Melbourne Victory 1-1 Central Coast Mariners
Central Coast Mariners win 5-4 on penalties after extra-time.
by Alice de Koster-Kitto (18/5/25)
Above: Central Coast Mariners lift the A-League Women Grand Final trophy in only their second year back in the competition. Photo: A-Leagues
Central Coast Mariners have been crowned the 2024/25 A-League Women Champions after defeating Melbourne Victory after the first-ever penalty shootout in the league’s history.
It had been a showstopping 120-minute battle at AAMI Park. The Grand Final ended in a penalty shootout for the first time in the league’s history, leading the Mariners to their first ever Championship title, concluding what is just their second season since being reinstated to the league.
Both teams’ defences have been regarded as some of the strongest in the competition this season, leaving crowds prepared for an intense end-to-end battle. The match lived up to its expectations, with immediate physicality on the pitch. A foul on Bianca Galic by Sara D’Appolina just under 30 seconds into play set the scene for what would be an exhilarating conclusion to the 2024/25 campaign.
A link-up between Jade Penncok and Brooke Nunn gave Mariners an early chance when Nunn’s strike was collected by Courtney Newbon, as the underdogs, unnerved a confident Victory side.
The attacking power of Emily Geilnik proved once again to be an invaluable aspect of this Victory side, as the scoring was thought to be opened by the hosts in the eighth minute, before being called offside, following a scuffle inside the box. Though the goal was not awarded, it asserted Victory’s dominance over what has been considered an impenetrable Mariners defence at times.
Taylor Ray’s return to a comfortable defensive midfield position caused quite a disruption to what was expected to be a dangerous battle between Izzy Gomez and Alex Chidiac. Despite this change unsettling the home side’s game-plan for a time, all eyes were still on this midfield showdown when Gomez was unable to intercept Chidiac’s through ball, which gave Nicki Flannery an excellent opportunity, but the ball was ultimately sent too wide.
It was Central Coast who dominated the ball in the first half, holding 61% of possession, while Victory had the better of the chances. Neither side was able to capitalise on their respective advantage, as Jess Nash worked hard to deny Victory’s attack.
As the first half came to a close, the Mariners managed to capitalise on their chances, evening out the opportunities, creating a slew of end-to-end action. While at the top of the match it seemed that Victory – albeit not without a fight – would be the ones to open the scoring, the game became quite unpredictable, with Emily Husband’s side garnering the momentum to create their own opportunity to break the deadlock.
The final chance of the first half was a long range strike from Alana Murphy, who had an impeccable first half, got dangerously close to opening the scoring, fell just above the post.
The Mariners wasted no time in the second half, as Isabel Gomez opened the scoring just a minute in, taking advantage of a missed interception to put her side into the lead.
Gomez’s goal marks yet another addition to what has been a brilliant campaign for the 22-year-old, receiving a Matildas call-up, for the first time since suffering a knee injury in Central Coast’s previous meeting with Melbourne Victory in November. It was Gomez, of course, who scored the last-minute goal against Melbourne City in the semi-final that landed the Mariners at AAMI Park this evening.
Melbourne Victory looked for an instant reply, with a strike from Rachel Lowe, meeting the hands of Sarah Langman.
Lowe continued to dominate in Victory’s attack, challenging Central Coast’s defence as she desperately looked for the equaliser, with back-to-back chances, none of which were able to be turned into a goal.
The next opportunity for the hosts came via an excellent strike from Alex Chidiac, but yet another impeccable save by Langman denied the Matilda.
Melbourne Victory gained a sense of false hope for the second time this match when Claudia Bunge managed to put the ball in the back of the net, before being called rightfully offside. The shot was not dissimilar to Gielnik’s previous effort that was ruled out for offside after a tough fight inside the box, putting it over the line.
The first change for Victory came at the 65th minute as Rachel Lowe made way for Holly Furphy, in hopes that fresh legs would contribute to their much-needed impact on the game. Furphy managed to involve herself in two big chances just minutes after touching the pitch, and although these first few touches weren’t to be transformed into goals, the momentum of the game was changed for the home side, as stoppage time approached.
With just 20 minutes left of regulation, Sarah Rowe made way for 17-year-old Blake Hughes, who made an instant impact on the pitch, shooting high on her first touch, keeping Victory off the ball.
Just as hope was dwindling for Melbourne Victory, the scoring was equalised in the 80th minute, when a ball from Alana Murphy was tapped over the line by Claudia Bunge inside the box, leaving a level Grand Final in the last 10 minutes.
Once again, the safe hands of Sarah Langwan came to the rescue of the Mariners as a shot on target from Alana Jancevski threatened a late goal for Victory in the 88th minute.
Despite the efforts at either end, the match was left even at full time, sending the Grand Final to extra time for the first time in 17 years.
A change in the formation at the start of extra time, set to shake a confident Victory side, looked to create opportunity for the Mariners, as Taylor Ray dropped back into defence, after Taren King concluded her first 90 minutes since returning from an anterior cruciate ligament injury.
Gielnik continued to be a dominant threat to the Mariners with a series of dangerous strikes, none of which were a match for the gloves of Sarah Langman, who added to her arsenal of outstanding saves.
Melbourne Victory were the dominant side in the first minutes of extra time, though Mariners’ defence still remained stable as ever, remaining unshaken by Victory’s determination. The pressure from the home side did not shake the Mariners, as their collected style of play and ability to absorb such pressure continued to give them an advantage in such an intense environment.
The ever-confident Mariners took quite a hit at a crucial point in play when Jess Nash came off with an injury. With no direct replacement available, the Mariners risked playing with 10, in hopes that Nash would recover before the second half of extra time.
Victory took immediate advantage, with a dangerous strike from Flannery in the 106th minute that was saved..
Despite several opportunities at both ends, the match was left 1-1 after 120 minutes of tireless and heart-racing play, sending the Grand Final to a penalty shootout for the first time in A-League Women history.
The first penalty was taken by Alana Jancevski. Sarah Langman’s ability was not needed, as the ball bounced off the crossbar, leaving the Mariners at an immediate advantage.
16-year-old Tiana Fuller took the Mariners’ first penalty, striking the ball to the bottom right corner, putting Central Coast Mariners into the lead.
The remainder of the penalties remained even, leaving Victory and Mariners fans alike on the edge of their seats, holding their breaths, waiting for the tiebreaker.
It was Bianca Galic who took the last penalty for the Mariners, a choice that was sure to unnerve Melbourne Victory, as they were taken back to their last shootout against Central Coast in the 2024/25 season, in which Galic’s penalty had them eliminated.
It was history repeating itself, as Galic’s strike soared past Newbon, hitting the back of the net, and awarding the Central Coast Mariners the title of A-League Women Champions for the first time in history.
Concluding just their second season since rejoining the league, simply making the final was an extraordinary achievement for the Mariners, and a testament to head coach Husbands’ clear vision and unwavering commitment to bettering her team week after week throughout this campaign.
When the Central Coast Mariners exited the league 14 years ago, lifting the trophy would have been unimaginable. Yet the sheer determination of Husband and her squad has not only revived this team but exceeded all expectations and cemented themselves in Australian football history.
Now go to our Instagram page – @ImpetusFootball for EXCLUSIVE photography from the Grand Final from Impetus’ duo of photographers at the game – Beck Hartley and Tilly McDonald
Teams: MELBOURNE VICTORY (4-3-3): Newbon, Wilson, Bunge, Murphy, Chidiac, Flannery, D’Appolonia, Gielnik, Morrison, Lowe, Jancevski. Substitutes: O’Grady, Furphy, Pickett, Curtis, Young, Candy.
Scorer: Bunge 80’
CENTRAL COAST MARINERS (3-4-1-2): Langman, Nash, Martin, Gomez, Pennock, Gaelic, Ray, Rasmussen, Rowe, King, Nunn. Substitutes: Morrissey, Fuller, Kraszula, Trimis, Hughes.
Scorers: Gomez 46’.
Referee: Izzy Cooper.
Attendance: 6,568.
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