Mariners hitman Sasho Petrovski has scored sweet revenge on his former club, burying the only goal in the A-League season opener.
The Mariners hung on in a close-fought match to secure a 1-0 victory on a wet and soggy night at Sydney Football Stadium.
His seventh minute goal was enough to earn the Mariners all three points, after a resurgent Sydney side pressed hard in the second half. The Mariners looked particularly dominant in the first half, but had to hang on for the win in the match’s late stages. Branko Culina changed his personnel and pushed hard, but unsuccessfully for the draw.
Sydney FC’s marquee player Juninho’s contribution was limited, but the Brazilian showed flashes of brilliances throughout. His combination with Steve Corica looked dangerous at times, but both playmakers were denied a number of chances and their impact was limited though heavy marking from the Mariners defence, led mainly by midfielder Mile Jedinak. Juninho was noticeably frustrated with his attention, but he became more involved in the match’s latter stages.
Following the match, Juninho spoke of his first impressions of Hyundai A-League football saying: “It was hard. My legs weren’t prepared for the whole game and the pitch was heavy. We conceded an early game and that was the key in the game. We had a good chance, I had a few good chances but I couldn’t score, it’s unlucky but I’ll be prepared for next one.
“There are a lot more things to come. My legs have to be stronger to get more of the ball and be more involved in the game. After a couple of games I will get there.”
The Mariners finished the first half looking far more comfortable thanks to Sasho Petrovki’s goal. Petrovski’s return to his former club proved the difference in the opening stanza, with the burly striker leading the line well and allowing Adam Kwasnik and Nik Mrdja to give the Mariners width in attack.
With 53% first-half possession Adam Kwasnik’s role on the wide left proved a masterstroke from Lawrie McKinna, with Sydney FC’s defenders failing to track his runs throughout.
Sydney opened the game with rookie Adam Biddle making his debut upfront with Alex Brosque, with new marquee signing Juninho playing behind the front two strikers and Steve Corica on the left.
Juninho and Corica combined well on a number of occasions, with both having shooting opportunities.
The Brazilian made an impact early, with an unsuccessful appeal for a penalty after just three minutes.
Petrovski’s goal silenced the home fans and the sky blues early however, following an intercept from Andre Gumprecht. Gumprecht collected the ball on the right before a simple feed to Petrovski who cooly finished it with a left-footed placed shot to beat both Tony Popovic and Clint Bolton.
Petrovski continued his early dominance and was heavily involved before Sydney’s Mark Milligan shoots on 10 minutes. Moments later though, the Socceroo was body-checked by Mariners defender Dean Heffernan following a Sydney FC corner kick.
Like Juninho, Milligan also received heavy marking with John Hutchinson following him closely.
Sydney FC’s Adam Biddle had a mixed debut, with both good positioning but having his touch desert him on a number of occasions.
Sydney’s attackers failed to capitalise on a number of opportunities in the first half, including shots from Brosque and Juninho. Nik Mrdja came closest for the Mariners with a low, hard drive that beats Clint Bolton but hits the right-hand post.
Adam Kwasnik looked dangerous on a number of occasions in the first half, with Sydney’s defence not tracking his runs on the left. A spate of yellow cards rounded out the first half with Heffernan and Jedinak picking one up each for challenges on Milligan and Juninho respectively, while Ufuk Talay picked one up for Sydney following a challenge on Heffernan.
Branko Culina introduced Ruben Zadkovich in the second half as a substitute for Adam Biddle. The half was much more closely-contested than the first, with Juninho making an early run and getting behind Mile Jedinak for a shot, which ultimately went wide to the left.
Mariners players were again in the thick of the action, with both Petrovski and Andre Gumprecht picking up yellows. Greg Owens was introduced in the second half for Gumprecht.
Sydney FC looked more organised in the second half, but failed to capitalise in the final third.
Both sides made changes on 71 minutes, with Adam Kwasnik coming off for Tom Pondeljak and Robbie Middleby coming on for Iain Fyfe.
Sydney had the best of the second half’s opportunities with Juninho unable to capitalise on Danny Vukovic coming prematurely off his line. Vukovic came out of his box to meet a surging Brosque run, only for the ball to fall to Juninho who opted to shoot with power to beat a pair of Mariners defenders, only to see it fly over the bar.
Matt Simon was brought on for Petrovski, while Culina’s last throw of the dice to salvage a draw was when he introduced David Zdrilic on 83 minutes as a replacement for Terry McFlynn – who started the match at right back.
Zdrilic’s impact is telling, with the final five minutes all one-way traffic for Sydney. Pressing hard, Sydney was unlucky not to score with the Mariners hanging on desperately. With the night rain pouring down, and four minutes of extra time played, Lawrie McKinna’s hung on, just, for their season’s first points.
FourFourTwo man of the match: Mile Jedinak
Starting sides (both 4-4-2)
Bolton, McFlynn, Popovic (c), Rudan, Fyfe, Talay, Milligan, Corica, Juninho, Brosque, Biddle
Vukovic, Osman, Wilkinson (c), Heffernan, Gumprecht, Hutchinson, Jedinak, Boogard, Kwasnik, Petrovski, Mrdja
Referee: Peter Green
Official crowd: 18457
His seventh minute goal was enough to earn the Mariners all three points, after a resurgent Sydney side pressed hard in the second half. The Mariners looked particularly dominant in the first half, but had to hang on for the win in the match’s late stages. Branko Culina changed his personnel and pushed hard, but unsuccessfully for the draw.
Sydney FC’s marquee player Juninho’s contribution was limited, but the Brazilian showed flashes of brilliances throughout. His combination with Steve Corica looked dangerous at times, but both playmakers were denied a number of chances and their impact was limited though heavy marking from the Mariners defence, led mainly by midfielder Mile Jedinak. Juninho was noticeably frustrated with his attention, but he became more involved in the match’s latter stages.
Following the match, Juninho spoke of his first impressions of Hyundai A-League football saying: “It was hard. My legs weren’t prepared for the whole game and the pitch was heavy. We conceded an early game and that was the key in the game. We had a good chance, I had a few good chances but I couldn’t score, it’s unlucky but I’ll be prepared for next one.
“There are a lot more things to come. My legs have to be stronger to get more of the ball and be more involved in the game. After a couple of games I will get there.”
The Mariners finished the first half looking far more comfortable thanks to Sasho Petrovki’s goal. Petrovski’s return to his former club proved the difference in the opening stanza, with the burly striker leading the line well and allowing Adam Kwasnik and Nik Mrdja to give the Mariners width in attack.
With 53% first-half possession Adam Kwasnik’s role on the wide left proved a masterstroke from Lawrie McKinna, with Sydney FC’s defenders failing to track his runs throughout.
Sydney opened the game with rookie Adam Biddle making his debut upfront with Alex Brosque, with new marquee signing Juninho playing behind the front two strikers and Steve Corica on the left.
Juninho and Corica combined well on a number of occasions, with both having shooting opportunities.
The Brazilian made an impact early, with an unsuccessful appeal for a penalty after just three minutes.
Petrovski’s goal silenced the home fans and the sky blues early however, following an intercept from Andre Gumprecht. Gumprecht collected the ball on the right before a simple feed to Petrovski who cooly finished it with a left-footed placed shot to beat both Tony Popovic and Clint Bolton.
Petrovski continued his early dominance and was heavily involved before Sydney’s Mark Milligan shoots on 10 minutes. Moments later though, the Socceroo was body-checked by Mariners defender Dean Heffernan following a Sydney FC corner kick.
Like Juninho, Milligan also received heavy marking with John Hutchinson following him closely.
Sydney FC’s Adam Biddle had a mixed debut, with both good positioning but having his touch desert him on a number of occasions.
Sydney’s attackers failed to capitalise on a number of opportunities in the first half, including shots from Brosque and Juninho. Nik Mrdja came closest for the Mariners with a low, hard drive that beats Clint Bolton but hits the right-hand post.
Adam Kwasnik looked dangerous on a number of occasions in the first half, with Sydney’s defence not tracking his runs on the left. A spate of yellow cards rounded out the first half with Heffernan and Jedinak picking one up each for challenges on Milligan and Juninho respectively, while Ufuk Talay picked one up for Sydney following a challenge on Heffernan.
Branko Culina introduced Ruben Zadkovich in the second half as a substitute for Adam Biddle. The half was much more closely-contested than the first, with Juninho making an early run and getting behind Mile Jedinak for a shot, which ultimately went wide to the left.
Mariners players were again in the thick of the action, with both Petrovski and Andre Gumprecht picking up yellows. Greg Owens was introduced in the second half for Gumprecht.
Sydney FC looked more organised in the second half, but failed to capitalise in the final third.
Both sides made changes on 71 minutes, with Adam Kwasnik coming off for Tom Pondeljak and Robbie Middleby coming on for Iain Fyfe.
Sydney had the best of the second half’s opportunities with Juninho unable to capitalise on Danny Vukovic coming prematurely off his line. Vukovic came out of his box to meet a surging Brosque run, only for the ball to fall to Juninho who opted to shoot with power to beat a pair of Mariners defenders, only to see it fly over the bar.
Matt Simon was brought on for Petrovski, while Culina’s last throw of the dice to salvage a draw was when he introduced David Zdrilic on 83 minutes as a replacement for Terry McFlynn – who started the match at right back.
Zdrilic’s impact is telling, with the final five minutes all one-way traffic for Sydney. Pressing hard, Sydney was unlucky not to score with the Mariners hanging on desperately. With the night rain pouring down, and four minutes of extra time played, Lawrie McKinna’s hung on, just, for their season’s first points.
FourFourTwo man of the match: Mile Jedinak
Starting sides (both 4-4-2)
Bolton, McFlynn, Popovic (c), Rudan, Fyfe, Talay, Milligan, Corica, Juninho, Brosque, Biddle
Vukovic, Osman, Wilkinson (c), Heffernan, Gumprecht, Hutchinson, Jedinak, Boogard, Kwasnik, Petrovski, Mrdja
Referee: Peter Green
Official crowd: 18457
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