Central Coast Mariners win first ever A-League title in spectacular fashion | OneFootball

Central Coast Mariners have made history by claiming their first ever A-League Women’s title.

Emily Husband’s side held their nerve to beat Melbourne Victory 5-4 on penalties. In another first, this was the first time the Grand Final had been decided by a penalty competition.

Victory, playing in their fifth Grand Final, had early chances to take the lead. Under pressure from Rachel Lowe, a poor back pass from Jess Nash looked to have sold Sarah Langman short. Lowe squared for Emily Gielnik but the chance was snuffed by an alert piece of defending from Annabel Martin.

Barely a minute later, Gielnik was denied again, this time by the offside flag. A Victory corner wasn’t dealt with by the Mariners defence and the ball ricocheted through to the Australia international. She reacted quickest to beat Nash to the ball and prodded home, but was just offside.

If the Mariners’ nerves were on show in the early part of the game, they had disappeared for the second half. And within a minute of the restart, they were ahead.

Annalise Rasmussen’s long-range shot cannoned off Kayla Morrison. The loose ball looked to be running through for Claudia Bunge to clear, but she fluffed her lines. That was all the opportunity Isabel Gomez needed. She pounced to lift the ball just over the outstretched hand of the diving Courtney Newbon and send the Mariners faithful wild.

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Bunge thought she’d redeemed herself with 25 minutes left when she headed home from a corner. But to her frustration, the referee had already blown for a foul on Langman by Sara D’Appolonia.

With 10 minutes left, Victory — and Bunge — got their goal. It was another corner that wasn’t dealt with by the Mariners. Bunge headed home despite the best efforts of Martin on the goal line who couldn’t keep the ball out.

Mariners make history with shootout triumph

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Brooke Nunn and Alana Jančevski traded late chances, but with no change in the score line after 120 minutes, the destination of the title would be decided from the spot.

Jančevski got the shootout underway, but saw her effort smash the crossbar.

Tiana Fuller was first up for the Mariners. The 16 year old dispatched her effort with a stunning calmness for someone so young. It was a lead the Mariners wouldn’t relinquish.

Six more perfect penalties followed as Gielnik, Peta Trimis, Alex Chidiac, Jade Pennock, Holly Furphy and Gomez converted.

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All of which meant, Morrison had to score Victory’s fifth to keep them alive. She did just that. The pace and accuracy leaving Langman with no chance.

That gave Bianca Galic the chance to write her name in the history books. The Central Coast captain smashed the ball down the middle to complete a remarkable season.

Two years after they reformed, Central Coast Mariners are champions of Australia.

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