FOOTBALL
The Central Coast Mariners completed a 5 – 0 win over Wellington Phoenix at Central Coast Stadium, Tuesday evening April 6, boosting them to within striking distance of the top five with seven games still in hand.
Five different scorers added to the end result, continuing goal streaks for the team’s main strikers and launching the count for a new entry netter.
Both Marcos Urena and Jason Cummings delivered successful penalty shots to add to their season tally, the former jumping to tied-third top goalscorer in the A-League and the latter making it four goals in three games.
Beni N’Kololo and Matt Hatch each scored from general play with carefully crafted shots requiring accuracy and spatial awareness.
From a 24th minute corner, a one-two play between N’Kololo and Josh Nisbet presented the former with an abundance of space on an acute angle at the edge of the penalty area – his first touch shot curving through the sky to find the inside of the side post.
Hatch’s goal came late in extra time, once more due to the left back’s speed on the counter attack, put away with a dink shot leaving Phoenix keeper, Oliver Sail on his knees.
In the middle of all the well-known Mariner names – and the desecrated Phoenix defense – was A-League debutante Garang Kuol, younger brother of ex-Mariner Alou, scoring on his debut with an immaculate volley.
Lewis Miller launched the ball forward down the middle line of the field, with Kuol darting in-between the centre backs to find the gold at the end of the rainbow.
A slight touch on the dropping ball was all Kuol needed to wrong foot Phoenix keeper, Oliver Sails and trickle the ball over the line.
The prolific victory resulted from maintained attacking pressure with the ball, turned into an ever-rising scoreboard pressure beginning with Urena’s eighth minute goal.
The ill discipline of the Phoenix defence continued to haunt their performance with the Mariners posting a total of ten shots on target for a 50% success rate, whilst suffering no cards nor giving away any fouls.
Meanwhile, it was an unusually quiet evening in goal for Mark Birighitti who was not once disturbed with the requirement for a save.
For Head Coach, Nick Montgomery, the evening’s result was the surplus of a rising form that began at the start of the season.
“We started the season really well, we were aggressive on the front foot, played a lot of attacking football,” Monty said.
“We just had that period after Christmas where we’d been smashed with COVID, the games were cancelled and we struggled to get that rhythm and that same confidence going, but the performances were there.
“We stuck to our principles and remained disciplined, and obviously bringing Jason (Cummings) in as well gave us a little boost.
“We’ve been short on players all season, we’ve had players out injured or sick most weeks, and fortunately we’ve got a lot of good young players at this club that I’ve worked with for a couple of years and I’ve got full belief in them, I’m not afraid to put them in.
“Garang Kuol, who everybody is talking about, he’s just come back from a knee injury, he’s not fit but when you put him on he’s going to take every chance at scoring a goal, so delighted for him getting his first.”
With seven more matches to be had over the next month, Monty continues to prioritise variety and depth in his squad, and five separate goalscorers in one game is a sure sign of progress.
The next challenge the Mariners face will be Sydney FC at Central Coast Stadium, Saturday April 9 – a win in this game will leap-frog them above their blue rivals who currently sit precariously in fifth place on the table.
Haakon Barry