- David Ball - 27'
- Matt Simon - 40'
- Oliver Bozanic - 50' Pen
A-League leaders Central Coast Mariners down Wellington Phoenix
Goals either side of half-time ensured high-flying Central Coast Mariners eased to a 2-0 win against 10-man Wellington Phoenix in Wollongong.
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Veteran striker Matt Simon broke the deadlock five minutes before the break and captain Oliver Bozanic slotted home a penalty soon after the restart for a winning margin that could have been far greater.
The Phoenix were on the back foot from midway through the first half when forward David Ball was dismissed for a wild and unnecessary lunge on Simon.
The contest was effectively over with Bozanic's penalty conversion and only a string of second-half saves from Phoenix goalkeeper Stefan Marinovic kept the scoreline down.
The Mariners looked confident throughout the contest with central midfield pair Bozanic and Danny De Silva a constant threat with their movement and sharp passing.
The Mariners missed several clear second-half chances, most notably in the final minutes as substitute Alou Koul pushed a golden opportunity wide.
It was a sixth win from eight starts for the Mariners and a third in succession for last season's wooden-spooners.
Game Information
Australian A-League Men Standings
| Team | GP | W | D | L | GD | P |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adelaide United | 13 | 8 | 4 | 1 | +10 | 28 |
| Auckland FC | 13 | 8 | 3 | 2 | +10 | 27 |
| Melbourne City FC | 13 | 7 | 3 | 3 | +8 | 24 |
| Western United | 14 | 7 | 3 | 4 | +6 | 24 |
| Sydney FC | 14 | 6 | 3 | 5 | +8 | 21 |
| Macarthur FC | 14 | 6 | 3 | 5 | +8 | 21 |
| Melbourne Victory | 13 | 5 | 4 | 4 | +3 | 19 |
| Western Sydney Wanderers | 13 | 5 | 3 | 5 | +3 | 18 |
| Wellington Phoenix FC | 13 | 5 | 2 | 6 | -2 | 17 |
| Central Coast Mariners | 13 | 4 | 5 | 4 | -7 | 17 |
| Newcastle Jets | 12 | 3 | 1 | 8 | -7 | 10 |
| Perth Glory | 14 | 2 | 2 | 10 | -26 | 8 |
| Brisbane Roar | 13 | 1 | 2 | 10 | -14 | 5 |
A-League Men News