In a thrilling and controversial match, the Central Coast Mariners stunned Melbourne City with a 1-0 victory to secure their spot in the A-League Women grand final. Isabel Gomez delivered the decisive blow in extra time, handing the premiers their only defeat of the season.
The match took a dramatic turn early on when City’s star striker, Holly McNamara, suffered a concussion just 10 minutes in after a heavy collision with Mariners’ goalkeeper Sarah Langman. McNamara, who had been in dangerous form, was forced to leave the field, dealing a significant blow to City’s attacking prowess.
The situation worsened for City when Lourdes Bosch received a straight red card for striking Mariners forward Brooke Nunn in the face, reducing City to 10 players just 15 minutes later.
Despite the numerical advantage, the Mariners struggled to break through until the 121st minute. Peta Trimis seized on a defensive mix-up and set up Gomez, who coolly chipped the ball over Malena Mieres to score the winner. The goal sparked controversy as Gomez appeared to be offside, adding to the drama of the match.
Both teams had opportunities to clinch the game during regular and added time, but it was Gomez’s late strike that ultimately decided the outcome. The Mariners’ victory not only secured their place in the grand final but also ended Melbourne City’s unbeaten run in a dramatic fashion.
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