- 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Central Coast Mariners | 25 | 15 | 4 | 6 | +18 | 49 |
| Wellington Phoenix FC | 25 | 14 | 7 | 4 | +13 | 49 |
| Melbourne Victory | 25 | 10 | 11 | 4 | +11 | 41 |
| Sydney FC | 25 | 11 | 5 | 9 | +6 | 38 |
| Macarthur FC | 25 | 10 | 8 | 7 | -1 | 38 |
| Western Sydney Wanderers | 25 | 10 | 4 | 11 | -4 | 34 |
| Melbourne City FC | 25 | 9 | 6 | 10 | +10 | 33 |
| Adelaide United | 25 | 8 | 5 | 12 | 0 | 29 |
| Brisbane Roar | 25 | 8 | 5 | 12 | -12 | 29 |
| Newcastle Jets | 25 | 6 | 9 | 10 | -6 | 27 |
| Western United | 25 | 6 | 5 | 14 | -19 | 23 |
| Perth Glory | 25 | 5 | 7 | 13 | -16 | 22 |
A-League Men News