The NRMA Insurance Western Sydney Wanderers have fallen 2-0 to the Central Coast Mariners at Spotless Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
A double from Mariner Roy O’Donovan was the difference between the two sides as the Wanderers struggled to convert countless chances in both halves.
A bouyant start from the Red & Black saw Mitch Nichols begin the attacking onslaught with an exceptional cross to Nico Martínez but the Argentine’s effort was palmed away by Paul Izzo in goals.
Keeper Vedran Janjetovic remained confident between the sticks following last week’s victory and saved a testing cross from Fabio Ferriera.
The Red & Black kept edging closer to finding the opener with Nichols playing a key role in creating many chances in what was his 200th Hyundai A-League game.
The visitors went into the lead when the Mariners were awarded a penalty after Jonathon Aspropotamitis was judged to be holding in the box. O’Donovan stepped up and sent Janjetovic the wrong way.
The Wanderers responded with multiple chances, the most signficant being Jumpei Kusukami’s shot that resulted in a block following a scramble in the box.
O’Donovan doubled Central Coast’s lead again through O’Donovan, who latched onto a long ball and lobbed Janjetovic in goal to seal the win.
The loss was the Wanderers’ first at Spotless Stadium who will now move on to Saturday’s third Sydney Derby of the season.
