A-League wrap: Mariners go top as Adelaide draw

The Central Coast Mariners defeated Wellington Phoenix 1-0 on Sunday to claim top spot in the A-League, as Adelaide were held at home.

Daniel McBreen’s cool finish in the 69th minute proved to be enough for the visitors from Gosford to take all three points at the Westpac Stadium, which lifted them to top of the A-League standings, above Adelaide United and the Newcastle Jets.

It was the Mariners’ third win in as many matches at a venue that is usually a fortress for the Phoenix but one where they continue to struggle against the Graham Arnold’s side.

While Wellington’s performance was an improvement on last Monday’s poor loss to the Victory they still had nothing to show for their efforts and have slipped to ninth with just one win from their opening six matches.

Despite dominating for much of the contest, the Mariners had to wait until the 70th minute to break the deadlock, with Tomas Rogic the provider.

The 19-year-old got round Manny Muscat and Leo Bertos down the left flank then put McBreen clear, the striker coolly fired over an onrushing Mark Paston.

It was all the Mariners needed as the Phoenix pressed hard for an equaliser but to no avail.

Later, Adelaide and Perth Glory shared the spoils in a 1-1 draw at Hindmarsh Stadium.

The Glory opened the scoring just prior to half-time when target man Billy Mehmet finished off a clever piece of play that looked to have been reproduced straight from the training ground.

He broke the deadlock after being served the ball on a platter following a neat first-time exchange between Liam Miller and Dean Heffernan on 43 minutes.

Miller worked forward before releasing Heffernan into the box with a slick through-ball.

He in turn knocked a first-time low cross to the feet of Mehmet, who made no mistake from point-blank range.

Fresh from the half-time break, Adelaide found the equaliser in the 49th minute when Marcelo Carrusca played in Dario Vidosic, who tucked away his shot from a slight angle for his fourth goal of the season.

After Reds captain and gloveman Eugene Galekovic saved from Scott Jamieson, Perth were again denied in the 65th minute but this time by the woodwork when Nicky Ward’s header struck the underside of the bar, resulting in a goalmouth scramble before the ball was cleared.

Danny Vukovic then came to Perth’s rescue minutes later with a diving one-handed save to push away Jeronimo Neumann’s dangerous cross that looked destined to wreak havoc in the visitors’ box.

Former Adelaide captain Travis Dodd had a chance to have the last laugh against his former side when he found himself in space 10 yards out thanks to Jamieson and Mehmet’s intelligent build-up, but he belted his shot well over.