Central Coast Mariners 0-0 Adelaide United: Reds Fail To Take Advantage Of Ten Man Opposition

The first half lacked much imagination from both teams, who could only create a handful of half-chances at the neutral venue. Travis Dodd and Mathew Leckie looked most likely for the Reds, forming a handy combination, while Dean Heffernan was lively out of defence for the Mariners.

The second half did open up to some extent but when Adam Kwasnik failed to beat Reds ‘keeper Eugene Galekovic from close range, the game was destined to be scoreless. Late in the match the game took a twist when Matt Crowell received a second yellow card for a professional foul.

The game began in good fashion with both teams winning corners from their first attack at goal. The Mariners had the first genuine opportunity from open play when a Heffernan long-ball looking for Pedj Bojic was played over the top of the Adelaide defence. Bojic brought the ball down but scuffed his shot, leaving Reds custodian Galekovic untroubled.

Central Coast were adeptly knocking the ball around in the early stages whilst Adelaide captain Travis Dodd was doing his best to ignite the Reds with some good play down the left wing which put the Mariners' sturdy defence under pressure.

In the 28th minute, Dodd almost put Adelaide ahead. Youngster Leckie played his captain into some space with a delicate pass; Dodd took a touch on the edge of the area before beating a defender and curling the ball around the outside of Danny Vukovic’s far post.

As both teams slowly cancelled each other out, Kristian Sarkies tried to liven up what was turning into a dour encounter with a long range effort that sailed over the crossbar, late in the first half.

Central Coast ensured they were keeping themselves in the match, when a cross forced Galekovic to punch into the path of Michael McGlinchey whose shot went wide of goal. It would the last play of the night for McGlinchey, who was replaced at half time by Nicky Travis, after the New Zealand international sustained an injury just a fortnight ahead of his nation's World Cup play-off against Bahrain in Wellington.

To the dismay of the small Canberra crowd, the second half began in uninspiring fashion, picking up where the first half ended. In a match bereft of chances, neither team was willing to take the game on and when they eventually did, the finishing was invariably poor.

The only time a goal looked like being scored was via occasional long range efforts from both sides.

Crowell blasted a ball for the Mariners from 30 metres that had Galekovic nervously punching away from goal.

Heffernan was trying to lift the Mariners; firstly, he played in a good cross from the left hand side that could not be headed on toward goal by John Hutchinson and moments later he had saw his shot from outside the area travel well wide.

Travis provided some spark for Central Coast; a deft touch left Matt Simon in a one-on-one situation with Galekovic, only to be correctly ruled off-side.

Signs were emerging that indicated the Mariners were beginning to break the shackles. Travis had been dropped to the bench for the encounter but was proving a headache for Aurelio Vidmar, after shooting just wide of the Adelaide goal.

Leckie and Dodd continued to cause problems for the “home” team, but the accomplished Mariners back four was able in putting the duo off.

The key moment in the match came in the 74th minute when Adam Kwasnik failed to beat Galekovic from two metres out. Hutchinson won possession near the penalty area before playing a ball to an unmarked Simon, who found Kwasnik with a deft pass across goal, only for an alert Galekovic saving Adelaide’s day.

Alemao had a penalty shout turned down but Adelaide’s chances were about to be enhanced. Crowell receiving his second yellow card within a short space of time, when he deliberately prevented United from taking a quick free kick and was sent from the field with 6 minutes of normal time remaining, giving the Reds a lease of life.

Despite being left with ten men on the field, the Mariners' push for the three points in the dying stages failed to bear fruit. And the Reds did not make enough of their advantage, despite Leckie and Lucas Pantelis having chances to win the match.

With Central Coast hanging on - the game ended with the same score line it started with.

Justin Cinque, Goal.com