WSW
- FEISTY: The tackles were flying in early on with the game being played at a cracking pace.
- CCM CHANCES: Incisive work on the flanks causing WSW problems as Pain and Asdrubal went close in the first 20 mins.
- SANTA STRIKES FOR WSW! Brendon Santalab with a superb opening goal on 26 minutes.
- SAVE: De Silva crosses to Pain in front but Janjetovic push the scuffed shot wide for WSW
- WSW CHANCE: Jumpei with a super low cross but Santalab just misses the chance to increase the lead
- HALF TIME: 0-1 to the visitors after a high-intensity first 45 minutes in Gosford.
- GOAL! Alvaro Cejudo makes it 2-0 on 50 mins.
- CCM CHANCE: Asdrubal found with a long ball and with an sublime piece of skill got the ball under control then set De Silva away but his curling effort just wide of the post after 59 mins.
- RED CARD: Mariners’ Wout Brama off after a tackle from behind on Roly Bonevacia on 62 mins. CCM down to ten men for the final 30 minutes after the VAR upgraded it from yellow to red.
- ANOTHER RED CARD!! McGing is off for CCM after 78 mins when the VAR ruled his tackle on Baccus was worthy of a red.
- YET ANOTHER RED CARD!! This time one of the Mariners coaching staff was ordered off in the final five minutes for having a bit too much to say.
GOALS
Santalab WSW 0-1, 26′
Bridge with the assist to find Santalab who placed a curling low shot sidefooted from a metre or two in front of the box beating Kennedy to his left.
Cejudo WSW 0-2, 50′
Classic counter attack as Keanu Baccus set WSW away, Bridge and Santalab combined before the Spaniard was found in the box and he guided his team’s second goal of the night low past Kennedy.
