Sydney win a setback for Mariners in race for top spot

[Pelican Press 0]

Sydney win a setback for Mariners in race for top spot

Sydney FC have put a major dent in the Central Coast Mariners’ hopes of lifting the premiers’ plate by claiming a late 2-0 win in the A-League Men.

A maiden Sydney goal for Socceroos left-back Joel King and a well-taken strike from experienced midfielder Anthony Caceres secured victory for Ufuk Talay’s men at Allianz Stadium on Saturday night.

The result ensures Sydney remain entrenched in the top six, and the win means they are now breathing down the necks of Macarthur and Melbourne Victory for the right to host a home elimination final.

The loss is a bitter ***** for Mark Jackson’s Mariners side, who are now three points adrift of league leaders Wellington with just four full rounds of the season left to play.

The Mariners struggled to find an attacking spark, and it wasn’t until Alou Kuol came on in the second half that they looked remotely like troubling Sydney.

The Sky Blues weren’t streets ahead of them, but the home side at least offered something with the ball in the first half, as winger Joe Lolley tormented the Mariners defence with some early runs.

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Lolley escaped with a booking after he jumped into a challenge with Storm Roux and caught the Mariners fullback with his elbow, splitting his brow open midway through the first half.

On the opposing flank for Sydney, Robert Mak was making things happen, and were it not for the quick thinking of Brian Kaltak, the Slovakian winger could have put his side in the lead.

Talay brought on striker Fabio Gomes after the halftime break and the Brazilian target man immediately injected some impetus into their *******.

The closest the Mariners went was through Kuol, who had a shot parried away by Andrew Redmayne soon after being sent on.

Sydney kept probing and eventually got their breakthrough when Caceres turned in a cross from Lolley in the 74th minute.

King followed him on to the scoresheet three minutes later, but the fullback had to work for his first senior goal.

Twice in quick succession Kaltak blocked Sydney goal-bound shots any way he could, before King was able to poke the ball past Danny Vukovic to seal victory for the Sky Blues.

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Sport,Soccer
#Sydney #win #setback #Mariners #race #top #spot

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