Central Coast Mariners vs Brisbane Roar at Central Coast Stadium
Result: Mariners 2 – Brisbane 1
Mariners hold strong to get much needed win
The players, officials, staff and approximately 3,5000 fans s joined in a special night of football.. Firstly, for one minute of applause prior to the game to show their support to the people of Ukraine. Then in the 23rd minute clapping again broke out to honour the departed Shane Warne.
The starting 11 was very similar to that for the Adelaide game. The one change was the inclusion of Ruon Tongyik with Ben Hall moved to right-back to replace the ill Lewis Miller.
When action started, the Mariners dominated first half possession but without the vital reward. The Mariners had opportunity at the southern end in the 11th minute when Jason Cummings took a shot from outside the box that was saved.
In the 33rd minute the Mariners had another chance when Ben N’Kololo received a ball from Oliver Bozanic from a difficult angle. Brisbane’s goalkeeper made agreat save in the bottom left hand corner.
However, it was Brisbane who came closest in the first half. In the 42nd minute when Ivanovic slipped away from the Mariner’s defender to header the ball into the left-hand post with Birighitti well beaten.
The score was all level at 0-0 at half-time.
Whatever was said in the sheds at half-time seemed to work as cheers and the cannon being fired twice in the first 10 minutes of the second half.
The first Mariner’s goal was scored in the 49th minute. It was the in-form Ben N’Kololo who received an excellent long ball from none other than Jason Cummings. Ben alluded one defender, neatly putting the ball across the goal and in off the right-hand post for the opening goal.
In the 55th minute the Mariners went further ahead from a free kick at the edge of the penalty area. Skipper Bozanic and Nicolai Muller contrived a tactic. It was the German who drove the ball through the wall of defenders with precision, beating the Brisbane keeper.
Brisbane came alive in the final fifteen minutes and it was no surprise when they reduced the deficit. The home fans were on the edge of their seats as the Yellow held out for all three points.
Match Summary - 2021/22 Game 13 (05-Mar-2022)
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