The hosts made the perfect start when Li gave Muscat’s outfit a second minute lead, the defender heading home from an unmarked position just outside the six yard box after Wu had flicked on Oscar’s in-swinging corner from the left.

But, after suffering that early setback, Central Coast hauled themselves into the game, Alfie McCalmont forcing a reflex save out of Yan Junling with a first-time shot from a tight angle on the right of the home goal.

Dylan Peraic-Cullen was on hand to keep out Wu’s effort just before the half hour mark, the goalkeeper pushing away the China international’s attempt after the ball had fallen to him when the Mariners defence had failed to clear sufficiently.

The visitors were not being overwhelmed with Alou Kuol racing up the pitch moments later to fire a low shot across the goal of Yan, who then had to use his feet to keep out Doka’s strike in the 37th minute as Central Coast closed in on an equaliser.

William Popp bent his shot high and wide of the Mariners goal after stepping inside Lucas Mauragis with six minutes left in the half and, within a further two minutes, the hosts had doubled their lead.

A Port attack looked to have lost momentum when Gustavo’s pass to Popp was overhit but the Brazilian, wide on the right, cleverly found Wang Shenchao and his centre was sent goalwards by Oscar with Wu applying the faintest of finishing touches a yard from the line.

Storm Roux was narrowly off target 11 minutes after the restart as Central Coast sought to reduce the deficit, and the Australian side’s goal eventually came in the 61st minute when Doka hit a stunning right foot effort from 25 yards that beat Yan via the inside of the post.

Two minutes later a sprawling save from Yan prevented Kuol from equalising from close range but, with time ticking down, Vargas killed off Central Coast’s dwindling hopes when he bent his 86th minute strike around Peraic-Cullen from the edge of the area.

Duarte, introduced for Kuol in the 69th minute, powered forward to slam a low shot past Yan four minutes into time added on, but it was prove too little too late for the Australians.