This will be a totally unbiased account of the recent [tag-tec]Australian soccer[/tag-tec] ‘A’ League  fixture between [tag-tec]Sydney FC[/tag-tec] and the [tag-tec]Central Coast Mariners[/tag-tec]. Well maybe a little biased, you have to forgive me at the outset, I am a very one-sided Mariners fan.  The game was played at our home ground, sorry, I mean at the Mariners home ground on the Central Coast of NSW.  To say this game had everything would be an understatement, 2 send-offs, 9 goals with 9 different scorers, 2 penalties and the match decided in the 93rd minute.  Some saying, the greatest A-League game ever and a great advertisement for [tag-tec]Australian soccer[/tag-tec].

The Mariners started off the game on fire and quickly went to a 2-0 lead after 15minutes and it really looked like Mariners by how much.  Then disaster struck for the Mariners when their [tag-tec]goal keeper[/tag-tec] and possible future [tag-tec]Australian soccer[/tag-tec] goal keeper was sent off for handling the ball outside of the penalty area in the 16th minute.  This left the Mariners with 10 men and Sydney started their resurgence. Some resolute defense saw the Mariners go in at half time still in front 2-1.

The second half can only be described as an incredible half of football. The lead see sawed back and forth with Sydney leveling then Mariners getting back in front and Sydney leveling yet again.  Then in the 74th minute Sydney scored to go in front for the first time in the game.  To the delight of the home crowd and with 10 men, the Mariners scored in the 86th minute to level the scores again, giving Mariners supporter’s great hope that they could escape this game with a point.

Then in the 3rd minute of injury time, a Mariners player was sent off for a hand ball in the box and Sydney slotted the penalty to win the game 5-4.   The Mariners certainly showed why they are leading the [tag-tec]Australian soccer[/tag-tec] competition, by playing great attacking football even with 10 men.  A truly remarkable game that had everything.  This result keeps the Mariners on top of the table and Sydney moves into fourth place with the finals looming. 

I have attached a video of this game showing some highlights, if you get a chance have a look at it, as it is a great advertisement for attacking football, just what the supporters pay their money for.

Let me know your thoughts, in particular the send offs.

The Mariners next game will be at home again on News Years Eve against Melbourne Victory, looking forward to it already!