Sydney fc sink 10-man Mariners at Allianz

Sydney FC have heaped more misery on Central Coast and kick-started their own season with a 4-1 win at Allianz Stadium on Boxing Day.

Most of the drama came in a dramatic first half which included four goals – three two the home side including two penalties - and a red card to Mariners gloveman Paul Izzo for two bookable offences.

Sydney skipper Alex Brosque scored twice – before being forced off injured – with Mickael Tavares adding another for the home side before Harry Ascroft pulled one back for the visitors.

A late Jake McGing own goal ended the rout as the Sky Blues ensured they will end the round in the top four while the Mariners are last without a win since the opening weekend of the season.

GOALS

1-0 Brosque (12’) – Milos Ninkovic and Andrew Hoole were involved in some brilliant combination play, with the latter’s effort fumbled by Paul Izzo, allowing Brosque to tap into an empty net.

2-0 Brosque (24’) – Mariners defender Jake McGing was adjudged to have brought down Ninkovic in the box, with the home side winning a penalty which Brosque duly dispatched.

3-0 Tavares (30’) – Izzo was at fault this time, hauling down George Blackwood in the box for another spot kick. This time Tavares stepped up and made no mistake.

3-1 Ascroft (38’) – A superb cross from Matt Sim saw Ascroft ghost in between some static Sydney defence to plant his header past Vedran Janjetovic for his first A-League goal.

4-1 McGing og (84’) – Hoole released the energetic Rhyan Grant into the area and his powerful low cross was diverted into his own net by the unfortunate McGing.

TEAMS:

Sydney FC: Janjetovic (gk), Grant, Ryall, Jurman, Gersbach, O’Neill, Tavares, Blackwood (Stambolziev 79’), Ninkovic (Dimitrijevic 58’), Hoole, Brosque (c) (Simon 26’)

Central Coast Mariners: Izzo (gk), Roux, McGing, Ascroft, J. Rose, Montgomery (c), L. Rose (Heward-Belle 29’), Caceres, Fitzgerald (Neill 68’), Sim (Ferreira 66’), O’Donovan

3:22 AM