Western United have damaged their Central Coast hoodoo with a 3-1 A-League Males win courtesy of a Luke Vickery aim.
Vickery got here off the bench at Industree Group Stadium within the 78th minute and put Western forward 2-1 three minutes later, earlier than Michael Ruhs scored the sealer in added time.
However their first win over Central Coast since 2021 has come at a price after rising star Abel Walatee suffered a suspected stomach harm early in Friday evening’s match.
Walatee had arrange a possibility for the opening aim within the twenty second minute after beating Mariners keeper Dylan Peraic-Cullen to the ball.
The winger handed to Matthew Grimaldi simply centimetres in entrance of aim, however his teammate could not convert, with Mariners defender Sasha Kuzevski denying him on the road.
Whereas Walatee didn’t seem to endure an harm in the course of the contest, he performed on earlier than going to floor minutes later.
The 21-year-old lower a forlorn determine on the sidelines, changed by Riku Danzaki within the twenty sixth minute.
Western United rise to second within the league after securing their first win in Gosford.
Socceroos hopeful Noah Botic broke the impasse within the 58th minute following a sluggish first half from either side.
Angus Thurgate had gained the ball of their defensive half and arrange an aesthetic chain down the sector to Danzaki on the left wing.
Danzaki unleashed a exact cutback, with Botic simply tapping the ball dwelling for his tenth aim of the season.
Botic leads the league’s golden boot standings, forward of Sydney FC’s Joe Lolley (9) and Adelaide United star Archie Goodwin (eight).
The Mariners stay tenth after extending their winless streak to 6 matches.
A Western United personal aim – after a ball from Lucas Mauragis had unfavourably deflected off Tomoki Imai within the 76th minute – allowed Central Coast again into the sport, however the hosts couldn’t revenue.
Seeking a late equaliser, Bailey Brandtman pressured a superb save out of Western United keeper Matthew Sutton within the 87th minute.
