Western United travelled to New South Wales for the first time to take on the Central Coast Mariners.
United had the majority of the chances in the first half as they looked to bounce back from their 1-0 defeat to Newcastle last week.
The Mariners opened the scoring early in the second half however when Giancarlo Gallifuoco’s shot deflected, giving Filip Kurto little chance.
The Green and Black continued to press but weren’t able to find an equaliser.
STORY OF THE GAME
1′ KICK-OFF
25′ CHANCE – Dario Jertec’s well-hit strike is tipped over a corner.
26′ CHANCE – The resulting corner sees Andrew Durante’s header cleared off the line.
34′ CHANCE – Alessandro Diamanti doesn’t quite get a hold of his shot and it lands in the hands of Mark Birighitti.
39′ CHANCE – Mark Birighitti pulls off a stunning save to keep out a Diamanti free-kick.
43′ CHANCE – Diamanti with another strike from outside the box which goes just wide.
45 ‘ CHANCE – Diamanti’s lob pass finds Panagiotis Kone whose volley sails over the bar.
HALF-TIME
49′ GOAL – Giancarlo Gallifuoco opens the scoring for the Mariners with a deflected shot. 1-0 Central Coast.
52′ CHANCE – Kwabena Appiah-Kubi cuts the ball back for Besart Berisha whose shot goes over the bar.
56′ CHANCE – Samuel Silvera shoots from range but it lands in Filip Kurto’s hands.
58′ CHANCE – Kone finds Besart Berisha whose powerful header is saved by Birighitti.
71′ CHANCE – Jack Clisby almost doubles the lead for the Mariners but Kurto saves.
FULL-TIME
Central Coast Mariners 1 (Gallifuoco 49′)
Western United 0
Central Coast Mariners squad: 1.Mark BIRIGHITTI (gk), 2.Ian Zygmunt GORDON, 3.Jack CLISBY, 4.Eunsun KIM (26.Joshua NISBET 74’), 6.Giancarlo GALLIFUOCO10, 10. Thomas OAR (c), 11.Daniel DESILVA, 15.Kye ROWLES, 17.Samuel SILVERA, 18.Gianni STENSNESS, 27.Lewis MILLER (19.Matthew SIMON 78’)
Substitutes not used: 12.Adam PEARCE (gk), 7.Milan Duric, 8.Michael MCGLINCHEY, 9.Jordan MURRAY, 21.Ruon TONGYIK
Yellow cards: 8.Gianni STENSNESS 57’, 1.Mark BIRIGHITTI 91’
Red cards: None
Western United FC Squad: 1.Filip KURTO (gk), 2.Aaron CALVER, 4.Andrew DURANTE, 6.Connor CHAPMAN, 8.Panagiotis KONE, 11.Connor PAIN, 12.Dario JERTEC (14.Max BURGESS 64’), 18.Besart BERISHA (10.Scott McDONALD 62’), 19.Josh RISDON, 23.Alessandro DIAMANTI (c), 26.Kwbena APPIAH-KUBI (5.Dylan PIERIAS 78’)
Substitutes not used: 30.Ryan SCOTT (GK), 3.Brendan HAMILL, 9.Apostolos STAMATELOPOULOS, 13.Ivan VUJICA
Yellow cards: 19.Josh RISDON 34’, 2.Aaron CALVER 70’, 4.Andrew DURANTE 73’
Red cards: None
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Western United’s next home game is on Sunday, December 1 against Sydney FC at GMHBA Stadium. Kick-off is at 4.00 pm.
CLICK HERE to buy tickets.
CLICK HERE to become a Western United member.
