Countdown to the Grand Final:

[bradley]

Thought to get everyone pumped and excited for the Grand Final on Sunday (not that we should need it) we should countdown the best 5 Mariners games of all time, one each day leading up until Sunday. Feel free to debate and disagree with my selections, i'm open to suggestions and criticisms!!!

Number 5: Central Coast Mariners vs Tiajin Teda, 5-1 WIN Mariners.


Our first win in Asia, a double to Daniel Mcbreen, goals to Josh Rose, Michael McGlinchey, and a farewell appearance for Mustafa Amini, the Mariners finally put their Asian demons to bed with a 5-1 demolition of Tiajin Teda on a historic night at Bluetongue. Mariners sought their revenge after the last time these two teams met in Gosford, with the disgraceful behaviour of the Tiajin players to timewaste an unfortunate blight on our wonderful game.

All in all a fantastic and historical night for the Central Coast, and is my number 5.

 

[adz]

Great idea

 

[BrisRecky]

GOOD THINKING ADZWICK.. YOU FKN GENIUS

awesome game...and I'll be honest, I for one didnt expect that result...was that the game was when those two teda's bumped into each other, and to use pro wrestling parlance "took a bump"?...funny funny shit ...and there trainer was a pain in the fkn neck as well...still, an arse kicking is an arse kicking

 

[adz]

Wasn't me mate, haha

 

[true believer]

dry weather, 6000 i think .
i believe asian superiority outside of the J - league is a myth .
probably add zwanee and the glinch to the team that played in china and we towel
them. us having to play two days after the GF confirms the cheating
merkins at the AFC believe this .
our team at full strength puts the fear of god into them.

 

[BrisRecky]

your right it wasn't you...see, there's a lesson in noticing basic detail's

 

[bradley]

Number 4: Central Coast Mariners vs North Queensland Fury 3-2


A monsoon rain storm hit the Central Coast on a night Mariners fans wont forget. A blunder from Josh Rose following a deflection from Patrick Zwaanswijk gifted the Fury a 1-0 halftime lead.

Matt Simon equalised after a fantastic save from Fury keeper Justin Pasfield. Mcbreen was brought down in the box and Perez converted from the spot to make it 2-1 Mariners.

The referee was central to the drama with a penalty claim from Perez denied by the referee. Before sending off Dyron Daal for dissent in the 78th minute.

Mark Hughes equalised again for the Fury in the 77th minute before Central Coast local Chris Payne nearly put the Fury into the lead if not for a super save from Matt Ryan.

A draw loomed for both teams before an accuratly placed cross from Michael McGlinchey hit the head of Patrick Zwaanswijk who beat Justin Pasfield to give the Mariners a 3-2 lead in the 90th minute, to send the crowd into raptures.

A pitch invasion to signify the end of the match and the changing of the turf at Bluetongue Stadium brought to the end a match that Mariners fans will never forget.

 

[adz]

Brilliant. What a night... and running on the pitch afterwards...

 

[bradley]

Number 3: Sydney FC vs Central Coast Mariners 1-0 WIN


First game of season 3 promised to be a nailbiting clash between 2 NSW rivals and boy what a clash it was. Sasho Petrovski on his debut against the club that at the time famously sacked the striker opened the scoring of season 3 of the a-league after a goal keeping blunder from Clint Bolton.

It was a debut game for new Sydney marquee signing Juninho and he showed his class early setting a cross for Alex Brosque who blazed it over the bar.

It was the story of the night from Sydney FC missing chance after chance, with Tony Popovic blasing a shot over the bar when he was one on one with Danny Vukovic.

Vukovic was the focus again in the second half, coming miles of his line, missing the ball before leaving an open goal for Juninho who blazed it over the bar.

Nigel Boogaard then was the saviour for the Mariners clearning a header from Mark Rudan off the line.

It was a struggle for the Mariners but they held on, the travelling fans would never forget the win, it showed true character and what it means to play for the Mariners and was the night the Mariners realised that they could beat anyone, anywhere.

(Note: Went on the finish the season in 1st position)

 

[FFC Mariner]

This is one of my all time favourite games. Longest seconds half ever I recall.

Tommy (Saint Tommy to us) running back the length of the pitch in injury time to help out was my highlight.

Great entry into the list

 

[adz]

Another great game. Notable cameo from Disco Nik Mrdja too.

 

[bikinigirl]

Tommy (Saint Tommy to us) running back the length of the pitch in injury time to help out was my highlight.

. if it is the incident i think you are referring to ... i am pretty sure it was not this game. danny up for the equaliser/winner (as usual), tommy running length of the field to stop a long range shot

Notable cameo from Disco Nik Mrdja too.

. good enough start to the season (and played enough games) to get a socceroos call up to incur another injury

. also loved jedi's 'welcome to the HAL little man' to juninho

. an epic season for the coast/sydney rivalry

 

[yellowcake]

. if it is the incident i think you are referring to ... i am pretty sure it was not this game. danny up for the equaliser/winner (as usual), tommy running length of the field to stop a long range shot

True BG. That incident was later in season 3, John Aloisi's first game in (white), yellow and navy. We lost 3-2 but our 2 were from absolute Hutch crackers - why doesn't he still do that?
The importance of Tommy's save was our Premiership Plate was on the basis of goal diff +1 better than Jest, although if equal, we still had it on goals scored.

GTs

 

[bradley]

Number 2:


The equation was simple, score 3 goals and progress to a Grand Final, and thats just what the Mariners did. A "fluke" of a goal from Adam Kwasnik before the equalising goal from Sasho Petrovski sent the game into extra time.

Another screamer from Sasho Petrovski sent the Mariners into the lead and most of the record crowd at Bluetognue into raptures.

A fantastic game at Bluetongue Stadium and one that Mariners fans will never forget, although not good enough to become number 1... ... ... all will be revealed tomorrow (although i'd say that numerous fans should already know my number 1 game of all time)

 

[bradley]

just realised the video didnt have petrovski's 3rd goal! whoops!

 

[FFC Mariner]

Interesting choice for no2. I wouldn't have it at no1 either.

Lets see which game is no1


(Choice of 2 IMHO)

 

[dibo]

The very first Sydney away, 3-2 in the rain.

Or maybe one of the 3-3 draws - away to Adelaide or away to Sydney (of which I only got phone updates from a mate while I was rushing to get to a train in Bristol. I still don't quite know why I was in Bristol).

 

[kevrenor]

I still don't quite know why I was in Bristol.

No one really does.

Anyway, no. 2 does it for me

 

[garlo]

God that Semi video still brings the chills . . .best night !

 

[adz]

Another brilliant game. Went into that thinking we had no hope... happy being wrong!

One of my all-time favourite goals from Kwas too. The ball went straight up, the whole crowd groaned expecting to see it plop down into Brisbane Water, but somehow it dropped into the goal. Took everyone a few seconds to realise we had just scored before we all went mental.