Sydney FC 0 Central Coast Mariners 3

A great day out for the people of Canberra. 5,700 through the gate on top of the 7,000 plus last season show once again the potential for an A-League team in Canberra.

Canberra Cosmos dreamed of such crowds.

But what of this game?

Central Coast produced a strong performance across the park. With Sasho Petrovski, and Nick Mrdja pushing last seasons top scorer Adam Kwasnik to the wings, the quality of the forward line looks strong.

In fact I'd put $10 on Kwasnik to finish top scorer for the whole league. He gets heaps of chances, is tremendously fit and strong, takes the penalties and may relax in front of goal with other recognised strikers alongside.

Indeed he scored a neat second goal for the Mariners even if he was offside.

The Mariners look fit. As always. Quality across the park and with Dean Heffernan, Paul O'Grady and Tom Pondeljak all on the bench or unfit Mariners fans should be delighted with the prospects for the season.

Dean Heffernan sitting relaxed in the cool Canberra winters day said, "Training three times a day with a ball in Germany was a big contrast from two sessions a day, with one of those at the gym, with the Mariners."

Still a different training style but Mariners fans will be confident of a good start.

Cracking goals from Matthew Osman and Adam Kwasnik before half-time, were outdone by the games best, a twenty yard dipping volley from Andre Gumprecht.

Mariners Media man Ben Coonan was quietly happy with his afternoon, although trying to remember it's only pre-season and the Mariners as Ben pointed out always do well in pre-season.

His mate from Sydney FC, Mark Worwood, was shall we say, less confident after another

3-0 pre-season defeat.

Sure Sydney had players missing. Are Mark Milligan and Davd Carney missing? Or are they gone?

Sydney's season could be a long struggle if these guys go. But with Steve Corica, Jacob Timpano Iain Fyfe, and Ruben Zadkovich out injured then perhaps the best Sydney could say is that they can only get better.

Branko Culina looked angry after the performance, saying his midfield was outplayed all afternoon.

Lawrie McKinna said the Canberra Stadium was great for football and a pity the stadium wasn't used more!

Interestingly Canberra and Sydney FC's Adam Casey has been used as full back on a couple of occasions now by Culina. Alex Brosque and David Zdrillic provided little spark up front. With the players Sydney have to come back their defence and midfield should be strong.

Goals scoring I imagine will remain a problem. Makes you wonder why Sasho Petrovski was released really.

Still a long way to go. First blood to the Mariners and looking forward already to the A-League's first game of the season between Sydney FC and Central Coast Mariners.