KEEPUP followed along LIVE to bring you all the goals, highlights, up to date scores and biggest talking points from the Isuzu UTE A-League on Tuesday night.
- Central Coast Mariners 5-0 Wellington Phoenix
MATCH REPORT: MARINERS EYE TOP SIX AFTER PHOENIX ROUT
REACTION
‘Garangski has landed’: Alou’s message to teen brother as Kuol scores maiden league goal
Just last season, it was Alou Kuol putting his family name on the scoresheet on a regular basis in the Isuzu UTE A-League.
Following his off-season move to German side VfB Stuttgart, the duties fell to brother Garang to continue the tradition.
The 17-year-old bagged his maiden A-League strike on Tuesday night in the Mariners’ 5-0 rout of Wellington.
“They will be dancing in the lounge room in Shepparton, they will be celebrating in Stuttgart,” exclaimed Paramount+ commentator Teo Pellizzeri as Central Coast Stadium erupted for Kuol’s first goal.
“Alou’s younger brother has found the back of the net, how good is this?”
Watching from overseas, brother Alou liked what he saw.
‘This is just the beginning’: Kuol eager for more after scoring on league debut
Garang Kuol is showing a tendency to make his mark in quick time after scoring on his Isuzu UTE A-League bow. The 17-year-old put goal number four of the evening on the board for Central Coast on Tuesday night, just six minutes after coming off the Mariners bench.
It follows on from his Australia Cup debut in December, in which he scored with just seven minutes on the clock in a 6-0 win over APIA Leichhardt.
Kuol has shown his eagerness to make his mark in rapid time when putting on a Mariners shirt and running out as part of the club’s senior side.
Speaking after his team’s 5-0 rout of Wellington, Kuol shared his excitement for the future whilst thanking Mariners boss Nick Montgomery for the chance to show his wares.
“It’s a very, very proud moment to make my A-league debut,” Kuol told Paramount+
“This is just the beginning, and I thank Monty and (Mariners assistant Sergio Raimundo) for giving me the opportunity.”
As for the debut goal: “(My thought was) just to get good connection behind the ball, because I knew the keeper was coming out, so just get connection on the ball toward the goal, that’s it,” he said.
“You saw us last week versing Western United when we dominated (in a 2-2 draw), it shows the confidence we have, and hopefully we can keep going.”
The 27-goal swing set to cost Phoenix dearly in the run to the finals
When Wellington Phoenix lose, they tend to lose heavily. It’s been the story of the season for Ufuk Talay’s side, who now have the worst goal difference of any team in the Isuzu UTE A-League despite sitting just one spot outside the top six.
And when it comes time to finalise spots in the finals standings, goal difference could be exactly that – the difference – between a post-season push and an early finish for the ‘Nix.
Wellington lost 5-0 to Central Coast on Tuesday night. It was the fifth time this season Wellington have lost by four goals or more, whilst failing to hit the scoresheet themselves.
A 6-0 thumping at the hands of Melbourne City last time out makes it 11 goals conceded in two games for the ‘Nix, and a combined total of 15 goals against and zero for in their last three defeats.
In their eight losses through the season, Wellington have conceded 29 goals and scored just two, to sit seventh with a goal difference of -14 – that’s four worse than Perth Glory’s -10 at the foot of the table.
Wellington defender Tim Payne says it will take a collective effort to stop the all-too common occurrence of succumbing to hefty defeats.
“There’s probably been too many of those, at the moment we’re really disappointed in the result,” Payne told Paramount+ after his side’s 5-0 loss to Central Coast. “We’ve got a lot of games to come still, so we’ve just got to focus on next week, regroup and try and get three points next game.
“It’s disappointing. Obviously we need to be better individually and collectively as a unit.”
‘It’s the reason i’m here’: Ureña’s Mariners purpose more than his goals alone
Marco Ureña is on a tear of form.
In his last four Mariners outings, the Costa Rican has bagged four goals and two assists – but his importance at the Mariners goes far beyond his individual output; it’s nurturing the young talent in the squad which has given him the most joy during his time in Gosford.
“Actually, it’s the reason I’m here: being around the kids,” Ureña told Paramount+ post-match.
“I have kids also, twins, so I know how to carry (them), how to look after them.
“I think I do a good job with them, and they really like me, and I love them.
“It’s a good relationship between me and them, and hopefully I can help them in their careers.
“I’m pretty sure many of them are going to have special careers.”
FULL-TIME: MARINERS 5-0 PHOENIX
Teenage Mariners forward Garang Kuol netted his first Isuzu UTE A-League goal as the Mariners ran riot against the ‘Nix on Tuesday night.
90+3′: GOAL! Hatch makes it five (5-0)
Matt Hatch puts the finishing touch on a scorching Mariners display.
Kuol’s ball to Moresche split the Phoenix defence apart, with Hatch arriving at the back post to finish after Sail’s initial save.
68′: GOAL! Kuol delivers (4-0)
Mariners fans have missed the sight: the Kuol name on the scoresheet.
But no, it’s not Alou, it’s 17-year-old Garang Kuol netting his debut Isuzu UTE A-League strike!
“That is absolutely outstanding,” said Paramount+ co-commentator Phil Moss. “Kuol has made a wonderful run, but that is an even better finish.
“That is brave, that is awareness, that is technique, that is brilliance.
“What a way to score your first goal.”
55′: PENALTY! Fenton fouls again as Cummings delivers (3-0)
A moment of redemption from Jason Cummings, who scores from the spot after having his last penalty saved against Western United.
The shouts for his Socceroos call-up grow louder as Cummings gets his sixth goal of the season.
46′: Phoenix come out from the sheds chasing the game (2-0)
The visitors have it all to do in the second half after Ureña and N’Kololo put their names on the scoresheet in the first 45.
HALF-TIME: MARINERS 2-0 WELLINGTON
34′: SUBSTITUTION (2-0)
A calf injury to Noah Smith has resulted in an early substitution for the hosts:
- OFF: Noah Smith
- ON: Matt Hatch
24′: GOAL! N’Kololo bags a goal from distance (2-0)
He made it look so easy – but N’Kololo’s curling finish from a narrow angle outside the box was anything but.
The Mariners’ second goal of the night came from a corner routine, with N’Kololo playing the ball short to Josh Nisbet. Receiving the ball back from Nisbet on the corner of the 18-yard-box, N’Kololo let rip toward the far corner; his curling effort evaded the head of Ben Waine to beat Sail and find the back of the net.
16′: CHANCE! Cummings off the post (1-0)
That was close from the Mariners. A well-worked move down the left wing ended at the feet of Cummings in the box, whose deflected effort wrong-footed Sail, but shaved the goal post on its way out for a corner.
7′: PENALTY! Ureña from the spot (1-0)
Marco Ureña has given the hosts an early lead from the penalty spot, burying his penalty low to Oliver Sail’s right after Louis Fenton’s foul on Béni N’Kololo in the box.
1′: KICK-OFF: (0-0)
We’re underway at Central Coast Stadium in the clash between seventh and eighth.
TEAM NEWS
Jason Cummings and Marco Ureña continue to lead the line for the Mariners. It’s a partnership getting stronger with each passing game as the two-pronged Central Coast strike force continues to reap rewards.
Tim Payne and Callan Elliot come into the Wellington starting lineup this evening, with Jaushua Sotirio returning to the bench after an injury layoff.
