Sydney FC recorded their ninth consecutive win in a 4-0 result against Central Coast Mariners at Pluim Park Lisarow on Saturday to remain top of the PlayStation 4 NPL NSW Mens 2 table.
The Sky Blues started the brighter in the match and could have gone ahead early if not for some fine keeping from Central Coast’s Adam Pearce as he denied Charles Lokolingoy after just three minutes of play.
The Mariners defence was stretched in the opening 15 minutes and it was desperation defence that kept the scores level as the Sky Blue wave rolled on.
The contest then evened out for the remainder of the half as both sides went to the break locked at 0-0.
The second half again saw Sydney FC dominant and it was only a matter of time before the breakthrough occurred as Cristian Gonzalez was on the end of a Lokolingoy cross to slam in for a well-deserved 1-0 lead.
Lokolingoy was again thwarted by the Mariners custodian from another one on one chance but their reprieve was short lived as only two minutes later Bai Antoniou smashed home a low left foot shot from the edge of the penalty area to make it 2-0.
In the 75th minute, in form striker Lokolingoy grabbed Sydney FC’s third goal as the Sky Blues were relentless in their pressure with a well taken shot from 20 metres for a 3-0 margin.
Substitute Mani Gonzalez capitalised on a defensive turnover by the Mariners to tuck the ball into the back of the net to make it 4-0. The 18 year old had claimed a hat trick earlier in the day for the Under 20 side.
The result meant another clean sweep for the Sky Blues’ NPL teams with the Under 18’s winning 2-1 and the Under 20’s in a comfortable 7-1 victory delivering the maximum Club Championship points.
Sydney FC have a double dose of Mariners as they face North Shore Mariners (formerly Northbridge FC) at Lambert Park this Saturday, 14 May with First grade kicking off at 7.45pm
Sydney FC 4 (Cristian Gonzalez 1; Bai Antoniou 1; Charles Lokolingoy 1; Mani Gonzalez 1) defeated Central Coast Mariners 0
Line Up: Mitch Evans (GK); Nicola Kuleski; Patrick Flottmann; George Timotheou; Brendan Curtis; Yianni Spyrakis ( c ); Chris Zuvela (Aaron Avery); Daniel Araujo; Bai Antoniou (Finn Ballard-McBride); Charles Lokolingoy (Mani Gonzalez); Cristian Gonzalez
Subs Not Used: Duro Dragicevic (GK); Matt Green
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