MANLY UNITED DISPOSE OF MARINERS
Manly United have claimed a well-deserved 2-0 victory over Central Coast Mariners in their Round 21 match-up at Cromer Park, thanks to two second half strikes.
Rocco Pelle was responsible for opening the scoring in the 50th minute with a powerful header, while in the 81st minute Miguel Bauza produced a belter from long range.
Manly United and Central Coast Mariners got their match underway in a defensively gritty fashion as Michael Paragalli was forced to bulldoze the ball away, with Peter Kekeris swamping him near his own box.
The encounter opened up in the 15th minute as Donatien Niyonkuru attempted to twist and turn his way past Blake Bamgbose, but to no avail. A minute later Niyonkuru was stifled by Zac Sfiligoi.
Connor Rose tried to rival the energetic Niyonkuru in the 19th minute, using his pace to sweep past several Mariners down the wing before delivering a beautiful ball in, only to see it intercepted by Paragalli who got his timing exactly right.
Rounding up the end of the first half, you could have forgiven Saxon Hillyer for thinking he had opened the hosts’ account as his powerful shot from outside the box was on target, only for Cher Deng to ferociously head the ball away.
Manly United were rewarded almost immediately after the restart as Pelle went off with a bang. Following a Hillyer corner, the Manly defender rose above everybody else to head the ball in with authority.
Luka Smyth responded with some energy for the visitors in the 59th minute as he went on a testing run through the hosts’ midfield, before the play was eventually curtailed.
Similarly, four minutes later, Kekeris did all the hard work to create space with the ball, only to shoot straight into the waiting arms of Dylan Peraic-Cullen.
Try as they might, the Mariners weren’t able to crack the resolute hosts as Sasha Kuzevski’s looping shot was easily stopped by Levi Kaye.
The game was all but finished nine minutes from full-time as an absolute rocket from Bauza flew past Peraic-Cullen, securing Manly all three points in the process.
Bauza broke down his goal following the full-time whistle and explained what Manly United are currently aspiring to achieve.
“I picked up the ball from the outside wing after I knew it was coming to me – and when I did, I put my best foot forward and it landed in thankfully.
“Every week we are training extremely hard, and we needed the win today. We really went for it. And for every home game onwards we need to continue to put pressure on the opposition at Cromer Park. We are primed for a great rest of the campaign”.
Manly United 2 (Rocco Pelle 50’, Miguel Bauza 81’)
Central Coast Mariners 0
Match Stats
Friday 21 June 2024
Cromer Park, Cromer
Referee: Ivica Covic
Assistant Referees: Patrick Teleki and Gerrod Young
Fourth Official: Rowan Fisher
Manly United: 1.Levi Kaye, 2.Kieren Paull, 3.Zac Sfiligoi, 6.Saxon Hillyer, 7.Peter Kekeris, (8.Joseph Fox 78’), 9.Benjamin Koop, 11.Connor Rose, (12.Miguel Bauza 63’), 19.Alen Aganovic, 22.Blake Bamgbose, 25.Rocco Pelle, (26.Oliver Burden 78’), (28.Lachlan Bishop 78’), (29.William Faulder 78’), 45.Bilal Belkadi
Unused subs: 31.Jay Coates
Yellow cards: Rocco Pelle 25’
Red cards: Nil
Central Coast Mariners: 2.Michael Paragalli, 3.Cher Deng, (4.Andre Parkes 89′), 5.Harry Menham, 6.Jordan Small, (9.Nicholas Duarte 60’), 10.Luka Smyth, 11.Donatien Niyonkuru, 12.Taye Hedley, 16.Prayaag Thapa, (17.Ethan Debono 60’), (22.Rocco Smith 89’), (27.Sasha Kuzevski 61’), 33.Arthur De Lima, 34.Parker Williams, 40.Dylan Peraic-Cullen
Unused subs: 30.Daniel Vickers
Yellow cards: Luka Smyth 85’
Red cards: Nil
Player Ratings:
3: Rocco Pelle (MU)
2: Cher Deng (CCM)
1: Miguel Bauza (MU)
-By Football NSW
