BEN KOOP RESCUES POINT FOR MANLY UNITED
An exhilarating ‘Battle of the Beaches’ couldn’t be secured as a ‘victory’ for either Central Coast Mariners or Manly United FC, as the match ended in a 2-2 draw in what was an enthralling encounter at Pluim Park on Saturday.
A Luka Smyth brace from the spot looked to have given the hosts their second victory of the season, before an 86th minute equaliser from Manly’s Benjamin Koop set up a grandstand finish in round six of the National Premier Leagues Men’s competition.
So often the architect of the defender’s demise, Mariner Donatien Niyonkuru isolated himself with the Manly defender before drawing a foul inside the box.
Luka Smyth was ice cold as he converted for his fifth goal of the season and the fixture’s opener in the 30th minute.
The home side almost went bang, bang in a matter of minutes as Taye Hedley fired from close range straight into the chest of goalkeeper Levi Kaye.
Manly seemed to be their own worst enemy as they failed to convert any quality chances, while Central Coast teased their opponents, living dangerously around goal.
The visitors were rewarded for their resilience in the 39th minute, as a quick play-on from a foul had Mariners scattered, before a ball across the face found Miguel Bauza to equalise.
Central Coast had a few good chances late in the first stanza as Manly went down a man due to injury, though couldn’t put a name on the final pass.
Either side couldn’t establish a lead, leaving the scores deadlocked at one-a-piece entering half time.
Manly looked the more likely to strike first out of the half, with Bilal Belkadi’s two chances not connecting, before a Benjamin Koop was outpaced to the ball by Mariner Andre Parkes.
However, it was the hosts to hit the front in the 65th minute, with newly elected captain Lucas Scicluna drawing a foul inside the square, with Smyth again making no mistake from the spot despite a deflection from Kaye.
Niyonkuru zigged and zagged on his way to goal. It was again only Kaye’s chest in the way of the Central Coast taking a two-goal advantage.
Manly’s Jesse Piriz went agonisingly close to the equaliser minutes later. His effort thumping into the crossbar, before Connor Rose’s attempt shortly after from close was blocked.
With less than five minutes of regulation to play, the visitors finally found their equaliser in Benjamin Koop as he was able to get his foot to the ball first and push it past Peraic-Cullen.
In a game the ebbed and flowed, it all came down to added time as both sides went blow for blow at each end, keeping the crowd on the edge of their seats.
A Manly corner was quickly shut down, before Mariners had two consecutive of their own to try and steal the point.
It was to no avail as the scores remained 2-2 in a thrilling second half finish.
Securing the draw is still a win for Lucas Vilela.
Despite missing out on the full three points, Vilela has confidence taking a point with them into Wednesday’s clash against frontrunners Western Sydney Wanderers following poor results.
“Not the result we expected but we definitely had a win today by just having the boys put in a good performance,” said Vilela.
“Last week we had a good first half but then switched off, so the performance today showed it was a one off.
“Now we are confident for the next game against Wanderers.”
Match Stats
Central Coast Mariners 2 (Smyth 30’, 65’)
Manly United FC 2 (Bauza 39’, Koop 86’)
Saturday 16th March 2024
Pluim Park, Lisarow
Referee: Stephen Lucas
Central Coast Mariners: 2. Michael Paragalli, 4. Andre Parkes (14. Jacob Tresoglavic 87’), 5. Harry Menham, 8. Lucas Scicluna, 10. Luka Smyth, 11. Donatien Niyonkuru (18. Adil Toska 87’), 12. Taye Hedley (13. Yani Nassis 59’), 16. Prayaag Thapa (6. Jordan Small 63’), 33. Alexander Gountounas, 39. Adam Hall (19. Harvey James 87’), 40. Dylan Peraic-Cullen
Unused Subs: 20. Jai Ajanovic
Yellow Cards: Donatien Niyonkuru 84’, Lucas Scicluna 89’
Red Cards:
Manly United FC: 1. Levi Kaye, 3. Zac Sfiligoi (8. Joseph Fox 72’) 4. Jesse Piriz, 6. Saxon Hillyer, 9. Benjamin Koop, 10. Harry McCarthy (2. Kieren Paull 80’), 12. Miguel Bauza (11. Connor Rose 66’), 16. Zayne Ahluwaila (39. Stefano Rossello 80’), 19. Alen Aganovic, 27. Corey Cronin, 45. Bilal Belkadi (7. Peter Kekeris 66’)
Unused Subs: 31. Jay Coates
Yellow Cards: Bilal Belkadi 11’, Alen Aganovic 76’
Red Cards:
Player Ratings:
3: Donatien Niyonkuru (CCM)
2: Benjamin Koop (MUFC)
1: Harry Menham (CCM)
By Mitchell Roese (@mitchellroese) for Football NSW
