Central Coast Mariners complete fairytale after A-League Women grand final shootout
Central Coast Mariners win their first A-League Women championship in a penalty shootout against Melbourne Victory in the grand final at AAMI Park.
Central Coast Mariners win their first A-League Women championship in a penalty shootout against Melbourne Victory in the grand final at AAMI Park. Photograph:Central Coast have completed their A-League Women championship fairytale with Isabel Gomez the hero in an upset win over Melbourne Victory on penalties in the grand final.
Injured Matildas captain Sam Kerr was among the 6,568 on hand at AAMI Park as the Mariners, in just their second year back in the competition, pulled off a stunning underdog story, winning 5-4 on penalties after scores were locked at 1-1 following extra-time.
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Related: 'Proving people wrong': how Central Coast Mariners reached A-League Women grand final
Seven days after scoring a controversial semi-final winner against Melbourne City, Gomez pounced on a calamitous moment at the back from Victory's Claudia Bunge in the 46th minute to score.
Bunge headed home the equaliser from a corner in the 80th minute, forcing the game to extra-time.
Victory were in disbelief when Mariners defender Taylor Ray wasn't penalised for a clear handball in the box in the 93rd minute, while Sarah Langman made a brilliant save to deny Emily Gielnik a minute later.
The Mariners withstood wave after wave of Victory attacks to take the ALW decider to spot-kicks for the first time.
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After Victory's Alana Jancevski hit the crossbar with the opening penalty, Central Coast nailed every spot-kick, with Bianca Galic converting the winner to send the Mariners into ecstasy.
The triumph completes Central Coast's dramatic run from fourth place, beating Canberra United, Melbourne City and Victory along the way.
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