Two crafty assists courtesy of Shepparton’s Garang Kuol lifted the Central Coast Mariners to a 3-0 win over Western Sydney Wanderers at Commbank Stadium on Saturday night.
The Newcastle-bound forward was electric off the bench and delivered a performance that is sure to give Socceroos coach Graham Arnold plenty to consider before he names his 26-man World Cup squad on Tuesday.
Despite incessant pressure, the Mariners could not break down the Western Sydney defence until Kuol’s introduction in the 63rd minute.
It took just five minutes for the 18-year-old to help break the deadlock, closing down Wanderers centre back Ruon Tongyik, who coughed the ball up to substitute Michael Ruhs, who slotted home from close range.
He was in on the action minutes later, putting it on a plate for Ruhs, who converted to double the Mariners’ advantage.
A surgical passing move had Kuol, Ruhs and fellow World Cup hopeful Jason Cummings combine, and Kuol’s precision delivery to the back post made it harder for Ruhs to miss.
A Samuel Silvera rocket in the 81st minute sealed the result and back-to-back victories for the Mariners.
“I reckon we dominated. The boys worked hard and we just couldn't find that goal in the first half,” Kuol said after the game.
“But me and Ruhs found some energy in the second half and the goal was always coming. Happy to get two goals quickly and after I think the game was dead.
"Of course, I could have scored. Just unlucky that the chances didn't come."
Kuol’s impactful cameo was his first A-League appearance of the season after he missed the first three games for the Young Socceroos under-20 Asian Cup qualifiers in Kuwait.
Kuol started every match of the tournament and scored a cracker against India, as the Young Socceroos went on to secure qualification for next year’s AFC under-20 Asian Cup in Uzbekistan.
In September, the star Shepparton export signed a pre-agreement with English Premier League club Newcastle United which will see him move to the club in the January transfer window.