Live update of this afternoon’s Friendly match between the Central Coast and Adelaide United from Hindmarsh Stadium.
Good afternoon and welcome to the ccmariners.com.au live coverage of this afternoon’s friendly between the Mariners and Adelaide United.
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Temperatures here at Hindmarsh Stadium are well into the 30’s, and while the flags high up at each end of the ground are blowing violently toward the south, conditions for the teams will be incredibly difficult, with what little of the breeze there is at pitch level being hot and dry.
So, to the lineups, For the Mariners:
20. Danny VUKOVIC (GK), 2. Matthew CROWELL, 4. Pedj BOJIC, 5. Brad PORTER, 10. Panny NIKAS, 12. Matthew LEWIS, 17. Chris DOIG, 18. Alex WILKINSON (C), 19. Matt SIMON, 21. Mark WARREN, 23. Adam KWASNIK.
Substitutes: 1. Mathew RYAN (GK), 6. Brady SMITH, 9. Trent SAINSBURY, 15, Andrew CLARK, 16. Bernie IBINI ISEI.
Adelaide United: 1. Eugene GALEKOVIC (GK), 2. Robert CORNTHWAITE, 4. Iain FYFE, 5. Daniel MULLEN, 6. CASSIO, 7, Lucas PANTELIS, 9. Sergio VAN DIJK, 14. Scott JAMIESON, 17. Michael MARRONE, 19. Matthew LECKIE, 24. Marcos FLORES.
Substitutes: 20. Mark BIRIGHITTI (GK), 3. Nigel BOOGAARD, 10. Adam HUGHES, 12. Paul REID, 15. Francesco MONTEROSSO, 16. Inseob SHIN, 18. Fabian BARBIERO, 22. Dane MILOVANOVIC, 23. Joe COSTA, 27. Adam GRIFFITHS.
Referee: Regis QUEFFELEC
0′ – And we’re underway
3′ – Both teams seem to be happy to move the ball around in midfield, Marcos Flores fired a long range ball which was easy for Danny Vukovic, while Eugene Galekovic has ventured out of his area to head the ball away and end a dangerous Mariners movement
6′ – Good ball through from Matt Simon to Matthew Lewis, whose shot is blocked for a corner. The resultant corner is marginally too heavy for Alex Wilkinson at the back post
11′ – An Adam Kwasnik cross from the right very nearly finds the head of a lurking Matt Simon. Adelaide have been the beneficiaries of several 50/50 offside calls on the attack so far.
15′ – Good Matthew Lewis ball over the top isn’t dealt with by Robert Cornthwaite, and Panny Nikas has a free shot on goal, but it gets a deflection and trickles narrowly past the back post. Best chance of the match so far
16′ – Pedj Bojic gives away a free kick on the left edge of the box, but Scott Jamieson’s shot is easily cleared
22′ – Cassio forces Danny into a good save in the left channel, but he was offside
23′ – So it remains nil-all at the first drinks break, the Mariners look to have slightly the upper hand, triallist Mark Warren has looked assured at left back.
23′ – GOAL. Adelaide United 1-0. The ball isn’t cleared from a ball in from the right, Lucas Pantelis latches on and puts it back into the mixer, where Marcos Flores heads home unmarked from close range.
27′ – Kwasnik, playing on the right wing, skins Jamieson on the right edge but his shot is blocked by Pantelis for a corner.
30′ – Matt Crowell brings Cassio down in the box and Adelaide appeal for a penalty, maybe the referee is feeling generous, given its only a friendly. 50/50.
31′ – GOAL. Adelaide United 1 Central Coast 1. Panny Nikas and Pedj Bojic link up in the right corner, and a Bojic cross is brilliantly pulled down by Matt Simon, who he turns and shoots past Galekovic.
40′ – Adelaide starting to take charge of the midfield a little, Flores and Leckie are both making dangerous runs
45′ – Warren and Lewis play a neat one-two down the left and Warren delivers a ball into Panny Nikas, who turns, returns the ball to Warren, and his second ball flashes across the face, just out of reach of an outstretched Matt Simon.
HALF TIME – Overall a fair scoreline after 45 very hot minutes. The old adage that there’s no such thing as a friendly is certainly ringing true today, with the Mariners frustrated at several refereeing decisions, while both teams have left nothing on the training pitch in terms of tackling.
Graham Arnold would be telling his charges to settle in midfield, and concentrate on possession in the middle third.
Adelaide have made all ten changes at half time, with Cassio the only one who looks like he’ll play 90 minutes. Their lineup now looks like this:
20. Mark BIRIGHITTI (GK), 3. Nigel BOOGAARD, 6, CASSIO, 10. Adam HUGHES, 12. Paul REID, 15. Francesco MONTEROSSO, 16. Inseob SHIN, 18. Fabian BARBIERO, 22. Dane MILOVANOVIC, 23. Joe COSTA, 27. Adam GRIFFITHS.
The Mariners are unchanged for now.
49′ – So close for Panny Nikas! Brad Porter plays a great ball for Pedj Bojic on the right, who delivers another wonderful ball into the area. Mark Birighitti hesitates and nikas outstretches to poke it out of the ‘keepers grasp but agonisingly wide of the near post
56′ – Mariners substitution. Bernie Ibini-Isei replaces Matthew Lewis. It means there are now two “Boogaard’s” on the pitch now with Bernie wearing Nigel’s old shirt. I wonder if they will swap at full time?
62′ – Matt Crowell plays a lovely ball for Adam Kwasnik, who has switched to the left, and a great first touchgets around his man, who recovers to concede a corner
68′ – Mariners Substitution. Brady Smith comes on for Adam Kwasnik. Panny Nikas switches to the left with Smith in behind Matt Simon
69′ – Great curling delivery from Bojic on the right, Simon’s header from almost behind the byline is easy for Birighitti. The Mariners are holding the ball and keeping their shape lot better now
70′ – Mariners Substitution. Trent Sainsbury comes on for Chris Doig in a like-for-like at left stopper
71′ – Adam Griffiths stumbles over the ball under minimal pressure, Brady Smith dispossesses him and forces Birighitti into a great save low at the left post
79′ – Mariners interchange. Matthew Lewis comes back on for Pedj Bojic, Brady Smith moves to right back with Lewis on the left and Panny Nikas back in behind Simon
84′ – Great run by Bernie but he’s dispossessed on the edge of the area
87′ – Mark Warren does brilliantly to push the ball past his man deep in the Mariners half, puts Panny Nikas through the middle who in turn plays what appears to be a perfectly timed ball for Lewis on the left, but the assistant referee rules Lewis was offside
FULL TIME: Adelaide United 1 Central Coast Mariners 1.
Overall a positive hitout for the first time under Graham Arnold. Plenty of positive signs for a side which hasn’t played competitively for over a month.
Full match report with quotes to follow.
