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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
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. Advertisement 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. Advertisement 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. More to follow …
The Guardian
18-05-2025
- Sport
- The Guardian
Central Coast Mariners complete fairytale after A-League Women grand final shootout
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. "ONE OF THE MOST EXTRAORDINARY STORIES IN THE HISTORY OF THE GAME IN THIS COUNTRY! 🇦🇺⚽️🏆Instantly iconic.#MVCvCCM 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. Sign up to Moving the Goalposts No topic is too small or too big for us to cover as we deliver a twice-weekly roundup of the wonderful world of women's football after newsletter promotion The triumph completes Central Coast's dramatic run from fourth place, beating Canberra United, Melbourne City and Victory along the way. More to follow …
