Western Sydney Wanderers recorded their first win of the season after overcoming Central Coast Mariners 3-2 in a thrilling Isuzu UTE A-League clash.
A-Leagues great Kosta Barbarouses scored a first-half brace as Western Sydney ended their winless start to 2025-26 at CommBank Stadium on Saturday evening.
All five goals were scored in the opening 45 minutes – the highest-scoring fixture between Western Sydney and Central Coast since the Wanderers’ 4-1 rout in January 2016.
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Wanderers star Bozhidar Kraev set the tone with his powerful volley in the first minute before Barbarouses rattled the post.
Western Sydney and Central Coast then traded quick-fire goals inside 11 minutes. Lucas Mauragis’ deflected shot restored parity for the Mariners against the run of play in the minute, though Barbarouses restored the Wanderers’ lead with a remarkable finish.
“Flashes of Zlatan Ibrahimovic,” said Network 10 commentator Erik Paartalu.
Barbarouses netted his second of the match in the 23rd minute following a VAR review for a handball. The New Zealand international stepped up to convert the penalty.
The Mariners had a spot-kick themselves six minutes prior to half-time and Alfie McCalmont made no mistake.
No goals were scored in the second period, though Lawrence Thomas produce a stunning stoppage-time save to thwart the Mariners.
