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The Central Coast Mariners are currently participating in the 2006-07 A-League competition, hoping to build on their strong performance in the previous domestic season, which included a Pre-Season Cup title, a finals appearance in the World Club Qualification playoff and their participation in the inaugural A-League grand final.
[edit] Preseason Matches
Central Coast Mariners competed in the QNI North Queensland Trophy against A-League club Melbourne Victory, Chinese Super League team Changchun Yatai and the Young Socceroos finishing a respectable 3rd.
The Mariners also played one friendly matches prior to the season commencing.
| Round |
Date |
Home Team |
Score |
Away Team |
Crowd |
| 1 |
June 20, 2006 |
Central Coast |
2-0 |
Central Coast Lightning |
Unknown |
[edit] Transfers
On the back of the Mariners' highly-successful first season, expectation arose as to the big-name players that could potentially join Central Coast. There were strong rumors about Stan Lazaridis, Ned Zelic and Paul Okon coming to the Mariners, but none eventuated. However, on August 3, 2006 Tony Vidmar announced he was joining the Mariners, signing a two-year deal.[1] Vidmar is the Mariners' first marquee signing.
- See also: List of Central Coast Mariners F.C. players
[edit] Coaching Staff
[edit] Pre-Season Cup
[edit] Summary
| Round |
Date |
Home Team |
Score |
Away Team |
Crowd |
| 1 |
July 15, 2006 |
Central Coast |
2-1 |
Perth Glory |
5,682 |
| 2 |
July 22, 2006 |
Central Coast |
0-0 |
Adelaide United |
4,344 |
| 3 |
July 29, 2006 |
Melbourne Victory |
1-3 |
Central Coast |
6,593 |
| 4 |
August 6, 2006 |
Queensland Roar |
0-0 |
Central Coast |
4,571 |
| Playoff |
August 12, 2006 |
Central Coast |
2-1 |
Newcastle Jets |
7,567 |
| Final |
August 19, 2006 |
Central Coast |
(4) 1-1 (5) |
Adelaide United (PEN) |
10,463 |
[edit] Group stage
The Mariners were put in Group A, along with Adelaide United (3rd in 2005-06 A-League season), Perth Glory (5th) and Melbourne Victory (7th). They had two home games in the three-game round-robin series, with one played at Wade Park, Orange, New South Wales, against Adelaide United, and the other at their traditional home, Central Coast Stadium.
Central Coast started their defence of the Pre-Season Cup well, defeating Perth Glory - the team they defeated in the 2005 Pre-Season Cup final - 2-1 at Central Coast Stadium, Gosford in front of 5,682 spectators. Both Central Coast strikers, Stewart Petrie and Adam Kwasnik, scored early goals.[2][3] They followed this up with a gritty nil-all draw at Wade Park against last years' minor premiers, Adelaide United. Coach McKinna said after the game he was "quite contented with the result".[4] For their final Group A game, they travelled to Melbourne's Olympic Park, where they downed Melbourne Victory 3-1, with Adam Kwasnik, Paul O'Grady and Noel Spencer all scoring for the Mariners.[5]
Central Coast played their "bonus" 4th group-crossover round against the Queensland Roar. The "bonus" round awarded "bonus points" based on goals scored (1 point for 2 goals, 2 points for 3 goals, 3 points for 4 or more goals). On this occasion, the Mariners and Roar drew 0-0, and both earned the conventional 1 point for a draw.[6]
Group A
Group B
[edit] Finals
Finishing on top of Group A, with Adelaide United relegated to second on goal differential, the Mariners took on Newcastle Jets in a fiery local derby in the playoff stage. Newcastle took the lead in the 25th minute, before Stewart Petrie converted a penalty in the 53rd minute. The game progressed into extra time, and a 96th minute header from Paul O'Grady gave the Mariners a chance to defend their Pre-Season title in what will be their fourth consecutive domestic final in as many competition entries.[8][9]
In the grand final, they lost to Adelaide United 5-4 on penalties, after scores were tied 1-all after extra time. Carl Veart scored early for Adelaide before the Mariners levelled in the 77th minute through attacking midfielder Andre Gumprecht. In the penalty shootout, Stewart Petrie was the only player to miss on either side, hitting the crossbar.[10]
[edit] 2006-07 A-League Season
[edit] Summary
| Round |
Date |
Home Team |
Score |
Away Team |
Crowd |
| 1 |
August 27, 2006 |
Sydney FC |
1-0 |
Central Coast |
19,274 |
| 2 |
September 3, 2006 |
Perth Glory |
2-0 |
Central Coast |
7,229 |
| 3 |
September 9, 2006 |
Central Coast |
0-0 |
Queensland Roar |
4,644 |
| 4 |
September 17, 2006 |
Melbourne Victory |
1-0 |
Central Coast |
17,617 |
| 5 |
September 23, 2006 |
Central Coast |
1-1 |
Newcastle Jets |
8,439 |
| 6 |
September 28, 2006 |
New Zealand Knights |
0-1 |
Central Coast |
1,632 |
| 7 |
October 6, 2006 |
Adelaide United |
3-1 |
Central Coast |
10,493 |
| 8 |
October 13, 2006 |
Central Coast |
3-1 |
Sydney FC |
11,567 |
| 9 |
October 20, 2006 |
Central Coast |
2-1 |
Perth Glory |
8,496 |
| 10 |
October 28, 2006 |
Queensland Roar |
1-1 |
Central Coast |
13,727 |
| 11 |
November 3, 2006 |
Melbourne Victory |
3-3 |
Central Coast |
28,118 |
| 12 |
November 12, 2006 |
Newcastle Jets |
3-1 |
Central Coast |
14,024 |
| 13 |
November 19, 2006 |
New Zealand Knights |
0-2 |
Central Coast |
2,139 |
| 14 |
November 25, 2006 |
Central Coast |
2-0 |
Adelaide United |
13,119 |
| 15 |
December 3, 2006 |
Central Coast |
0-0 |
Sydney FC |
12,457 |
| 16 |
December 10, 2006 |
Central Coast |
1-0 |
Perth Glory |
8,089 |
| 17 |
December 16, 2006 |
Central Coast |
— |
Queensland Roar |
— |
| 18 |
December 31, 2006 |
Central Coast |
— |
Melbourne Victory |
— |
| 19 |
January 5, 2007 |
Newcastle Jets |
— |
Central Coast |
— |
| 20 |
January 11, 2007 |
Central Coast |
— |
New Zealand Knights |
— |
| 21 |
January 21, 2007 |
Central Coast |
— |
Adelaide United |
— |
[edit] Notes and references
- ^ "Socceroo legend signs on with the Central Coast", Central Coast Mariners official website, 2006-08-04. Retrieved on 2006-08-04.
- ^ "Mariners, Sydney FC notch preseason wins", ABC Sport, 2006-07-16. Retrieved on 2006-07-16.
- ^ "Mariners impress with first up victory", Football Federation Australia (Central Coast Mariners Website), 2006-07-15. Retrieved on 2006-07-16.
- ^ "Mariners earn tough draw against reigning Premiers", Football Federation Australia (Central Coast Mariners Website), 2006-07-22. Retrieved on 2006-07-12.
- ^ "Mariners' title defence on track after win", Football Federation Australia (Central Coast Mariners Website), 2006-07-29. Retrieved on 2006-08-13.
- ^ "Mariners book home semi final after stalemate", Football Federation Australia (Central Coast Mariners Website), 2006-08-06. Retrieved on 2006-08-13.
- ^ a b As the New Zealand Knights and Queensland Roar were tied on points, goal difference, goals for, goals against, and points earned in the "Bonus Round", the sixth degree of disambiguality, number of red cards recieved, was used. See official A-League press release for more details.
- ^ "Mariners set up title defence after derby win", Football Federation Australia (Central Coast Mariners Website), 2006-08-12. Retrieved on 2006-08-13.
- ^ 2005 Pre-Season Cup, 2005 World Club Qualification, 2005-06 A-League, 2006 Pre-Season Cup
- ^ "Adelaide takes title in shootout", Football Federation Australia (A-League Website), 2006-08-20. Retrieved on 2006-08-29.
[edit] See also
Vuko Tomasevic
NAC Breda
1. FC Nürnberg
