Found it!!
MARINERS DEFEAT ASIAN CUP HOSTS
By
a Staff Writer May 23 2007 1:22AM
Central Coast Mariners defeated Asian Cup hosts Malaysia 3-0 in the landmark friendly.
All of the Mariners’ goals at Pluim Park arrived in the second half, with John Hutchinson joining training squad members Neil Woodcock and Ty Owens on the score sheet.
The match, watched by an audience of approximately 2,000 spectators at Lisarow’s home of Central Coast Football, was the Mariners’ first since returning to full pre-season training last Tuesday.
The touring Malaysian line up, boasting a gallery of players set to feature later this year at Asia’s showpiece quadrennial event, was simply no match for a sharp looking Central Coast outfit, who came into the match minus injured or unavailable squad members Paul O’Grady, Greg Owens and Danny Vukovic.
"Overall, there were very good performances around the park, Boogaard was outstanding when he came on, Brad Porter did well, Gumps and Tommy did well in the midfield and Kwasnik was causing problems, Hutch done well, overall I was very happy with the performance, considering we’ve only been in training for a week," said McKinna.
"There was a great crowd, Central Coast Football put on a great night and there must have been close to 2,000 people who got right behind the teams, especially when some of their local players came on, it was even better."
New signing Sasho Petrovski was prolific in the first half, testing Malaysian custodian Azizon Kadir on numerous occasions from distance and from close range.
Complemented by Nik Mrdja up front, Petrovski showed glimpses of his capabilities against a disciplined Malaysian back line.
The visitors were not without their chances however, with diminutive attacker Mohd Ivan Yusoff threatening on the break, forcing Mariners goalkeeper Matthew Trott to make one particularly telling stop.
Hutchinson netted the match opening goal ten minutes after the break – inching home a goal bound effort from Tom Pondeljak.
Pondeljak burst through the Malaysian defence and rounded ‘keeper Kadir before firing a shot at goal from an acute angle, which was neatly turned over the goal line by Hutchinson.
From this point on, Football Manager McKinna introduced a host of new faces to the Mariners’ line up, including Central Coast Lightning players Woodcock and Jamie Lobb, Mariners Academy member Ian McAndrew and 16-year-old Ty Owens, the younger brother of recent Mariners recruit Greg.
Woodcock, one of the ten-man Mariners’ squad bound for the Philips Lighting Soccer 7’s in Hong Kong tomorrow, ensured a dream debut just four minutes after taking the pitch by heading home the Mariners’ second with literally his first touch of ball.
Woodcock was quickest to react to Kadir’s spill from fellow Lightning player and substitute Matt Simon’s cross, and made no mistake with his looping header into an empty Malaysian net.
Owens also celebrated his debut in yellow and navy with the final goal of the match with just four minutes to spare.
Simon was again integral to proceedings, delivering an inch perfect cross for Owens, who showed great maturity in guiding his first time effort past the well beaten Kadir.
"We put on nine young boys and they all done well," said McKinna.
"The first half was really good, Trotty made one great save, another in the second half and really that was all he had to do.
"Their ‘keeper was outstanding apart from one snap at the ball he had in the second half where young Woody scored, but it was good that Woodcock scored and young Ty Owens, he’s only 16 years old and he slotted his goal like an old experienced head."
The Mariners are now headed for Hong Kong, where they will contest the Philips Lighting Soccer 7’s.
The Mariners have been placed in Group D with local sides Hong Kong FC and City University of Hong Kong, with the biggest challenge facing McKinna’s charges likely to come from English Premier League side Aston Villa.
The Philips Lighting Soccer 7’s kicks off on Saturday, 26 May -
www.ccmariners.com.au will feature exclusive and extensive coverage of the tournament.
Following their Hong Kong sojourn, the Mariners will return home to contest the third annual Central Coast Football Charity Plate against a local selection made up of the best players from the Central Coast Premier League. Kick off at Pluim Park on Saturday, 9 June is at 5pm.
Match Details
Central Coast Mariners Matthew Trott (gk), Andre Gumprecht (Bradley Porter 68’), John Hutchinson (Neil Woodcock 74’), Nik Mrdja (Ty Owens 81’), Tom Pondeljak (Mile Jedinak 65’), Damien Brown (Jamie Lobb 78’), Tony Vidmar (Ian McAndrew 81’), Andrew Clark, Alex Wilkinson (Nigel Boogaard 56’), Adam Kwasnik (Matthew Osman 46’), Sasho Petrovski (Matt Simon 60’)
Yellow Cards None
Red Cards None
Goals Hutchinson 55’, Woodcock 78’, Owens 86’
Malaysia Azizon Kadir (gk), Ahmad Fauzi Saari (Norhafiz Zamani Misbah 53’), Ronny Harun, Mohamad Kaironnisam, Mohd Safee Mohd Sali, Shahrulnizam Mustapa (Mohd Fauzie Nan 53’), Akmal Rizal Ahmad Rakhli, Mohd Hamzani Omar (Eddy Helmi Abdul Manan 53’), Kaliappan Nanthakumar, Mohd Ivan Yusoff, Muhammad Shukor Adan
Unused Subs Veeran Thirumurugan, Mohamad Hardi Jaafar, Mohd Norfarhan Muhammad, Mohd Fadzli Saari, Nazrulerwan Makmor, Mohd Saffian Ab Rahman (gk), Rezal Zambery Yahya
Yellow Cards None
Red Cards None
Goals None
Referee James Lewis
Central Coast Mariners defeated Asian Cup hosts Malaysia 3-0 in the landmark friendly.
www.ftbl.com.au
