Central Coast Mariners have drawn 1-all with the Qantas Young Socceroos in a training match played at Bluetongue Stadium this morning.
Central Coast Mariners have drawn 1-all with the Qantas Young Socceroos in a training match played at Bluetongue Stadium this morning.
In perfect conditions for football, the Mariners took the lead courtesy of a 54th minute penalty won and converted by Michael Baird.
The Yellow and Navy-s lead did not last long, however, with a Dimitrios Petratos stunner leveling proceedings just two minute later.
In a subdued first 45 minutes, Central Coast started the game on the front foot against their young opponents, with Adriano Pellegrino and Brad McDonald proving a handful with their movement through midfield.
The 2011 U20 FIFA World Cup participants – who included Mariners Bernie Ibini-Isei, Trent Sainsbury and Sam Gallagher in their starting XI – found their feet midway through the half, with Ibini-Isei rattling the cross bar with a stinging effort.
Shortly after the interval the game sprung to life with Sainsbury fouling Baird in the box. Baird stepped up take the resulting penalty, blasting his shot into the middle of the goal giving Matt Acton, who went to the left, no chance.
The Qantas Young Socceroos equalised two minutes later after capitalising on a turnover by the Mariners in their own defensive third. Terry Antonis intercepted the errant Mariners pass and then laid off to fellow midfielder Petratos who then hit a stinging right foot shot from 30 metres out into the far corner of the goal.
Neither side was able to break the deadlock in the last half-hour, despite a number of near misses from both outfits.
After the game Mariners number 10 Adriano Pellegrino said he felt it was good for his team to get another 90 minutes under their belt following their 1-nil international friendly win over Glasgow Celtic at ANZ Stadium last Saturday.
“It was good. We had a big game on the weekend against Celtic so it was a good run-out [and] a good draw against the boys who are off to the World Cup soon.”
Qantas Young Socceroos Head Coach Jan Versleijen said his team welcomed the hit out against stiff, professional opposition.
“Today we played a game against good opposition because that is what we need before we off to a World Cup,” Versleijen said.
“This is the first game we have had together since returning from our tour of Holland about 6 weeks ago where we had an international tournament playing against South American, North American and European top teams and this is a good lead-up before we head to Denver for altitude training.”
Versleijen will name his final Qantas Young Socceroos squad early next week before departing for a pre-tournament camp in Denver on Saturday 16th July where his team will play two friendly matches against the Korea Republic and England prior to arriving in Colombia to finalise preparations for the FIFA U-20 World Cup.
Match Details
Central Coast Mariners 1
Qantas Young Socceroos 1
Bluetongue Stadium, Gosford
Referee: Kris Griffiths Jones
Assistant Referees: Scott Edeling & Ryan Gallagher
Central Coast Mariners: 20.Justin PASFIELD (GK), 2.Daniel McBREEN, 3.Josh ROSE, 4.Pedj BOJIC, 5.Brad PORTER (7.Brent GRIFFITHS 46-), 6.Patrick ZWAANSWIJK (c), 8.Rostyn GRIFFITHS, 10.Adriano PELLEGRINO, 14.Michael McGLINCHEY (9.Brendan GRIFFIN 85-), 15.Brad McCDONALD (12.Brady SMITH 79-), 17.Michael BAIRD.
Yellow Cards: Nil
Red Cards: Nil
Qantas Young Socceroos: 1.Mark BIRIGHITTI (gk) (18.Matthew ACTON (gk) 46-), 2.Trent SAINSBURY (15.Petar FRANJIC 75-), 4.Dylan McGOWAN (3.Brendan HAMILL 62-), 5.Sam GALLAGHER, 8.Jake BARKER-DAISH (14.Daniel BOWLES 79-), 11.Dimitrios PETRATOS, 13.Terry ANTONIS, 17.Bernie IBINI-ISEI, 20.Kofi DANNING, 21.Rhyan GRANT, 22.Matthew FLETCHER (9.Corey GAMEIRO 46-)
Substitutes Not Used: 19.Jason GERIA
Yellow Cards: Nil
Red Cards: Nil
