By Jonathon Hagger 14/4/24
Above: The Central Coast Mariners celebrate the penalty shootout win over Melbourne Victory. Photo: Central Coast Mariners
Melbourne Victory 0 (2)- 0 (4) Central Coast Mariners
The second elimination final pitted the Melbourne Victory against the might of the Central Coast Mariners. In very warm conditions both teams went in to the game with one focus – to win and go and through to the semifinals. Finals football is often fast and a feast for the eyes. This match would absolutely provide both of those elements.
As could be expected of these two teams, consistency if keeping the formation shape played a big part of the opening minutes of play. The Mariners were able to apply pressure early on with Wurigumula getting a tidy shot on goal however the trusty hands of the Victory keeper, Courtney Newbon, easily collected the ball.
The Victory flipped the tables on the Mariners with a lengthy run of quality possession. A lovely weighted through ball from Rankin to Chidiac opened up the first opportunity to score. Chidiac chased down the ball then delivered a beautiful cross to the penalty spot but her team mates didn’t get the memo so the ball was cleared by Mariners defender, Paige Hayward. This would be the first and certainly not the last nervous moment for Mariners coach, Emily Husband.
Just moments later in the 11th minute, the Mariners progressed the ball up the pitch with ease. Bryson found herself wide open on the right edge and had oodles of time to cross the ball dead centre in front of the Victory goal. Kyah Simon was able to get her head to the ball but she wasn’t able to direct the ball in quite the right direction and the Victory narrowly avoided going down a goal.
Beattie Goad was the inspiration behind the Victory’s breakout run in the 16th minute with a lovely pass down the left wing connecting with Rankin then Privitelli who unleashed a superb shot that the Mariners keeper, Dumont, palmed up over the crossbar for a corner. The Victory demonstrated why they are such a great team with this run of play.
It was off the back of a fast break by the Victory in the 21st minute that the Mariners demonstrated why they are so good. Five defenders raced back at full speed to shut down a counter attack off the back of Chidiac racing away with the ball. Eventually the okay was shut down as Isabel Gomez closed down the attack with a beautiful all of the ball tackle.
Mariners supporters next ‘heart in your mouth’ moment happened in the 28th minute as a poor free kick was picked up by Victory’s Kellond-Knight unmarked 10 meters in the Mariners half. Lowe and Chidiac both attempted shots on goal but neither were able to convert. The Victory appealed for hand ball as a Mariners defender who was prone on the ground raised her hands to stop the ball from hitting her in the face. The referee decided that the ball had not touched her hands but the ball had in fact connected with her face.
It was off a foul by Isabel Gomez in the 44th minute that presented the Victory with an opportunity to go ahead before half time. A well taken free kick by Alana Murphy saw the ball sail into the Mariners goal area and Victory defender Kayla Morrison being the recipient of the kick but her header was unable to find the target.
The first half finished 0-0.
Emily Husbands half time speech to the Mariners team almost reaped rewards immediately after play restarted in the second half as Martin put Wurigumula in space with ball who then set up Kyah Simon right in front of goal with a beautiful floating pass but a wayward toe poke sent the ball harmlessly over the bar. What was the very best opportunity to score went unconverted. Shortly after Martin again connected with Simon but once again the goal attempt wasn’t on target so another chance was squandered.
The pressure being applied to the Victory kept being applied and once again almost resulted in a score in the 50th minute. The Mariners high press play forced a turnover of possession with Badiwaya delivering a lovely attempt on goal that was spilled by the Victory goalkeeper, Newbon. Wurigumala, who was unmarked right in front of goal, couldn’t believe her luck and should have pocketed an easy goal but an entirely wayward shot ended in disappointment for the Mariners.
The Victory team absorbed 20 minutes of pressure from the Mariners before they were able to make their first foray on attack. A chipped long ball in the 64th minute fell just in behind the Mariners defenders and was collected by attacker Privitelli who laid a short pass back to Chidiac. The resulting strike went well wide of the Mariners goal and another brilliant opportunity was missed.
The experience of the Victory players came to the fore as Alex Chidiac was able to win a free kick right on the edge of the Mariners goal area in the 67th minute. Mariners defender, Irwin, cut down Chidiacs high speed attack and was very lucky to not concede a penalty, Irwin was rightly issued a yellow card. The free kick taken by Alana Murphy was easily dealt with by the goal keeper.
After a long period of play with the Victory dominating possession and momentum, the Mariners were able to reassert themselves in the 74th minute courtesy of an error with newly subbed teenage sensation Peta Trimis shooting from just outside the box. It would require a much higher quality shot to beat the quality of goal keeper Newbon.
With the 90 minute mark bearing down on the match, the Mariners went all in. Repeated shots on goal, pressure in and around the Victory box and a could have been/should have been opportunity to score in the 89th minute just couldn’t be converted. It was the extremely hard work of the Victory defenders that kept them in the match as Mariners attacker Simon had a great chance to score but, yet again, it wasn’t to be.
In an interesting play in the 93rd minute, Beadie Goad delivered a wonderful cross into the Mariners goal area but no Victory players were on hand to score. This play encapsulated the effort being made by Victory and the inability to close out the match. Would this moment come back to haunt them?
As the full time whistle blew the scores were locked up at 0-0 and an additional 30 minutes of play would give each team the opportunity to make a statement through scoring and secure a semifinal berth. Both teams had good chances to score in regular time but it wasn’t to be.
In the same way as the second half started, the Mariners started extra time with an intent to score early and close out the match. Immediately after restarting play, Galic took a swing at the ball but a lack of timing saw the ball roll away out of danger.
Not to be outdone Privitelli for the Victory floated a beautifully weighted pass into the oncoming player but Lowes header wasn’t able to be directed in the right direction. The momentum of Lowe’s body meant she didn’t have enough control of the ball. Shortly after in the 96th minute, Goad took a speculative shot on goal that hit a Mariners defender with the ball finding Privitelli who again just couldn’t get the ball on target. The momentum of the match was now entirely with the Victory. Wave after wave of attacks were dealt with by Dumont and no goals were scored.
And still after 105 minutes of play the score remained 0-0. Each team had plenty of chances to score but neither team had done so. The first team to score in this match would likely walk away the winners.
The Victory were determined to win and in the 108th minute a shot from Rachel Lowe that was should have been the match winner was cleared off the Mariners goal line by Isabel Gomez in a feat of absolute magic. How the ball didn’t go in was an absolute miracle.
The Mariners weren’t going to let the Victory take the win without a fight. The Mariners cut through the Victory midfield with ease with Wurigimala having two clear chances to score the winning goal in the 100th minute but the goalkeeping prowess of Newbon closed down the threat.
Not to be outdone, the fresh sub, Okino received a beautiful attacking pass from Goad in the 111th minute allowing her to set a path for the Mariners goal. Mariners defender Wardlow was able to close down the play denying the goal.
In yet another could/should have been goal scoring chance, the Victory were unable to convert in the 117th minute after the Mariners coughed up possession inside their own half. Okino again found herself with an opportunity to score but was denied and Chidiac was also unable to get a goal as she attempted to collect the loose ball and shoot.
How on earth the Mariners didn’t score the winning goal in the 119th minute is beyond belief. A well weighted floater from Martin to Wurigumula flashed across the face of goal and rolled harmlessly into the dead ball area.
At the end of 120 minutes neither team had been able to score and so the match was to be decided by penalties.
Victory’s goal keeper, Newbon, was unable to stop any of the Mariners attempts with all four going into the net. Whereas Casey Dumont demonstrated why she is one of the absolute best gain the league with a commanding performance in goal. With two penalties scored against her and two saved goals the Victory’s season was brought to an end.
Following some well deserved post match celebrations, the Central Coast Mariners now begin their preparations to lineup against a high quality Sydney FC in a new two leg home and away series to secure a spot in the final.
Melbourne Victory (4-3-3): Newbon, Nash, Hansen, Morrison, Rankin, Murphy, Kellond-Knight, Chidiac, Privitelli, Lowe, Goad
Subs: Zois (72’), Okino (107’), Candy, Checker, Curtis
Central Coast Mariners (5-4-1): Simon, Wurigumula, Hayward, Galic, Badawiya, Martin, Jackmon, Gomez, Irwin, Bryson, Dumont
Subs: Trimis (63’), Quilligan (73’), Karambasis (99’), Rasmussen (112’), Langman
impetusfootball.org 