Western Sydney Wanderers 1-2 Central Coast Mariners
by Isabelle Campbell (14/12/25)
Above: Central Coast Mariners celebrate at Wanderers Football Park today. Photo: A-Leagues.
In the last game of round seven, the Central Coast Mariners recorded their first away win of the season with a 2-1 victory over Western Sydney Wanderers at Wanderers Football Park, securing the result through first-half goals before a late Wanderers response.
Heading into the match, both teams were looking to turn their luck around. Matildas’ Chloe Berryhill was named in the starting lineup and set to make her first appearance and start for the Wanderers after joining during the week, bringing plenty of experience to the side.
The Mariners were still searching for their first win on the road, while the Wanderers had yet to find success at home. With both sides carrying a streak of misfortune, it was clear that one of those runs would come to an end by the final whistle.
Wanderers showed early intent, with the first major chance of the contest arriving in the 11th minute. Forward Kim Soeun drove forward into attacking space, but with limited options available inside the penalty area, she was unable to find a teammate, allowing Mariners goalkeeper Annalee Grove to step in and collect comfortably.
It was an early involvement for Grove, who was making her Mariners debut after being called into action following Sarah Langman’s season-ending ACL injury.
Possession was shared fairly evenly as both sides looked to impose themselves, but it was the Mariners who found the breakthrough. Izzy Coco-Di Sipio opened the scoring with her debut A-League goal, capitalising on the visitors’ attacking pressure and giving Central Coast a crucial lead.
The Wanderers sought an immediate response, pushing higher up the pitch and testing the visitors’ defence. Captain Amy Harrison attempted to bring things level with a strike from distance, though her effort failed to carry enough power to trouble Grove in goal.
Momentum continued to favour the Mariners, and they doubled their advantage through Izzy Gomez, who found the net against her former club to make it 2-0.
As the half drew to a close, Central Coast pushed for a third. Peta Trimis came agonisingly close with five minutes remaining, her effort narrowly missing the top corner by inches.
The halftime whistle followed soon after, with Central Coast Mariners heading into the sheds with a 2–0 lead, while the Wanderers retreated to reassess their approach and search for a way back into the contest in the second half.
The second half began quietly, with few clear-cut chances as both sides battled for control. In the 63rd minute, Soeun again tried her luck but was denied by the Mariners’ defence. A minute later, Central Coast were awarded a free kick in a promising position, though they were unable to convert.
The home side lifted their attacking intensity as the half progressed. Holly Caspers came close to narrowing the deficit after collecting the ball off the Mariners’ defence and firing at goal, but her effort drifted wide. Moments later, a perfectly weighted cross from Talia Younis found the head of Poppie Hooks, yet the Wanderers were still unable to put a goal on the scoreboard.
Late drama followed when Younis found the breakthrough in the 90th minute, scoring her first A-League goal in style. Spotting Grove off her line, the substitute showed composure to deliver a well-taken finish, bringing the scoreline to 2-1 with five minutes of stoppage time remaining and setting up for a tense finish.
Despite the late pressure, the Mariners held firm until the final whistle, securing the three points and recording their first away win of the season, while the Wanderers were left to rue missed opportunities in front of home support.
Teams: WESTERN SYDNEY WANDERERS (3-4-2-1): Khamis, Cerne, Buchanan, Hooks, Matos, Harrison, Chessari, Harada, Berryhill, Yuan, Soeun. Substitutes: Ying, Price, Ng-Saad, Younis, Caspers, Edwards.
Scorer: Younis 90’.
CENTRAL COAST WANDERERS (4-3-3): Grove, Barwick-Grey, Martin, Gomez, Rasmussen, Kraszula, Quilligan, King, Trimis, Baumann, Coco-Di Sipio. Substitutes: Prakash, Levin, Buchanan, Familton, Clough, Varley.
Scorers: Coco-Di Sipio 18’, Gomez 28’.
Referee: Bec Mackie
Attendance: 932.
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