Central Coast Mariners moved within striking distance of the A-League Men top six after thumping Wellington Phoenix 5-0 at Central Coast Stadium.
First-half goals from Marco Urena and Beni N’Kololo combined with second-half strikes from Jason Cummings, Garang Kuol and Matt Hatch moved the hosts to within two points of the top six.
REACTION: ALOU KUOL’S MESSAGE TO TEEN BROTHER AS GARANG SCORES MAIDEN A-LEAGUES GOAL
Unbeaten in their last seven, Nick Montgomery’s side has two games in hand on their rivals in the finals and possess the second-best goal difference in the competition.
The injury-and COVID-ravaged Phoenix, though still above the Mariners on the table with equal games played, have now lost two on the bounce by a combined score of 11-0.
They will look to regroup against Western United in Ballarat on Saturday, the same day the Mariners host fifth-placed Sydney in a game that looms as a six-pointer.
After playing the through ball that induced Louis Fenton to bring down N’Kololo for a penalty, Urena netted from the spot in the eighth minute of play.
It was then 2-0 in the 24th when a short-corner routine between N’Kololo and Josh Nisbet opened up an angle for the former to bend a shot inside the far post.
The Frenchman almost had a brace on the half-hour but his left-footed effort crashed off the frame of the goal, as did a headed effort from Phoenix’s David Ball four minutes later.
Fenton’s evening went from bad to worse when he brought down Lewis Miller to concede another penalty in the 55th, this one dispatched by Scottish-born but Socceroo-eligible Cummings.
Kuol, younger brother of 2021-22 ALM breakout star Alou, secured a memorable maiden ALM goal in the 68th minute with an audacious flick-on from a long Miller pass and then helped launch the attack that saw Hatch complete the rout in the 93rd minute.
RE-LIVE: MARINERS 5-0 PHOENIX
By Matt Comito for KEEPUP
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.
