Central Coast Mariners have made a winning start to the new A-League season after a stoppage-time goal gave the side a 1-0 victory over local rivals Newcastle Jets this morning.
New signing Malick Mane helped the home side dominate possession early on, but his cross in for Kim Seung-Yung failed to find its target and give the Mariners an early goal.
Mane was involved again later in the first half, having a free kick blocked by the wall before Scott Neville cleared a shot from the striker.
Edson Montano thought that he had given Newcastle the lead shortly before half time as he fired a low effort into the back of the net, but the goal was chalked off for offside.
The hosts made a bright start to the second half with Mitchell Duke pulling the ball back for Matthew Simon, but his finish went well high.
The visitors continued to pose a threat on the counter-attack as Jonny Steele came close to breaking the deadlock for the Jets, only to see his shot finish on the roof of the goal.
As the game headed into stoppage time, Mariners won a free kick, which Glen Trifiro curled into the box, and Duke got the better of Taylor Regan to toe-poke it in, sealing all three points for the Mariners.
Sian Cowper
