The Loose Cannon - Issue 121

NO RULES SAUCE RANGE

SOCCEROOS SELECTIONS

The Central Coast Mariners would like to congratulate Garang Kuol, Jason Cummings and David Vukovic on their selection in the Socceroos squad for the upcoming 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

The trio have been pivotal in the Mariners recent form, all playing a vital role in returning the Mariners to competing with the very best in the A-League.

Vukovic has been rewarded for his commitment to the Socceroos, long term success and goalkeeping abilities with his second World Cup position.

Since the start of the A-League this season, the forward has continued his red-hot form, scoring twice and adding a further three assists in four matches. These statistics do not include the three goals that have been narrowly ruled out.

damaging impact players in the A-League, turning into the definition of a match winner.

Vukovic has been a part of one previous World Cup squad, being included in the 2018 World Cup in Russia. The shot stopper was with the squad throughout the whole qualification process for this tournament, earning his spot as one of the leaders of the group.

After leaving Genk following four successful years, the goalkeeper had a brief layover in Holland before reuniting with the Mariners this season.

He was awarded the A-League men’s captaincy for this campaign after the retirement of club legend Matt Simon, providing an experienced head in a youthful playing group.

Cummings first made his Mariners debut in round 12 last season, transferring from Dundee United. The striker would get on the scoresheet in his very first appearance, slotting one past Sydney FC in the 57th minute.

After signing for the Mariners in the middle of the 2021/22 A-League season, Cummings has proven that he is one of the best strikers in Australia, earning his spot in the squad for Qatar.

Four goals, countless assists and numerous dazzling runs later, Kuol was rewarded with a spot in the A-League All-Star squad to take on Spanish giants FC Barcelona.

The teenager tore apart the five-time Champions League winners, almost scoring twice off the back of spectacular runs that left his opponents helpless.

That performance was enough to seal a Socceroos call up and a move to Premier League giants Newcastle United within a week.

Since returning to the A-League this season, Kuol has been a game changer, helping to spark Mariners victories against Western United and Western Sydney.

He has already shown his class, pulling off multiple top class saves to begin this season. He has been a martial at the back, helping the side keep a remarkable clean sheet against the formerly undefeated

The forward has so far scored an additional 11 goals for the club, totalling 12 in the jersey across 25 appearances.

After the success of last season, Cummings went on to make his Socceroos debut in September 2022, scoring from the penalty spot against New Zealand.

Kuol has been at the centre of one of the most meteoric rises Australian football has ever seen, only debuting against APIA Leichhardt in December last year.

His two assists to fellow substitute Michael Ruhs last weekend sealed his position in the World Cup squad, joining the side as one of the most exciting youth prospects of the entire competition.

Since scoring in that FFA Cup match, the forward has proven to be one of the most

The trio will head off to Qatar next week as they prepare to take on the world. The Mariners family cannot wait to watch the three of them and wish them the very best throughout the tournament.

Western Sydney Wanderers last weekend.

SAM SILVERA

MARTIN RAYNER

I’ll say from the outset that this version of Sam Silvera 2.0 that has returned to the Mariners this season is up there as one of my favourite players already in the yellow and blue. Any viewers of my YouTube channel ‘The MartyMariner Show’ (shameless plug intended) will know I’m a massive fan of this bloke. It did however prompt me to look at why this time around I had become such a fan in really a short space of time.

talk about an impact! Amongst a group of quality attacking players Sam has started like the proverbial house on fire. He looks committed, fresh, and eager to fight for a spot in this group. With two goals in the first two games and some near misses since I think he will forge his place in the team and get the feeling is up for a massive season.

When we first saw Sammy you could see the raw talent that he possessed immediately. A natural on the ball he always looked like he was going to do something exciting with it. Obviously, he was a young fella with a lot to learn but you had no doubt that this guy was special and was going to make it. How can you forget his first ever A league goal, a winner away from home against Perth where after winning the ball on the left flank a run into the box resulted in a placed shot inside the far post beating the outstretched hands of Liam Reddy.

As young players do the call of Europe beckoned and can we blame anyone for giving it a crack if they believe it’s the best thing for that stage of their career?. Coming back to the country and going to the Jets however….Sammy what’s doing there!! The best news though is that now Silvera is written on the back of a playing shirt once again for the Mariners and

SCAN TO PLAY NOW

PLAYER AUTOOGRAPHS Mariners ACADEMY finish japan tour

Over the five matches against the best Japanese youngsters, our academy side came away with three victories.

The team defeated Yokohoma Marinos Reserves 4-3 in the first match, lost 4-1 to an impressive Ryutsukeizai University side, and defeated Kashima Antlers Reserves 2-1.

Remarkably between these matches Zac Waddel completed one of his HSC exam’s, finishing the test before rushing back to score a game winner.

Over the past two weeks the Central Coast Mariners academy side have been travelling around Japan, taking part in five friendly games.

Coach Luke Wilkshire took over an exciting squad, filled with talent that has the potential to break into the first team shortly.

In their final two games of the tour, the academy team fell to a tight 4-3 loss against Jef United, before ending on a high, defeating Tsukuba University 4-1.

Congratulations to the boys on an incredible trip, we can’t wait to hear all your amazing stories!

PROUD SPONSOR OF THE CENTRAL COAST MARINERS

The Central Coast Mariners have secured a sensational victory against previously unbeaten table toppers Western Sydney Wanderers on Saturday night, coming away 3-0 winners at CommBank Stadium.

After four minutes of stoppage time was added to the first half, it was Jason Cummings who nearly grabbed a deserved late goal for the Central Coast.

With just under 30 minutes remaining in the match, Mariners head coach Nick Montgomery would turn to his bench in hunt of a winner, with Michael Ruhs and Garang Kuol entering the contest.

only six minutes, smacking it home to hand the Mariners a 2-0 lead in the 72nd minute.

After a dominant first half that saw us unable to find the back of the net, a second half blitz, resulting in three goals in the final 25 minutes, handed us the incredible victory on the road.

The match also acted as Storm Roux’s 200th A-League game, with the defender celebrating the occasion with a cameo after coming on in place of Jacob Farrell in the final ten minutes.

The chance again came from Kaltak’s head, with the defender finding Cummings steaming into the back post. The striker got a solid connection and found the target, only for Thomas to smother his effort just wide.

That chance was the last of the first half, leaving the scores locked at nil-all at the break.

These substitutions proved to be a masterstroke, with the duo linking up twice in the following 10 minutes to give the Mariners their just rewards.

Fellow substitute Sammy Silvera joined the party shortly after, with Cummings again playing an integral role in the goal.

The striker collecting the ball near the halfway line, driving before finding Silvera 30 yards out.

The Mariners first major chance of the match came through the head of Brian Kaltak, with the central defender getting on the end of a beautiful Beni Nkololo cross.

Wanderers goalkeeper Lawrence Thomas was left stuck to the ground as the centre half connected perfectly with the ball, only being denied by the post to keep the scores level in the 13th minute.

The second half began the same way the first ended, with Cummings going close as the Mariners continued to assert their dominance on the contest.

The first came in the 66th minute, with Kuol and the Central Coast frontline pressing hard on former Mariner Ruon Tongyik. The centre half couldn’t get the ball out of his defensive end, with Kuol pinching it before finding Ruhs.

After some scramble defence in the box from Western Sydney, Cummings again found the ball, controlling it well before laying it back to Silvera.

The side continued to dominate throughout the following thirty minutes, having multiple half chances without quite finding that perfect opportunity.

The striker made no mistake from twelve yards out, slotting it past Thomas to give the Mariners the 1-0 lead.

One soon became two with the pair again coming together to produce magic, Kuol finding the ball after a brilliant Mariners counterattack.

The youngster made it three in four so far this season with a stunning strike, his blistering effort jetting through the Wanderers defensive line and into the net.

Cummings almost got a well-deserved goal in the final 30 seconds of the match, beating Tongyik before hitting an effort from range.

The play all started with a Jacob Farrell interception, the left back passing to a vacant Cummings in the centre of the field.

The striker unselfishly played the ball over to an unmarked Kuol, who drilled the ball across the six-yard line to again pick out Ruhs. The striker completing his brace in

His shot blasting past Thomas, with only the post saving the Wanderers from a fourth and final goal.

The win now pushes the Mariners up to third on the Isuzu UTE A-League Men’s ladder with a game still in hand, currently sitting on seven points after back-to-back wins.

Thomas AQuilina brian kaltak JOSHUA NISBET

MAX BALARD SAMUEL SILVERA jason cummings matheus moresche beni nkololo harry steele garang kuol storm roux kelechi john jacob farrell matthew simon daniel vukovic michael ruhs cameron windust daniel hall yaren sozer nectarios triantis bradley tapp sasha kuzevski james bayliss dor jok jakob cresnar paul ayongo marco tulio