Sydney FC 1–2 Central Coast Mariners (17/01/24)
By Ben Carey
Above: Jada Whyman dives to try to save Wurigumula’s strike on goals. Photo: Sydney FC.
A rainy Wednesday night at Leichhardt Oval was the stage for the most dramatic and chaotic match of the season so far. The Central Coast Mariners pulled off an incredible win deep into stoppage time against the home side, Sydney FC. It was their first win against the Sky Blues since October 2009.
The first 20 or so minutes were a bit cagey, both sides testing each other out, but it’s fair to say that the Mariners had the better of the chances during the early phase of the match. Around the half hour mark, Sydney started creating a few more chances through the likes of Mackenzie Hawkesby and Kirsty Fenton, however Mariners keeper and A-League legend, Casey Dumont, was equal to each attempt on her goals.
The momentum soon swung back towards the Mariners though, and with a sprinkle of luck they scored their first goal of the campaign against Sydney. In the 34th minute, after a throw in, the Mariners lobbed a ball into Sydney’s box and the defenders were unable to clear it. American international, Jazmin Wardlow,attempted a low and quick cross inside the six-yard box. The ball was not going in, but unfortunately, it ricocheted off Charlotte Mclean’s foot and past Jada Whyman into the goals.
Sydney kept their heads held high and started to create more and more goal scoring opportunities, but Dumont and the Mariners defence were solid, and shut down every attempt. The first half finished off with the Central Coast in the lead, but only by a hair.
A few big changes were made at half time. Sydney brought on Matildas star and Unite Round match winner, Cortnee Vine, to increase their attacking threat. Meanwhile, the Mariners took off Dumont, who was in a lot of discomfort at the end of the first half. In her place they brought on experienced goalkeeper, Sarah Langman.
Initially, the second half felt much the same as the first, with the Mariners dominating possession and picking apart Sydney’s defence with quick passing and dynamic movement. However,Sydney FC slowly wrestled back control of the match, thanks in part to Vine’s pace and creativity. On the stroke of the hour, Vine picked out Hawkesby with an incredible pass through about three defenders, but Hawkesby just couldn’t finish it.
In the final 20 minutes of the match about five matches worth of chaos unfolded. Just before the 80-minute mark, Langman cameout of the 18-yard box to shut down an attack by Abbey Lemon but made a late challenge and brough the attacker down. Langman, who had allegedly just received a yellow card for time wasting, received another yellow and got sent off the pitch. This was a huge problem for the Mariners because she was already their backup keeper. Central Coast now had to survive the last 10 minutes plus stoppage with an outfield player in the goals. Defender, Ashley Irwin, stepped up and took on the responsibility.
The free kick resulting from Langman’s foul was floated in to test Irwin (the makeshift keeper) and it was an awkward ball. After a scrap in the box, Tori Tumeth was able to slot the ball in behind the keeper. However, much to the dismay of Sydney fans, the goal was quickly disallowed for a foul on Irwin.
A dramatic eight-minute stoppage time began after regular time expired. Just two minutes in, Hawkesby took an amazing free kick from about 40 yards out. It was a high, driven shot that caused the outfield keeper all sorts of trouble. Understandably, she could not hold onto it and spilled it into the goals. Hawkesby to Sydney’s rescue.
What looked certain to now be a dramatic draw took yet another couple of crazy turns right at the end of stoppage time. In the seventh minute of stoppage, after a Mariners corner, a handball was called against Tumeth after a scramble in the box. Chinese international, Wurigumula, stepped up to take it. She struck it well into the bottom left corner of the goals, but Whyman anticipated it and saved it. But the ball had so much force behind it that she couldn’t hold onto it, and Wurigumula put away the follow up, and moments later the full-time whistle blew.
The whole thing was eerily reminiscent of Sydney FC’s dramatic 2022 semifinal clash with Melbourne City where Sydney staged a dramatic comeback in extra time against Melbourne City who lost their keeper, Melissa Barbieri, to a red card. This feels like the league play version of that.
Sydney will be bitterly disappointed with the result, but there are still many positives to take from the match. Whyman was exceptional in goals. Fenton put in a hell of a shift in the backline. And Hawkesby returned to top form late in the match, after a rusty couple of weeks back in the A-League. What was missing was firepower in the front line. Vine and Lemon did well, but it was too little too late.
The Mariners on the other hand put in a great team performance across the board (including some help from the 12th player Lady Luck). Wardlow was particularly solid in the backline. Irwin out in a good 70 minutes in the backline beside Wardlow, beforesurviving a short but eventful 20 minutes in goals. And Wurigumula was not only in fine form all night, but she scoredthe goal that gave the Mariners three valuable points against one of the best teams to ever play the competition.
Sydney FC will next face Newcastle Jets on Sunday. Central Coast Mariners will play Western Sydney Wanderers later on that day.
Teams: SYDNEY FC (4-3-3): Whyman, Fenton, Thompson, Mclean, Tumeth, Hawkesby, Ray, Kruger, Ibini, J. Dos Santos, Keane. Substitutes: Black, Chauvet, I. Dos Santos, Lemon, Vine.
Scorers: Hawkesby 90+2’.
CENTRAL COAST MARINERS (5–3–2): Dumont, Martin, Karambasis, Irwin, Wardlow, Badawiya, Quilligan, Hayward, Galic, Wurigumula, Evans. Substitutes: Langman, Bryson, Gomez, Karrys-Stahl, Trimis.
Scorers: Mclean (OG) 34’, Wurigumula 90+9’.
Referee: Bec Mackie
Attendance: TBC.
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