Mariners win GF to complete A-League Women fairytale
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.
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.
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.
Second-year coach Emily Husband earned her first trophy, denying Victory counterpart Jeff Hopkins a record fifth championship.
Gomez, fresh off a Matildas call-up, was outstanding throughout.
Skipper Taren King, Jessika Nash and Annabel Martin brilliantly kept Victory spearhead Gielnik quiet.
Gun midfielder Alana Murphy was arguably Victory's best.
Central Coast took the lead when Galic pinched the ball off Sara D'Appolonia and found Annalise Rasmussen.
The striker's shot deflected off Kayla Morrison and Bunge missed her attempted clearance, with Gomez nipping in and brilliantly chipping Courtney Newbon.
Victory's equaliser arrived when Murphy whipped in a corner that was met by Bunge, and Martin couldn't stop the ball crossing the line.
Morrison pulled off an extraordinary game-saving challenge on Rasmussen in injury time to ensure the match went to extra-time.
Victory peppered the Mariners' goal time and time again but couldn't break through.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News.com.au
2 hours ago
- News.com.au
Fitzy praises unsung hero
NRL: Sharks coach Craig Fitzgibbon speaks to the media after their 15 victory against the Dragons.
The Advertiser
a day ago
- The Advertiser
Goodwin looks to foot surgery to get World Cup fit
Missing out on the Socceroos' jubilation on qualifying directly for the World Cup is a sore point for star forward Craig Goodwin. But a more pressing soreness is a nerve in his left foot, requiring the Adelaide United talisman to go under the knife in a bid for a full A-League Men season to push his World Cup chances. Despite the injury setback keeping him out of the Socceroos' last two World Cup qualifiers, Goodwin is clear on what's expected if he's to return for the big dance in North America next year. A return to hometown club Adelaide United from Saudi Arabia has also given him added confidence in his ability to catch the eye of Socceroos coach Tony Popovic in the next 12 months. "(Popovic) has made it very clear, it's about playing regularly and playing your best football," Goodwin said. "I think he's shown by picking multiple A-League players it doesn't matter whether you're playing here or playing abroad. "I made the last World Cup playing for Adelaide and had a really good World Cup there and a lot of my best football has come at Adelaide United." Goodwin played a starring role in Australia's Qatar 2022 journey, scoring against France and taking the deflected shot credited as an own goal in the knockout stage against Argentina. However, the Reds forward knows Popovic's expectation for any prospective Socceroo is good long-term club form, something Goodwin is hoping surgery can help him achieve. "The injury I have is a neuroma, an inflamed nerve in my left foot that I've been managing for the last three or four years," Goodwin said on Wednesday. "The cortisones are no longer working so I need to remove the lump and it's a six-week recovery." The disappointing fortunes of Goodwin's relegated Saudi club Al Wehda led the 30-cap Socceroo to explore options both within Saudi Arabia and around the world. Ultimately, it was the appeal of running out again for his hometown team that drew Goodwin back to South Australia where he'll continue to push his Socceroos credentials under new Adelaide boss Airton Andrioli. "It was a little bit of the decision of OK, I'm 33, I don't see myself retiring any time soon," Goodwin said. "I had two really good seasons (in Saudi Arabia) individually, and that translated into national team call ups and being consistent on the national stage. "But going forward, it's about being where I feel the most passion for and I believe that's going to get the most out of my football." Missing out on the Socceroos' jubilation on qualifying directly for the World Cup is a sore point for star forward Craig Goodwin. But a more pressing soreness is a nerve in his left foot, requiring the Adelaide United talisman to go under the knife in a bid for a full A-League Men season to push his World Cup chances. Despite the injury setback keeping him out of the Socceroos' last two World Cup qualifiers, Goodwin is clear on what's expected if he's to return for the big dance in North America next year. A return to hometown club Adelaide United from Saudi Arabia has also given him added confidence in his ability to catch the eye of Socceroos coach Tony Popovic in the next 12 months. "(Popovic) has made it very clear, it's about playing regularly and playing your best football," Goodwin said. "I think he's shown by picking multiple A-League players it doesn't matter whether you're playing here or playing abroad. "I made the last World Cup playing for Adelaide and had a really good World Cup there and a lot of my best football has come at Adelaide United." Goodwin played a starring role in Australia's Qatar 2022 journey, scoring against France and taking the deflected shot credited as an own goal in the knockout stage against Argentina. However, the Reds forward knows Popovic's expectation for any prospective Socceroo is good long-term club form, something Goodwin is hoping surgery can help him achieve. "The injury I have is a neuroma, an inflamed nerve in my left foot that I've been managing for the last three or four years," Goodwin said on Wednesday. "The cortisones are no longer working so I need to remove the lump and it's a six-week recovery." The disappointing fortunes of Goodwin's relegated Saudi club Al Wehda led the 30-cap Socceroo to explore options both within Saudi Arabia and around the world. Ultimately, it was the appeal of running out again for his hometown team that drew Goodwin back to South Australia where he'll continue to push his Socceroos credentials under new Adelaide boss Airton Andrioli. "It was a little bit of the decision of OK, I'm 33, I don't see myself retiring any time soon," Goodwin said. "I had two really good seasons (in Saudi Arabia) individually, and that translated into national team call ups and being consistent on the national stage. "But going forward, it's about being where I feel the most passion for and I believe that's going to get the most out of my football." Missing out on the Socceroos' jubilation on qualifying directly for the World Cup is a sore point for star forward Craig Goodwin. But a more pressing soreness is a nerve in his left foot, requiring the Adelaide United talisman to go under the knife in a bid for a full A-League Men season to push his World Cup chances. Despite the injury setback keeping him out of the Socceroos' last two World Cup qualifiers, Goodwin is clear on what's expected if he's to return for the big dance in North America next year. A return to hometown club Adelaide United from Saudi Arabia has also given him added confidence in his ability to catch the eye of Socceroos coach Tony Popovic in the next 12 months. "(Popovic) has made it very clear, it's about playing regularly and playing your best football," Goodwin said. "I think he's shown by picking multiple A-League players it doesn't matter whether you're playing here or playing abroad. "I made the last World Cup playing for Adelaide and had a really good World Cup there and a lot of my best football has come at Adelaide United." Goodwin played a starring role in Australia's Qatar 2022 journey, scoring against France and taking the deflected shot credited as an own goal in the knockout stage against Argentina. However, the Reds forward knows Popovic's expectation for any prospective Socceroo is good long-term club form, something Goodwin is hoping surgery can help him achieve. "The injury I have is a neuroma, an inflamed nerve in my left foot that I've been managing for the last three or four years," Goodwin said on Wednesday. "The cortisones are no longer working so I need to remove the lump and it's a six-week recovery." The disappointing fortunes of Goodwin's relegated Saudi club Al Wehda led the 30-cap Socceroo to explore options both within Saudi Arabia and around the world. Ultimately, it was the appeal of running out again for his hometown team that drew Goodwin back to South Australia where he'll continue to push his Socceroos credentials under new Adelaide boss Airton Andrioli. "It was a little bit of the decision of OK, I'm 33, I don't see myself retiring any time soon," Goodwin said. "I had two really good seasons (in Saudi Arabia) individually, and that translated into national team call ups and being consistent on the national stage. "But going forward, it's about being where I feel the most passion for and I believe that's going to get the most out of my football."
Perth Now
2 days ago
- Perth Now
Luck of the Irish
Rockingham Mandurah will have the luck of the Irish on their side when they chase Premier Cricket glory next summer. The Mariners have announced Irish-born batter Luke Horgan to bolster their line-up as they attempt to build further on last season's success, when they won a first round final and finished in the top four of WA's district cricket competition. Horgan, 22, this week told Mandurah Times he had always wanted to test his skills on Australian wickets and was looking forward to joining the Mariners at Lark Hill when the season starts in October. Your local paper, whenever you want it. 'A few of my mates have been over to Perth to play cricket and have some great stories and have said how much fun it is,' he said. 'Once I came over to the east coast for a few weeks for the Christmas and New Year period in 2016-17 on a family holiday, but I have never been to Perth. 'Everyone keeps saying how Perth has the best beaches in the world, so excited for that. 'I've heard the summers are hot, so I've been told to stack up on factor 50 and watch out for the heat.' The right-handed Horgan hopes to slot in anywhere in the top order for the Mariners, having opened for his university team and batted No.5 for his current club Dorridge in the Birmingham and District Premier League. He has just finished an economics degree in Nottingham and said it was a quick and easy decision to spend summer in Perth once Rockingham Mandurah had reached out. 'I have always wanted to come out for a season after finishing studies,' he said. 'I am looking forward to making new mates and playing cricket somewhere completely different to home will be a good challenge. 'Once my agent messaged about the interest from the Mariners, I was very keen to sign so it was a pretty smooth process.' Horgan was a relatively late starter in cricket, having grown up in Cork, Ireland, where Gaelic football is king. 'I only started playing when I was 12 when I joined secondary school,' he said. 'I played a lot of rugby, football and hockey growing up and played Gaelic football during the winters at university.' Being here at the same time as the England tour for what promises to be another compelling Ashes series of Test cricket is another bonus. 'Obviously being Irish I'm probably a bit more neutral than most of the English lads coming over, but I'll definitely be trying to watch as much of it as possible,' he said. 'I'm definitely going to go to the first test in Perth and will try get over to the last two in Melbourne and Sydney but the series could well be done by then.'
