Central Coast Mariners Losing Matt Simon

Some fairly big transfer news for the Hyundai A-League coming out of Australia tonight, or tomorrow morning local time.

Central Coast Mariners striker Matt Simon has announced that he will be leaving for the K-League side Chunnam Dragons on a 3 year deal. Simon announced that he's always wanted to ply his trade overseas and that he sees this as the next step in his career. His last game in Mariners colors is expected to be January 4 against the Victory.

Simon played on the 2008 Australian Olympic team and has been capped twice for Socceroos. The 25 year old striker has 5 goals in the campaign for Central Coast, good enough for first on the team and 5th overall in the Hyundai A-League.

Best of luck to him as he tries to further his career.

A League Action: Central Coast Mariners vs. Gold Coast United

I have to admit that the coolest thing about this match to me was seeing another pretty good sized crowd at an A League match. I've said before in my blog and tweets that the A League reminds me a lot of MLS, albeit a little bit younger. I think the league and the clubs are really going about it the right way. Fox Soccer here in the USA plays at least one game live every week and then usually replays it once or twice later. That's good because it catches hardcore footy fans like myself in the USA that can contribute as well.

I had to watch this one on the interwebs though, lol.

It was a fairly entertaining match to watch, especially being only two weeks into the new season. Both sides had some pretty good chances in the opening half. For Central Coast Matt Simon took a nice ball from Pellegrino on 9 minutes, but had his driven shot saved by Glen Moss in goal for Gold Coast.

A little later Gold Coast had their best chance of the half when James Brown sliced a ball in that somehow found it's way to the foot of Ben Halloran. Unfortunately for Gold Coast, he hit the shot high and we went to the interval at 0-0.

James Brown showed up again for Gold Coast just a couple of minutes into the second half. He's been doing pretty well for himself. Last week he had the A League goal of the week in rescuing a draw against Wellington Phoenix. This week he banged a shot in from just inside the area in the 47th minute to give Gold Coast the lead.

Central Coast was guilty of looking perhaps a little lethargic at times, but in the end they showed their colors and came back. In the 87th minute, Captain Patrick Zwaanswijk headed home a goal to earn the late draw.

Not the best match from either side, but all in all some pretty decent football to stay up late and watch. It's nice to have the A League back.