Tresoglavic’s Header Lifts Us to 1-0 Victory Over Mariners

We secured a crucial 1-0 win over Central Coast Mariners on Sunday afternoon at Rockdale Ilinden Sports Centre, ending our winless three-game streak with a strong performance.

Jacob Tresoglavic was the hero, scoring the match-winning goal late in the first half to give us three vital points.

The match started with both teams focusing on possession, but chances were limited early on. In the 17th minute, Richard Shoueiki fired a shot from the right edge of the box, forcing Mariners keeper Jack Warshawsky into a sharp, low save. Warshawsky made another impressive stop just minutes later, denying Peter Grozos’ long-range curler.

We continued to press forward and should have been in front by the half-hour mark. Lachlan Macdonald picked up the ball on the right side of the box and squared it to Mason Fernandez, whose first shot was saved by Warshawsky. The keeper then denied Fernandez’ follow-up attempt.

Central Coast responded in the 34th minute when Jai Rose lashed a shot from the edge of the box, but Danijel Nizic was equal to it, making a solid save. Fernandez tested Warshawsky again in the 40th minute with a low shot, but the keeper turned it away for a corner.

It was from that left-sided corner that we broke the deadlock. Jerry Skotadis delivered a precise ball to the far post, where Tresoglavic rose above the defenders to head the ball into the roof of the net. We took our 1-0 lead into halftime, showing confidence and solid teamwork.

The second half began with us maintaining our attacking pressure. Shoueiki had a chance early on, curling a bouncing effort just wide of the right post from inside the box. Fernandez then came close again in the 55th minute, volleying narrowly over the bar.

Central Coast started to find some momentum as the second half wore on and pushed for an equaliser. In the 81st minute, Luca Pecora had a shot from a loose ball, but Nizic made a comfortable catch to keep the Mariners at bay.

The Mariners’ high-pressure play led to several set-piece opportunities, but our defence, led by Tresoglavic, stood firm. Tresoglavic was key in covering the channels and ensuring the Mariners’ attackers were kept in check.

In the end, we held on for a well-deserved 1-0 win, earning three points and snapping our losing streak. The result gives us a much-needed confidence boost as we look to build momentum for upcoming matches.

Captain Danijel Nizic & Coach Steve Zoric celebrate the 3 points