Mariners eye top six after Phoenix rout

Central Coast Mariners have moved within striking distance of the A-League Men top-six after thumping Wellington Phoenix 5-0 at Central Coast Stadium.

First-half goals from Marco Urena and Beni N’Kololo combined with second-half strikes from Jason Cummings, Garang Kuol and Matt Hatch moved the hosts to within two points of the top six.

Unbeaten in their last seven, Nick Montgomery’s side has two games in hand on their rivals in the finals and possess the second-best goal difference in the competition.

Watch the latest Sport on Channel 7 or stream for free on 7plus >>

The injury-and COVID-ravaged Phoenix, though still above the Mariners on the table with equal games played, have now lost two on the bounce by a combined score of 11-0.

They will look to regroup against Western United in Ballarat on Saturday, the same day the Mariners host fifth-placed Sydney in a game that looms as a six-pointer.

After playing the through ball that induced Louis Fenton to bring down N’Kololo for a penalty, Urena netted from the spot in the eighth minute of play.

It was then 2-0 in the 24th when a short-corner routine between N’Kololo and Josh Nisbet opened up an angle for the former to bend a shot inside the far post.

The Frenchman almost had a brace on the half-hour but his left-footed effort crashed off the frame of the goal, as did a headed effort from Phoenix’s David Ball four minutes later.

Fenton’s evening went from bad to worse when he brought down Lewis Miller to concede another penalty in the 55th, this one dispatched by Scottish-born but Socceroo-eligible Cummings.

Kuol, younger brother of 2021-22 ALM breakout star Alou, secured a memorable maiden ALM goal in the 68th minute with an audacious flick-on from a long Miller pass and then helped launch the attack that saw Hatch complete the rout in the 93rd minute.

Mariners eye top six after Phoenix rout
Independent Information