Central Coast Mariners began their A-League campaign with a 2-1 win away at rivals Newcastle Jets in Sunday s double-header at McDonald Jones Stadium.
The Mariners finished third last season before failing to advance to the semi-finals in the post-season but have ended the first round of 2021-22 fixtures on top of the table.
Joshua Nisbet squeezed a low finish past Newcastle goalkeeper Jack Duncan shortly after half-time, and a second away goal soon followed through Jacob Farrell s thumping header.
Angus Thurgate s superb cross teed up substitute Valentino Yuel 12 minutes from time to set up a tense finish, but the Jets could not recover a first point of the season, slipping to a second consecutive home defeat in the F3 derby for the first time in A-League history.
This. Means. Alot.
— Central Coast Mariners (@CCMariners)
The spoils were then shared between Macarthur and Wellington Phoenix in a 1-1 draw that extended the nominal away side s record unbeaten run to 12 matches.
Macarthur pipped their opponents to a Finals place by a single point last term, but they were forced to play in Newcastle due to the poor standard of their Campbelltown Stadium pitch and then trailed to Gary Hooper s penalty midway through the first half.
Lachlam Rose s 61st-minute finish beat Oliver Sail to get Macarthur back on terms, although there were grateful to Tomislav Uskok for a goal-line clearance in the closing stages.
