Round 3 Finals Series Preview – League One Men’s

A repeat of the 2020 Grand Final awaits us as Central Coast Mariners and Northern Tigers will play off for the right to face St George City in the 2022 League One Men’s Grand Final this weekend.

And who could forget that match up which went into extra time and thrilled anyone attending at Valentine Sports Park that evening.

Since then however, things have been a bit one sided when these two have met with the Mariners on a four-game winning streak in their head-to-head meetings. However don’t discount the Tigers who have found their best form which went missing for a long stretch of the season. So let’s dig in and see how both sides are coming into this one.

The premiers Central Coast Mariners come into this one after a taxing major semi final last weekend which saw them go down narrowly in extra time. Taking a lead early in second half injury time through a Jakub Cresnar goal, they were so close to being the first side to qualify for the grand final. That was until St George City found a goal deep with the last kick of the game to deny them.

Standing out in that performance were the two fullbacks in Cresnar and Sasha Kuzevski who were tireless in the efforts on either flank. However they will need to improve centrally in attack if they hold hopes of a championship to go along with their premiership. So look out for Lachie Bayliss and Dor Jok in this one who were both unusually quiet last weekend.

The Mariners can take confidence from a good record against their opponents and with a home ground advantage, they will be favourites coming into this one.

In complete contrast to their hosts, Northern Tigers seemed to coast their way to victory last weekend. Taking out two top four sides in as many weekends, the Tigers have returned to the level we know they have in recent weekends. Last weekend, it was a five-goal victory over an understrength Wanderers but that’s not to discount their achievement by any means.

In an impressive performance all round, there was one man who stood above the rest in Futsalroo Shervin Adeli. A leader in the dressing room coming up clutch in recent times with six goals in his past four matches including a hat-trick against the Wanderers. While Alexander “Ally” Brown also impressed playing a part in multiple goals on the weekend.

It’s a clash which promises a lot and with the NPL grand final following later in the day, book your spot on the couch and join Pete Prior for the NPL.TV call this Saturday lunchtime. Or even better join us at Pluim.

Football NSW League One Men’s Preliminary Final

Saturday 27 August, 12:30pm, Pluim Park

Central Coast Mariners FC v Northern Tigers FC

20’s: Northern Tigers FC v Western Sydney Wanderers FC, 3pm