Latest news with #IsabelGomez
ABC News
19-05-2025
- Sport
- ABC News
Central Coast Mariners claim A-League Women title against Melbourne Victory
After claiming a fairytale first A-League Women championship, the Central Coast Mariners can dare to dream of turning themselves from an underdog to a powerhouse. The Mariners pulled off a stunning triumph on Sunday, winning 5-4 on penalties over Melbourne Victory after scores were locked at 1-1 following extra time. It is just their second year back in the competition after a 14-year hiatus, Injured Matildas captain Sam Kerr was among the 6,568 on hand at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium for the enthralling contest, dominated by brilliant Mariners midfielder Isabel Gomez, who was named player of the match. The triumph completes Central Coast's dramatic run from fourth place, beating Canberra United, Melbourne City and Victory along the way. "Last year, I think we had a lot of heads turned when we made the semi finals," winning penalty taker Bianca Galic said. "And obviously this year, I don't think many people thought we would make semis, let alone come this far." As the Mariners headed for celebrations, Galic joked of Kerr: "She can come." Second-year coach Emily Husband, 35, who built the Mariners squad, earned her first trophy, denying Victory counterpart Jeff Hopkins a record fifth championship. Husband is just the fourth female coach to win the championship after Jitka Klimkova (2012), Liesbeth Migchelsen (2014) and Jess Fishlock (2016-17, player/coach) and the first in a grand final since 2017. "I was definitely overcome with emotion. I'm not a crier, but I cried like a little baby," Husband said. "It's meant so much to this entire group, to the staff, to the club, and so to see the girls get it over the line, it's just an incredible achievement. "Credit to the girls, they dug so deep — I can't even begin to imagine how exhausted they would have been. "It's been a massive few weeks, so I'm just incredibly proud." When asked what was next, Husband said, "Winning the league", while adding she was confident of keeping her squad together. After Victory's Alana Jancevski hit the crossbar with the opening penalty, Central Coast nailed every spot-kick, including Gomez's sneaking in after she slipped while taking it. Galic converted the winner to send the Mariners into ecstasy. Gomez, 22, fresh off a Matildas call-up, was outstanding throughout, consistently driving forward and winning fouls while doing the dirty work in defence. "She's an incredibly special player, and she's somebody that we know has incredible talent, and she's still got a lot more to give," Husband said. It completes an incredible season for Gomez, who made a scintillating return from a 12-week absence with an MCL tear. "I really didn't think I'd get to this point, being injured so early and I'd be able to get back on the right track," Gomez said. Earlier, Gomez pounced on a missed clearance from Victory's Claudia Bunge in the 46th minute to chip Courtney Newbon for the opener. "This past week has been amazing." 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. "Handball," Victory striker Emily Gielnik said. "That's what that's my view was. "Honestly, when it hit her hand, I already envisioned myself scoring the penalty. That's how clear it was to me." There is no VAR in the A-League Women competition. The Mariners withstood Victory — who had 30 shots to Central Coast's 15 — to take the ALW decider to spot-kicks for the first time. The result was devastating for Victory, who also fell agonisingly short of the premiership, won by Melbourne City. "I was really proud of the way that we went about trying to win the game, although it didn't happen," Hopkins said. "And then, obviously, congratulations to Central Coast. They kept their nerve in the penalty shoot out. "It becomes a little bit of a lottery then, but that's the way it goes." AAP
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
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 on penalties over Melbourne Victory in the grand final. The Mariners, in just their second year back in the competition after a 14-year hiatus, pulled off a stunning underdog story, winning 5-4 on penalties after scores were locked at 1-1 following extra-time. Injured Matildas captain Sam Kerr was among the 6,568 on hand at AAMI Park for the enthralling contest. 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 attacks from Victory - who had 30 shots to Central Coast's 15 - 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, including Gomez's sneaking in after she slipped while taking it. Bianca Galic converted the winner to send the Mariners into ecstasy. "ONE OF THE MOST EXTRAORDINARY STORIES IN THE HISTORY OF THE GAME IN THIS COUNTRY! 🇦🇺⚽️🏆Instantly iconic.#MVCvCCM — Ninja A-League (@aleaguewomen) May 18, 2025 The triumph completes Central Coast's dramatic run from fourth place, beating Canberra United, Melbourne City and Victory along the way. "We know there's a lot of critics that didn't have us achieving much or making finals this year and we won out," captain Taren King said on the podium. "Today was our last push and we made it happen." Second-year coach Emily Husband earned her first trophy, denying Victory counterpart Jeff Hopkins a record fifth championship. Husband is just the fourth female coach to win the championship after Jitka Klimkova (2012), Liesbeth Migchelsen (2014) and Jess Fishlock (2016-17, player/coach) and the first in a grand final since 2017. The result was devastating for Victory, who also fell agonisingly short in the premiership, won by Melbourne City. 𝐈𝐙𝐙𝐘 𝐆𝐎𝐌𝐄𝐙 𝐘𝐎𝐔 𝐒𝐔𝐏𝐄𝐑𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐑! 🌟#CCMFC #MVCvCCM #RideTheWave🌊 — Central Coast Mariners (@CCMariners) May 18, 2025 Gomez, 22, fresh off a Matildas call-up, was outstanding throughout, consistently driving forward and winning fouls while doing the dirty work in defence. 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 from 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 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 again but couldn't break through.
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Mariners win first A-League Women's title in dramatic grand final
Underdog Central Coast Mariners claimed their first A-League Women's title on Sunday after prevailing 5-4 in a penalty shootout over Melbourne Victory at AAMI Park. Scores were deadlocked at 1-1 following regulation and extra time, forcing the first penalty shootout in the competition's grand final history. Victory's Alana Jancevski hit the crossbar on the first kick before the Mariners calmly nailed five in a row to trigger scenes of jubilation. "We were very lucky to win and they were unlucky to lose," Mariners goalkeeper Sarah Langman said. "We were ready (for the penalty shootout) and knew we could do it." Showing no nerves in their maiden grand final appearance, Mariners defied the partisan crowd with Matildas squad member Isabel Gomez breaking the deadlock in the 46th minute. Victory were forced into attack mode in a bid to become the first team since Sydney FC in 2009 to come from behind and win a grand final. After waves of attack, Victory were finally rewarded when New Zealand international Claudia Bunge headed the ball past Langman in the 80th minute. For just the second time in the competition's history, the grand final went into extra time but neither team could break the deadlock. Mariners' triumph was a remarkable comeback for the A-League Women's smallest club after they were kicked out of the competition in 2010 due to a lack of funding before making a celebrated return two years ago. During a regular season where they finished fourth, Mariners showcased tactical discipline under Emily Husband, one of only two women coaches in the 12-team league. They entered the final on the back of a major semi-final upset to end Melbourne City's hopes of a trophy treble. It's been a fruitful period for the franchise with the Mariners men's team having claimed back-to-back titles. The men's A-League grand final will be held on May 31. tl/mtp
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Mariners win first A-League Women's title in dramatic grand final
Central Coast Mariners' Sarah Rowe (L) and Melbourne Victory's Claudia Bunge tussle for the ball during the women's A-League football grand final (William WEST) Underdog Central Coast Mariners claimed their first A-League Women's title on Sunday after prevailing 5-4 in a penalty shootout over Melbourne Victory at AAMI Park. Scores were deadlocked at 1-1 following regulation and extra time, forcing the first penalty shootout in the competition's grand final history. Advertisement Victory's Alana Jancevski hit the crossbar on the first kick before the Mariners calmly nailed five in a row to trigger scenes of jubilation. "We were very lucky to win and they were unlucky to lose," Mariners goalkeeper Sarah Langman said. "We were ready (for the penalty shootout) and knew we could do it." Showing no nerves in their maiden grand final appearance, Mariners defied the partisan crowd with Matildas squad member Isabel Gomez breaking the deadlock in the 46th minute. Victory were forced into attack mode in a bid to become the first team since Sydney FC in 2009 to come from behind and win a grand final. Advertisement After waves of attack, Victory were finally rewarded when New Zealand international Claudia Bunge headed the ball past Langman in the 80th minute. For just the second time in the competition's history, the grand final went into extra time but neither team could break the deadlock. Mariners' triumph was a remarkable comeback for the A-League Women's smallest club after they were kicked out of the competition in 2010 due to a lack of funding before making a celebrated return two years ago. During a regular season where they finished fourth, Mariners showcased tactical discipline under Emily Husband, one of only two women coaches in the 12-team league. Advertisement They entered the final on the back of a major semi-final upset to end Melbourne City's hopes of a trophy treble. It's been a fruitful period for the franchise with the Mariners men's team having claimed back-to-back titles. The men's A-League grand final will be held on May 31. tl/mtp
Reuters
18-05-2025
- Sport
- Reuters
Central Coast win A-League Women's Grand Final with penalty shoot-out success
May 18 (Reuters) - Central Coast Mariners won Australia's A-League Women's Grand Final with a 5-4 penalty shoot-out win over Melbourne Victory on Sunday, following a 1-1 draw after extra time, to claim the title for the first time. Captain Bianca Galic smashed home the final penalty to give Central Coast the win, having earlier seen Victory's Alana Jancevski hit the crossbar with the opening spot kick. The game went to a shoot-out after the teams shared a 1-1 draw in regulation time, with neither side able to score in 30 minutes of extra time. Isabel Gomez had given Central Coast the lead less than a minute into the second half when she prodded the ball past Courtney Newbon as the Victory defence failed to clear Annalise Rasmussen's deflected shot as it looped into the air. Victory saw two efforts disallowed before Claudia Bunge levelled with 10 minutes remaining, the central defender meeting Alana Murphy's corner with a powerful header that Annabel Martin could not prevent from crossing the line. The game moved into penalties and Jancevski hit the woodwork with the opening kick of the shoot-out to leave Galic to score the winner in the fifth and final round.
