Mariners hold City in thrilling ALW semi first leg

West Australian

03-05-2025

Central Coast will head to Melbourne believing they can spark a mighty upset and reach the A-League Women grand final after fighting out a 2-2 draw with Melbourne City in their semi-final first leg.
The Mariners, who drew twice with unbeaten premiers City in the regular season, took an early lead through Brooke Nunn in the 20th minute of their home leg at Gosford's Industree Group Stadium on Saturday.
But the visitors equalised through Leticia McKenna's stunning free kick in the 29th, before Bryleeh Henry put them in front six minutes later.
Nunn brilliantly drew the Mariners level from a tight angle in the 54th minute.
The winner of the tie on aggregate will face Melbourne Victory or Adelaide United, who play their first leg at Coopers Stadium on Sunday, in the grand final.
City pulled a selection shock, with golden boot leader Holly McNamara named on the bench after suffering a "niggle" in training, while winger Lourdes Bosch didn't train through "soreness".
The Mariners were without important midfielder/defender Taylor Ray through injury.
Both sides traded early chances before the hosts, led by star midfielder Isabel Gomez, snatched the lead.
Annalise Rasmussen nutmegged Rebekah Stott, drove down the left and slipped through Gomez, who squared it for Jade Pennock.
The Englishwoman's strike was well saved by Malena Mieres but Nunn was on hand to tap home the rebound.
It was the ninth time City had fallen behind this season - the previous eight they were able to come back and avoid defeat.
Gomez pounced on a City turnover shortly after and looped a long-range effort over the bar.
From distance, McKenna stepped up to take a free kick and let rip with a wonderful strike that Langman never looked like stopping.
Then, Henry went on a wonderful run down the left before rounding Langman to score her fifth goal in eight games.
Nine minutes into the second half, the Mariners levelled.
Rasmussen released Pennock who slipped through Nunn with a wonderful, incisive pass.
Nunn rounded Mieres then cut onto her right and finished from a tight angle.
Pennock forced a save from Mieres in the 57th minute, while Langman denied Karly Roestbakken in the 64th.
Rasmussen unleashed a wicked strike just wide in the 66th minute, just before City unleashed McNamara.
But neither team could find a late breakthrough.