Wellington Phoenix 0-2 Central Coast Mariners
by Alyce Collett (22/3/25)
Above: Central Coast Mariners celebrate during their win in New Zealand today. Photo: A-Leagues.
The Central Coast Mariners have given their finals hopes a handy boost after defeating the Wellington Phoenix 2-0 at Porirua Park this afternoon.
In a match characterised by who made the most of their chances, goals to Annalise Rasmussen and Isabel Gomez helped the Mariners further cement their spot in the top six and give themselves more breathing room in front of the chasing pack.
The Wellington Phoenix were a team on a mission early, with the home side dominating the attacking play and looking far more organised than their visitors.
However, no matter how hard the Phoenix tried they just could not find the back of the net, with Sarah Langman really keeping her side in the match despite everything the likes of Alyssa Whinham, Annalie Longo, and Gace Jale were throwing her way.
As the half-hour mark approached it was the Mariners who picked up the best chance of the half to date – going within inches of a goal – totally against the run of play.
This was also the point in the match when things started to get a bit heated as frustrations from both sides started to boil over.
As the half progressed, the visitors stabilised and their composure in structure and with possession returned. They really made the home side pay for their inability to convert their attacking dominance.
In the shadows of halftime, Rasmussen was brought down in the box and converted the subsequent penalty, giving the Mariners the lead.
Phoenix started the second half a bit like they did the first in terms of dominating possession, but not even 10 minutes into the half Central Coast again made the hosts pay for not taking their chances after Gomez’s strike from distance gave the visitors a second goal.
The second goal really seemed to take the air out of the Phoenix, who really found themselves on the back foot. Suddenly the roles had been flipped, and the Mariners were the ones who looked more composed and dominant with the ball. With the likes of Jade Pennock in particular really starting to become influential on the game.
Phoenix certainly had their moments in attack, but it was nowhere near as dangerous as in the first half, irrespective of the improvement in the defensive positioning the Mariners’ defenders had made.
Teams: WELLINGTON PHOENIX (4-4-2): Vilão, Wall, Kelly, Barry, McMeeken, Jale, Longo, McCutcheon, Whinham, Elliot, Fergusson. Substitutes: Brazendale, Ingham, Jerez, Tanaka, Neary.
CENTRAL COAST MARINERS (4-2-3-1): Langman, Rowe, Nash, Ray, Martin, Gomez, Galic, Pennock, Nunn, Trimis, Rasmussen. Substitutes: Carmichael, Fuller, Hughes, Puxty, Quilligan.
Scorers: Rasmussen 45+1’, Gomez 52’.
Referee: Georgia Ghirardello.
Attendance: 765.
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