Mariners win GF to complete A-League Women fairytale
Anna Harrington |
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 at AAMI Park 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 AAMI Park 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.Β
“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.Β
“It becomes a little bit of a lottery then, but that’s the way it goes.”
AAP
