Central Coast Mariners vs Western United at Central Coast Stadium
Result: Mariners 4 - Western United 2
Concern to Absolute Elation
In what can only be described as a game of two halves, the Mariners fought back to defeat last year’s Premiers four goals to two.
Western United converted the only two chances they had in the first 45 minutes by cracking open the Mariners defence. The Mariners did have an opportunity go begging around the 16th minute through Jason Cummings who had the ball in the United net but it was ruled out for offside.
Substitutions for the second stanza made all the difference. Garang Kuol and Beni N'Kololo used their devastating pace to stretch the opposition while Jason Cummings was having a ball (if you’ll excuse the pun).
The game turned when Kuol was brought down by Western's defender Topor-Stanly. An initial yellow card was rescinded by the referee after a VAR review and Topor-Stanley was issued with a direct red card.
Cummings again had the ball in Western's goal and yet again it was scrubbed out. It was ruled that a second ball that found its way onto the pitch interferred with play.
In the 66th minute the marauding striker got a goal after Kuol made space on the right to drive the ball across goal for Cummings to deflect it in. The nearly 5000 home supporters felt the game turning and became very vocal.
From then on Cummings became provider. Four minutes later he expertly fed N'Kololo who smashed the ball in. Two all with under twenty minutes to go.
The third goal came from an unusual source. Cummings delivered a perfectly weighted ball to Jacob Farrell. Jacob rose above the visitor’s defence to head home a powerful third goal.
Cummings again provided the supply for the fourth goal as he whipped in a cross which Paul Ayongo swept into the top of Western's net to complete the resurgence for the home side with minutes to go.
The Mariners were cheered and applauded as they took the plaudits for a brilliant fight back.