Central Coast Mariners suffered a 2-0 defeat to Adelaide United in their Hyundai A-League Round 7 clash at Central Coast Stadium on Sunday evening.
A first-half brace from Adelaide forward Pablo Sanchez helped the visitors seal their fifth win of the campaign and extend the Mariners’ winless streak to six matches.
The first real opportunity of the encounter came 18 minutes in when Sanchez found himself through on goal, however Mariners defender Joshua Rose was up to the task and did well to clear the ball to safety.
Mitchell Duke had a golden opportunity to open the account for the hosts shortly after as he connected with a superb pass by Michael Neill. Unfortunately for the Mariners, Duke failed to trouble Eugene Galekovic with his shot fired straight at the Adelaide shot stopper.
Central Coast were handed a great chance in the 38th minute when Osama Malik brought down Nick Fitzgerald outside the area. Matt Sim fired his free kick on target but Galekovic tipped his strike over the bar.
Reds attacker Sanchez returned to the action late in the opening half as he netted his first Hyundai A-League goal after nodding Fabio Ferreira’s deflected cross into the back of the net.
Things turned from bad to worse for the Mariners just three minutes later, with Sanchez adding another goal to the scoreboard only following a long run and cross by Tarek Elrich which was poorly defended by the yellow and navy.
Substitute Glen Trifiro had an opportunity to hit the net straight after entering the fray in the 65th minute but the former Sydney United 58 man fired his shot well over the crossbar.
Trifiro came close to finding a goal for the yellow and navy only moments later when he struck an impressive shot on target which forced Galekovic into a low save to his right.
Central Coast were reduced to ten men with 20 minutes remaining after midfielder Nick Montgomery received his second yellow card following a late challenge on Michael Marrone.
Adelaide had a few opportunities to further their lead as the clock wound down with James Jeggo, Awer Mabil and Isaias all trying their luck, but the double from Sanchez proved enough for the Reds to return home with all three points.
Central Coast Mariners 0
Adelaide United 2 (Pablo Sanchez 40’, 43’)
Central Coast Stadium, Gosford
Attendance: 6,404
Referee: Jarred Gillett
Central Coast Mariners FC: 2. Storm ROUX, 3. Josh ROSE, 5. Zac ANDERSON, 7. John HUTCHINSON (C) (18. Glen TRIFIRO 65’), 8. Nick MONTGOMERY, 9. Mitchell DUKE (23. Isaka CERNAK 46’), 10. Anthony CACERES, 11. Nick FITZGERALD, 12. Liam REDDY (Gk), 15. Matthew SIM (17. Richard VERNES 57’), 21. Michael NEILL
Substitutes not used: 1. Matthew NASH (Gk), 25. Eddy BOSNAR
Yellow cards: Roux, Montgomery x2, Rose, Reddy
Red cards: Montgomery
Adelaide United FC: 1. Eugene GALEKOVIC (Gk) (C), 2. Michael MARRONE, 3. Nigel BOOGAARD, 5. Osaka MALIK, 7. Pablo SANCHEZ (4. Dylan MCGOWAN 74’), 8. ISAIAS, 9. Sergio CIRIO, 16. Craig GOODWIN, 18. James JEGGO, 21. Tarek ELRICH (24. Bruce KAMAU 67’), 22. Fabio FERREIRA (17. Awer MABIL 60’)
Substitutes not used: 14. Cameron WATSON, 30. John HALL (Gk)
Yellow cards: Jeggo, Malik, Marrone
Red cards: Nil
