It’s top versus bottom as Sydney FC travel to play the Central Coast Mariners seeking to main their history-making form.
Head Coach Steve Corica’s runaway Hyundai A-League leaders have ran up 13 wins from 15 matches in 2019/20 and have an all-time record points tally of 40 at this stage of a season.
The Sky Blues already have more points in 2019/20 than the Mariners have collected in the past three campaigns combined, so the numbers suggest a lopsided encounter in Gosford.
However, Alen Stajcic’s side have flashed at times this season – already equalling their points tally from last campaign (13) – and they ran Sydney FC close in their Round 10 encounter, which Corica’s side took 1-0 at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium.
But the Mariners currently find themselves on a five-match losing streak so they will need to take advantage of any tiredness from Sydney FC’s AFC Asian Champions League excursions in Japan against Yokohama F. Marinos on Wednesday night.
Sunday, 23 February 2020
Kick-off: 6pm AEDT
Venue: Central Coast Stadium Stadium
Broadcast: FOX Sports 505
Stream: MyFootball Live App, Kayo Sports
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Team news
Sydney FC squad: 1.Andrew REDMAYNE (gk), 2.Patrick FLOTTMANN, 3.Ben WARLAND, 4.Alex WILKINSON (c), 6.Ryan McGOWAN, 8. Paulo RETRE, 9. Adam LE FONDRE, 10. Milos NINKOVIC, 11. Kosta BARBAROUSES, 12.Trent BUHAGIAR, 16.Joel KING, 17.Anthony CACERES, 18.Luke IVANOVIC, 20. Thomas HEWARD-BELLE, 21.Harry VAN DER SAAG, 23.Rhyan GRANT, 24.Marco TILIO, 26.Luke BRATTAN, 27.Jordi SWIBEL, 28.Calem NIEUWENHOF.**2-4 to be omitted**
Ins: 3. Ben WARLAND (return from injury), 24.Marco TILIO (promoted), 27.Jordi SWIBEL (promoted), 28.Calem NIEUWENHOF (promoted).
Outs:
Unavailable: 5.Alex BAUMJOHANN (suspended – 1 match), 7. Michael ZULLO (calf), 19.Chris ZUVELA (knee).
Did you know?
- Sydney FC have lost only one of their last 16 Hyundai A-League games against Central Coast Mariners (W12, D3) and are undefeated in their last six meetings (W4, D2).
- The Mariners have led at halftime in four of their last seven Hyundai A-League games against Sydney FC; however, they’ve picked up just one win from those four games (D2, L1).
- The Sky Blues have a shooting accuracy of 56.3% this Hyundai A-League season – the highest of any team. Indeed, only once in the last eight seasons have they had a higher shooting accuracy (56.6% in 2017/18).
- Only Western United FC (12) have conceded the opening goal of the game on more occasions this Hyundai A-League campaign than Central Coast (11); The Mariners have gained just three points from those 11 games (W1, L10).
