As Adelaide United look to snap a three-match losing streak when they face Central Coast Mariners, here are some of our best wins in Gosford.
2-3 win – 25 March 2017 @ Central Coast Stadium
A glancing Kwabena Appiah header broke the deadlock for Central Coast a minute before the break in the Round 24 clash. But the Reds were not going away without a fight as the match turned on its head thanks to three goals in a 10minute flurry. Baba Diawara scored for the third consecutive match, instinctively reacting to Sergio Cirio’s half-cleared cross to half-volley past Ivan Necevski.
Dylan McGowan headed the Reds into the lead off a corner five minutes later and the Senegalese striker continued his rich vein of form to notch his brace. The same modus operandi was used with Diawara scoring off a Ben Garuccio corner with a clever header. Roy O’Donovan slotted a consolation penalty, though Adelaide held on – sealing a second consecutive win of the season.
2-3 win – 14 February 2016 @ Central Coast Stadium
Adelaide went into the Round 19 encounter 10 games unbeaten after failing to claim a victory in the opening eight fixtures. And the Reds’ remarkable streak was tested after former Adelaide winger Fabio Ferreira rounded off an incisive counter-attacking move.
A big second-half was needed to overturn the 1-0 deficit; and the South Australians’ fighting qualities came to the fore. Isaías dispatched a sensational free-kick to spark the away side into action on 54 minutes. Soon after Bruce Djite extinguished parity, helping on Dylan McGowan’s header. Stefan Mauk smashed in a third in stoppage time which ultimately proved the winner as the Mariners pegged a goal back in the final play of the game.
1-3 win – 21 January 2007 @ Bluetongue Stadium
The final match of the regular season saw Adelaide secure a second-placed finish ahead of the finals series thanks to a Nathan Burns’ treble. The then 18-year-old put the Reds in front early by tapping home some brilliantl wing play from Bobby Petta. Adam Kwasnik then missed a chance to equalise from the penalty spot and United took full advantage.
Burns calmly slid Bruce Djite’s pass beyond the Mariners’ gloveman in the second-half to make it 2-0. He completed his hat-trick, steering another delightful low cross from Petta into a gaping net, to become the first Red to score a hat-trick for the Club.
Adelaide United will face Central Coast Mariners in Round 7 of the Hyundai A-League 2017/18 season on Thursday, 16 November at Central Coast Stadium. Kick-off is at 7.20pm ACDT.
