# Central Coast Mariners FC–Western Sydney Wanderers FC rivalry

The Central Coast Mariners FC–Western Sydney Wanderers FC rivalry is a rivalry between New South Wales-based clubs Central Coast Mariners and Western Sydney Wanderers. They are the only two Australian clubs to have won Asian continental club competitions; Wanderers with the 2014 AFC Champions League title and Mariners as the last AFC Cup winners.

## History of the rivalry

The first meeting between the two teams was an A-League match on 6 October 2012, for the Western Sydney Wanderers' first competitive match. The result was a 0–0 draw in front of more than 10,000 spectators at Parramatta Stadium.
The rivalry begun to form between the two teams in April 2013, when the 2013 A-League Grand Final was played on Wanderers' home soil. Central Coast finished the game with a 2–0 victory earn themselves their first A-League Championship title.
On 28 January 2023, the two clubs contested a highly anticipated league fixture, as the Mariners sat second on the A-League Men table and the Wanderers sat third, only two points behind. The match was marred by a moment of aggression from the Wanderers active support bay towards the Central Coast Mariners fans sitting in General Admission, following an equalizer from Yeni Ngbakoto after Sam Silvera had opened the scoring for the Mariners 5 minutes prior. Wanderers fans were widely condemned for "charging at families" in celebration, with video footage captured and posted on Twitter of them jumping over the tarping that separated them from the Mariners fans and storming their bay. The match ended in a 2–2 draw.

## Results

| Competition | # | Date | Home team | Score | Away team | Goals (Mariners) | Goals (Wanderers) | Venue | Attendance$^a$ |
| 2012–13 A-League | 1 | 6 October 2012 | Western Sydney | 0–0 | Central Coast | | | Parramatta Stadium | 10,458 |
| 2012–13 A-League | 2 | 6 January 2013 | Western Sydney | 0–2 | Central Coast | McBreen 41', 90+5' | | Parramatta Stadium | 16,387 |
| 2012–13 A-League | 3 | 2 March 2013 | Central Coast | 0–1 | Western Sydney | | Haliti 80' | Central Coast Stadium | 18,721 |
| 2013 A-League Grand Final | 4 | 21 April 2013 | Western Sydney | 0–2 | Central Coast | Zwaanswijk 43', McBreen 67' (pen.) | | Sydney Football Stadium | 42,102 |
| 2013–14 A-League | 5 | 12 October 2013 | Central Coast | 1–1 | Western Sydney | Duke 55' | Juric 87' | Central Coast Stadium | 17,134 |
| 2013–14 A-League | 6 | 23 December 2013 | Western Sydney | 2–0 | Central Coast | | Juric 20', Hersi 33' | Parramatta Stadium | 15,786 |
| 2013–14 A-League | 7 | 29 March 2014 | Central Coast | 2–1 | Western Sydney | Rose 32', Ibini-Isei 90' | Topor-Stanley 40' | Central Coast Stadium | 13,157 |
| 2013–14 A-League Finals | 8 | 26 April 2014 | Western Sydney | 2–0 | Central Coast | | Hersi 31', La Rocca 81' | Parramatta Stadium | 19,216 |
| 2014–15 A-League | 9 | 19 November 2014 | Western Sydney | 0–0 | Central Coast | | | Parramatta Stadium | 14,691 |
| 2014–15 A-League | 10 | 1 January 2015 | Western Sydney | 0–0 | Central Coast | | | Parramatta Stadium | 14,137 |
| 2014–15 A-League | 11 | 11 April 2015 | Central Coast | 1–0 | Western Sydney | Rose 2' | | Central Coast Stadium | 9,548 |
| 2015–16 A-League | 12 | 29 November 2015 | Central Coast | 0–2 | Western Sydney | | Santalab 66', Nichols 90+3' | Central Coast Stadium | 10,519 |
| 2015–16 A-League | 13 | 23 January 2016 | Central Coast | 1–2 | Western Sydney | Ferreira 67' | Bridge 11', Santalab 88' | Central Coast Stadium | 13,105 |
| 2015–16 A-League | 14 | 1 April 2016 | Western Sydney | 4–1 | Central Coast | García 21' | Castelen 8', Santalab 36', 52', Nichols 83' | Parramatta Stadium | 14,855 |
| 2016–17 A-League | 15 | 29 October 2016 | Western Sydney | 1–1 | Central Coast | Berry 61' | Santalab 2' | Sydney Showground Stadium | 12,168 |
| 2016–17 A-League | 16 | 3 December 2016 | Central Coast | 1–4 | Western Sydney | Powell 5' | Kusukami 6', Martínez 31', McGing 50' (o.g.), Santalab 87' | Central Coast Stadium | 11,075 |
| 2016–17 A-League | 17 | 12 February 2017 | Western Sydney | 0–2 | Central Coast | O'Donovan 65' (pen.), 78' | | Sydney Showground Stadium | 9,618 |
| 2017–18 A-League | 18 | 14 October 2017 | Western Sydney | 2–2 | Central Coast | Asdrúbal 21', De Silva 63' | Riera 39', Bonevacia 69' | Sydney Showground Stadium | 11,650 |
| 2017–18 A-League | 19 | 16 December 2017 | Central Coast | 0–2 | Western Sydney | | Santalab 27', Cejudo 50' | Central Coast Stadium | 7,199 |
| 2017–18 A-League | 20 | 4 January 2018 | Central Coast | 1–2 | Western Sydney | Skapetis 76' | Sotirio 14', Riera 30' | Central Coast Stadium | 7,046 |
| 2018–19 A-League | 21 | 7 December 2018 | Western Sydney | 2–0 | Central Coast | | Baccus 45+3', Sotirio 68' | Sydney Showground Stadium | 8,163 |
| 2018–19 A-League | 22 | 9 February 2019 | Western Sydney | 2–0 | Central Coast | | Elrich 45', Sotirio 77' | Sydney Showground Stadium | 7,064 |
| 2018–19 A-League | 23 | 20 April 2019 | Central Coast | 3–1 | Western Sydney | Simon 34', 52 (pen.)', Rowles 56' | Bridge 67' (pen.) | Central Coast Stadium | 5,059 |
| 2019–20 A-League | 24 | 12 October 2019 | Western Sydney | 2–1 | Central Coast | Đurić 36' | Duke 41', 82 (pen.)' | Western Sydney Stadium | 17,091 |
| 2019–20 A-League | 25 | 2 February 2020 | Central Coast | 1–3 | Western Sydney | Simon 82' (pen.) | Müller 42', Duke 76' (pen.) | Central Coast Stadium | 5,053 |
| 2019–20 A-League | 26 | 27 July 2020 | Central Coast | 1–1 | Western Sydney | Đurić 59' | Cox 88' | Central Coast Stadium | 1,035 |
| 2020–21 A-League | 27 | 19 January 2021 | Central Coast | 0–1 | Western Sydney | | Müller 83' | Central Coast Stadium | 4,659 |
| 2020–21 A-League | 28 | 6 April 2021 | Western Sydney | 2–2 | Central Coast | Simon 22', Bozanic 83' (pen.) | Kamau 74', 78' | Western Sydney Stadium | 9,755 |
| 2021–22 A-League | 29 | 18 December 2021 | Central Coast | 2–0 | Western Sydney | Goddard 59', Bozanic 90+7' | | Central Coast Stadium | 4,389 |
| 2021–22 A-League | 30 | 13 April 2022 | Western Sydney | 2–2 | Central Coast | Nkololo 64' (pen.), Hall 90+5' | Rowles 41' (o.g.), Petratos 54' | Western Sydney Stadium | 4,212 |
| 2022–23 A-League Men | 31 | 5 November 2022 | Western Sydney | 0–3 | Central Coast | Ruhs 66', 72', Silvera 81' | | Western Sydney Stadium | 9,142 |
| 2022–23 A-League Men | 32 | 28 January 2023 | Central Coast | 2–2 | Western Sydney | Silvera 30', Cummings 73' | Ngbakoto 35', Borrello 60' | Central Coast Stadium | 8,565 |
| 2022–23 A-League Men | 33 | 4 March 2023 | Western Sydney | 2–0 | Central Coast | | Borrello 26', Amalfitano 60' | Western Sydney Stadium | 9,899 |
| 2023–24 A-League Men | 34 | 6 January 2024 | Western Sydney | 0–1 | Central Coast | Túlio 25' | | Western Sydney Stadium | 11,982 |
| 2023–24 A-League Men | 35 | 18 February 2024 | Central Coast | 1–0 | Western Sydney | Doka 83' (pen.) | | Central Coast Stadium | 7,568 |
| 2024–25 A-League Men | 36 | 17 January 2025 | Western Sydney | 1–3 | Central Coast | Kuol 14', Edmondson 69', Doka 90' | Temelkovski 85' | Western Sydney Stadium | 6,718 |
| 2024–25 A-League Men | 37 | 22 February 2025 | Central Coast | 0–4 | Western Sydney | — | Sapsford 6', Clisby 13', Milanovic 40', Antonsson 72' (pen.) | Central Coast Stadium | 7,723 |

### Fixture top scorers in the rivalry

| Rank | Scorer | Clubs' | Goals |
| 1 | Brendon Santalab | Western Sydney Wanderers | 7 |
| 2 | Mitch Duke | Central Coast Mariners, Western Sydney Wanderers | 4 |
| 2 | Matt Simon | Central Coast Mariners | 4 |
| 4 | Daniel McBreen | Central Coast Mariners | 3 |
| 4 | Jaushua Sotirio | Western Sydney Wanderers | 3 |

## Statistics and records

As of 22 February 2025, there have been 37 competitive meetings between the two teams, of which Central Coast have won 11 and Western Sydney 16. The biggest winning margin was a 4–0 away win on 22 February 2025 for Western Sydney.

### Summary of results

    As of 22 February 2025
| Competition | Matches played | Central Coast wins | Draws | Western Sydney wins | Central Coast goals | Western Sydney goals |
| League | 37 | 11 | 10 | 16 | 39 | 51 |
| Australia Cup | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 37 | 11 | 10 | 16 | 39 | 51 |

## Crossing the divide

23 players have played for both Central Coast and Western Sydney since 2012. The first player to have played for both clubs, however, predated the start of the rivalry; Michael Beauchamp joined Central Coast in 2005 and Western Sydney upon their admission to the A-League in 2012. Ruon Tongyik and Jack Clisby are the only players to have played for both clubs to have returned to their original club afterwards. Statistics are sourced from ALeagueStats.com and updated as of 19 January 2024.

### Central Coast, then Western Sydney

| Name | Pos | Central Coast | Central Coast | Central Coast | Western Sydney | Western Sydney | Western Sydney |
| Name | Pos | Career | Apps | Goals | Career | Apps | Goals |
| Michael Beauchamp | DF | 2005–2006 | 29 | 0 | 2012–2014 | 44 | 2 |
| Dean Heffernan | DF | 2005–2010 | 83 | 10 | 2013–2014 | 14 | 0 |
| Andrew Redmayne | GK | 2008–2009 | 3 | 0 | 2015–2016 | 37 | 0 |
| Liam Reddy | GK | 2013–2015 | 63 | 0 | 2016 | 6 | 0 |
| Matt Sim | MF | 2014–2015 | 34 | 7 | 2016 | 1 | 0 |
| Nick Fitzgerald | MF | 2010, 2013–2015 | 86 | 9 | 2018–2019 | 15 | 0 |
| Mitch Duke | FW | 2011–2015 | 83 | 15 | 2018–2019, 2021 | 54 | 24 |
| Ziggy Gordon | DF | 2019–2020 | 30 | 0 | 2020–2022 | 40 | 2 |
| Bernie Ibini-Isei | FW | 2010–2014 | 96 | 21 | 2020–2022 | 48 | 6 |
| Oliver Bozanic | MF | 2006, 2010–2013, 2020–2022 | 129 | 11 | 2022–2024 | 16 | 3 |

### Western Sydney, then Central Coast

| Name | Pos | Western Sydney | Western Sydney | Western Sydney | Central Coast | Central Coast | Central Coast |
| Name | Pos | Career | Apps | Goals | Career | Apps | Goals |
| Kwabena Appiah | FW | 2012–2014 | 38 | 0 | 2016–2018 | 40 | 4 |
| Antony Golec | DF | 2014–2015 | 37 | 0 | 2017–2018 | 32 | 0 |
| Jacob Melling | MF | 2016–2017 | 6 | 0 | 2018–2020 | 38 | 0 |
| Jack Clisby | DF | 2016–2018, 2023– | 60 | 3 | 2018–2021 | 76 | 5 |
| Mario Shabow | MF | 2015–2017 | 3 | 0 | 2018–2019 | 11 | 1 |
| Josh Macdonald | FW | 2015 | 5 | 0 | 2018 | 2 | 0 |
| Jonathan Aspropotamitis | DF | 2015–2017 | 53 | 0 | 2019 | 13 | 0 |
| Giancarlo Gallifuoco | DF | 2019 | 7 | 0 | 2019–2020 | 11 | 1 |
| Ruon Tongyik | DF | 2018, 2022 | 6 | 0 | 2019–2022 | 42 | 1 |
| Abraham Majok | FW | 2017–2019 | 23 | 2 | 2019–2020 | 4 | 1 |
| Nicolai Müller | FW | 2019–2021 | 37 | 7 | 2021–2022 | 19 | 2 |
| Nectarios Triantis | DF | 2022 | 1 | 0 | 2022–2023 | 26 | 0 |
| Thomas Aquilina | DF | 2020–2022 | 42 | 0 | 2022–2023 | 13 | 0 |

## Clubs' honours

As of 7 May 2024, these are the football honours of Central Coast Mariners and Western Sydney Wanderers:
| National Competition | Central Coast Mariners | Western Sydney Wanderers |
| A-League Men Premiership | 3 | 1 |
| A-League Men Championship | 2 | 0 |
| Australia Cup | 0 | 0 |
| Pre-Season Challenge Cup | 1 | 0 |
| Total | 5 | 1 |
| Asian competition | Central Coast Mariners | Western Sydney Wanderers |
| AFC Champions League | 0 | 1 |
| AFC Cup | 1 | 0 |
| Total | 1 | 1 |

## Highest attendances

* Western Sydney 0–2 Central Coast; 42,102 (21 April 2013); Sydney Football Stadium (Western Sydney home)
* Western Sydney 2–0 Central Coast; 19,216 (26 April 2014); Parramatta Stadium (Western Sydney home)
* Central Coast 0–1 Western Sydney; 18,721 (2 March 2013); Central Coast Stadium (Central Coast home)
* Central Coast 1–1 Western Sydney; 17,134 (12 October 2013); Central Coast Stadium (Central Coast home)
* Western Sydney 2–1 Central Coast; 17,091 (12 October 2019); Western Sydney Stadium (Western Sydney home)
* Western Sydney 0–2 Central Coast; 16,387 (6 January 2013); Parramatta Stadium (Western Sydney home)
* Western Sydney 2–0 Central Coast; 15,786 (23 December 2013); Parramatta Stadium (Western Sydney home)
* Western Sydney 4–1 Central Coast; 14,855 (1 April 2016); Parramatta Stadium (Western Sydney home)
* Western Sydney 0–0 Central Coast; 14,691 (19 November 2014); Parramatta Stadium (Western Sydney home)
* Western Sydney 0–0 Central Coast; 14,137 (1 January 2015); Parramatta Stadium (Western Sydney home)