Central Coast Mariners 0 Wellington Phoenix 1

Central Coast Mariners 0

Wellington Phoenix 1

(Appiah-Kubi  18’)

The Mariners were the architects of their own downfall after a goalkeeper howler and a missed penalty saw Central Coast lose to Wellington in Gosford.

After a bright start in front of a good crowd, Ferreira was denied for the home side with Phoenix keeper Glenn Moss getting down smartly to his right to stop a certain goal on 13 minutes.

But it went horribly wrong for the Mariners minutes later.

Debut keeper Paul Izzo dithered too long on a back pass and the speedy Kwabena Appiah-Kubi nipped into pinch the ball off his feet to open the scoring for Phoenix.

A couple of yellows (Rieira and Ascrof) followed but no further goals in an entertaining first half.

Ferreira was a consistent outlet in the second half as the home side pushed as the crowd of just over 6,000 willed an equaliser.

But the Mariners kept coming and and won a penalty on 82 minutes. However with the pressure on, new signing striker Roy O’Donovan hit the bar to break the home fans’ hearts as their Cup dream ended at the first hurdle.