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 Attendancea 2012–13 A-League 1 6 October 2012 Western Sydney0–0 Central Coast — — Parramatta Stadium 10,458 2 6 January 2013 Western Sydney0–2 Central Coast McBreen 41', 90+5' — Parramatta Stadium 16,387 3 2 March 2013 Central Coast0–1 Western Sydney — Haliti 80' Central Coast Stadium 18,721 2013 A-League Grand Final 4 21 April 2013 Western Sydney0–2 Central Coast Zwaanswijk 43', McBreen 67' (pen.) — Sydney Football Stadium 42,102 2013–14 A-League 5 12 October 2013 Central Coast1–1 Western Sydney Duke 55' Juric 87' Central Coast Stadium 17,134 6 23 December 2013 Western Sydney2–0 Central Coast — Juric 20', Hersi 33' Parramatta Stadium 15,786 7 29 March 2014 Central Coast2–1 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 Sydney2–0 Central Coast — Hersi 31', La Rocca 81' Parramatta Stadium 19,216 2014–15 A-League 9 19 November 2014 Western Sydney0–0 Central Coast — — Parramatta Stadium 14,691 10 1 January 2015 Western Sydney0–0 Central Coast — — Parramatta Stadium 14,137 11 11 April 2015 Central Coast1–0 Western Sydney Rose 2' — Central Coast Stadium 9,548 2015–16 A-League 12 29 November 2015 Central Coast0–2 Western Sydney — Santalab 66', Nichols 90+3' Central Coast Stadium 10,519 13 23 January 2016 Central Coast1–2 Western Sydney Ferreira 67' Bridge 11', Santalab 88' Central Coast Stadium 13,105 14 1 April 2016 Western Sydney4–1 Central Coast García 21' Castelen 8', Santalab 36', 52', Nichols 83' Parramatta Stadium 14,855 2016–17 A-League 15 29 October 2016 Western Sydney1–1 Central Coast Berry 61' Santalab 2' Sydney Showground Stadium 12,168 16 3 December 2016 Central Coast1–4 Western Sydney Powell 5' Kusukami 6', Martínez 31', McGing 50' (o.g.), Santalab 87' Central Coast Stadium 11,075 17 12 February 2017 Western Sydney0–2 Central Coast O'Donovan 65' (pen.), 78' — Sydney Showground Stadium 9,618 2017–18 A-League 18 14 October 2017 Western Sydney2–2 Central Coast Asdrúbal 21', De Silva 63' Riera 39', Bonevacia 69' Sydney Showground Stadium 11,650 19 16 December 2017 Central Coast0–2 Western Sydney — Santalab 27', Cejudo 50' Central Coast Stadium 7,199 20 4 January 2018 Central Coast1–2 Western Sydney Skapetis 76' Sotirio 14', Riera 30' Central Coast Stadium 7,046 2018–19 A-League 21 7 December 2018 Western Sydney2–0 Central Coast — Baccus 45+3', Sotirio 68' Sydney Showground Stadium 8,163 22 9 February 2019 Western Sydney2–0 Central Coast — Elrich 45', Sotirio 77' Sydney Showground Stadium 7,064 23 20 April 2019 Central Coast3–1 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 Sydney2–1 Central Coast Đurić 36' Duke 41', 82 (pen.)' Western Sydney Stadium 17,091 25 2 February 2020 Central Coast1–3 Western Sydney Simon 82' (pen.) Müller 42', Duke 76' (pen.) Central Coast Stadium 5,053 26 27 July 2020 Central Coast1–1 Western Sydney Đurić 59' Cox 88' Central Coast Stadium 1,035 2020–21 A-League 27 19 January 2021 Central Coast0–1 Western Sydney — Müller 83' Central Coast Stadium 4,659 28 6 April 2021 Western Sydney2–2 Central Coast Simon 22', Bozanic 83' (pen.) Kamau 74', 78' Western Sydney Stadium 9,755 2021–22 A-League 29 18 December 2021 Central Coast2–0 Western Sydney Goddard 59', Bozanic 90+7' — Central Coast Stadium 4,389 30 13 April 2022 Western Sydney2–2 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 Sydney0–3 Central Coast Ruhs 66', 72', Silvera 81' — Western Sydney Stadium 9,142 32 28 January 2023 Central Coast2–2 Western Sydney Silvera 30', Cummings 73' Ngbakoto 35', Borrello 60' Central Coast Stadium 8,565 33 4 March 2023 Western Sydney2–0 Central Coast — Borrello 26', Amalfitano 60' Western Sydney Stadium 9,899 2023–24 A-League Men 34 6 January 2024 Western Sydney0–1 Central Coast Túlio 25' — Western Sydney Stadium 11,982 35 18 February 2024 Central Coast1–0 Western Sydney Doka 83' (pen.) — Central Coast Stadium 7,568 2024–25 A-League Men 36 17 January 2025 Western Sydney1–3 Central Coast Kuol 14', Edmondson 69', Doka 90' Temelkovski 85' Western Sydney Stadium 6,718 37 22 February 2025 Central Coast0–4 Western Sydney — Sapsford 6', Clisby 13', Milanovic 40', Antonsson 72' (pen.) Central Coast Stadium 7,723 2025–26 A-League Men 36 22 November 2025 Western Sydney3–2 Central Coast Mauragis 9', McCalmont 39' (pen.) Kraev 1', Barbarouses 11', 23' (pen.) Western Sydney Stadium 6,557 37 22 February 2026 Central Coast3–2 Western Sydney Auglah 55', Blair 77', Donachie 89' Thurgate 8', Ibusuki 69' Central Coast Stadium 4,506

Statistics and records As of 22 February 2026, there have been 39 competitive meetings between the two teams, of which Central Coast have won 12 and Western Sydney 17. The biggest winning margin was a 4–0 away win on 22 February 2025 for Western Sydney.

Results

Competition Matches played Central Coast wins Draws Western Sydney wins Central Coast goals Western Sydney goals League 39 12 10 17 44 56 Australia Cup 0 0 0 0 0 0 Total 39 12 10 17 44 56

Top scorers RankScorerClubs'Goals1 Brendon SantalabWestern Sydney Wanderers72 Mitch DukeCentral Coast Mariners, Western Sydney Wanderers4 Matt SimonCentral Coast Mariners4 Daniel McBreenCentral Coast Mariners3 Jaushua SotirioWestern Sydney Wanderers

Crossing the divide Twenty-three 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 NamePosCentral CoastWestern SydneyCareerAppsGoalsCareerAppsGoalsMichael BeauchampDF2005–20062902012–2014442Dean HeffernanDF2005–201083102013–2014140Andrew RedmayneGK2008–2009302015–2016370Liam ReddyGK2013–2015630201660Matt SimMF2014–2015347201610Nick FitzgeraldMF2010, 2013–20158692018–2019150Mitch DukeFW2011–201583152018–2019, 20215424Ziggy GordonDF2019–20203002020–2022402Bernie Ibini-IseiFW2010–201496212020–2022486Oliver BozanicMF2006, 2010–2013, 2020–2022129112022–2024163

Western Sydney, then Central Coast NamePosWestern SydneyCentral CoastCareerAppsGoalsCareerAppsGoalsKwabena AppiahFW2012–20143802016–2018404Antony GolecDF2014–20153702017–2018320Jacob MellingMF2016–2017602018–2020380Jack ClisbyDF2016–2018, 2023–6032018–2021765Mario ShabowMF2015–2017302018–2019111Josh MacdonaldFW201550201820Jonathan AspropotamitisDF2015–20175302019130Giancarlo GallifuocoDF2019702019–2020111Ruon TongyikDF2018, 2022602019–2022421Abraham MajokFW2017–20192322019–202041Nicolai MüllerFW2019–20213772021–2022192Nectarios TriantisDF2022102022–2023260Thomas AquilinaDF2020–20224202022–2023130

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)

References