Central Coast Mariners have extended their unbeaten A-League Men's run to 11 matches in comprehensive fashion, thrashing Adelaide United 4-0 at Coopers Stadium.
Winger Angel Torres starred, bagging a first-half double as the visitors put the Reds to the sword in a dominant display on Saturday night.
Christian Theoharous also got on the score sheet as the Mariners raced to a 3-0 halftime lead, before a last-minute penalty capped the impressive performance.
Torres ran riot for the Mariners and fired a couple of warning shots, the first saved by United keeper James Delianov.
The Reds failed to clear the resulting corner and Torres let fly from outside the box with Delianov tipping the ball over.
Central Coast’s pressure eventually told and they broke the deadlock on 31 minutes.
Garang Kuol held up possession on the halfway line before releasing Torres who drove towards goal. The Colombian laid off for Theoharous who cut inside Ryan Kitto and curled his shot beautifully into the far corner.
United’s first real chance came minutes later when Giuseppe Bovalina shot just wide from inside the area.
With the half winding down, Torres stole the show, doubling the Mariners’ lead with a stunning strike on 43 minutes.
Teed up by Theoharous on the edge of the area, Torres shifted the ball to his left foot before picking out the top corner with an inch-perfect curling effort.
Two minutes later Torres made it 3-0. Theoharous was again involved, driving down the right before squaring to Max Balard, who dished off for Torres.
The Mariners’ No.11 took a touch and blasted the ball into the roof of the net from 10 metres.
United looked to find a way into the match and on 55 minutes had a decent chance to pull a goal back. Zach Clough crossed for Hiroshi Ibusuki who crashed a header off the bar.
Soon after another set piece from Clough caused a scramble inside the area, with Kitto finding space to shoot but it was kept out by Mariners’ keeper Danny Vukovic.
Central Coast iced the win in the final minute of play when substitute Bailey Brandtman was brought down inside the area by Bovalina.
Fellow substitute Jing Reec stepped up and dispatched the spot kick, powering the ball under Delianov.
Central Coast coach Mark Jackson was delighted with his side’s opening 45 minutes, backed up by a tougher second half.
“I thought the first half we were really, really good, played some excellent football and our structure helped that and we delivered on that and some of the goals were fantastic,” he said.
“The second half wasn’t as good in that respect, but it was good in other aspects.”
United coach Carl Veart was again less than pleased with the Reds’ intensity.
“At crucial parts in the game, the intent to win the ball just wasn’t where it needed to be,” he said.
“We gave them a little bit too much space in the middle of the park and they punished us for that.”
