A-League Women Semifinal Wrap-Up
Central Coast Mariners 1 – 0 Melbourne City (3-2 on aggregate)
Talk about a boilover! In a match that had everything — a concussion, a red card, and a 121st-minute winner — the Central Coast Mariners delivered the upset of the season, toppling league heavyweights Melbourne City to reach the A-League Women’s grand final.
If Melbourne City was the Goliath of the comp, the Mariners just turned up with a slingshot and a GPS-guided chip shot courtesy of Isabel Gomez.
Match Stats at a Glance
| Key Moment | Stat or Result |
|---|---|
| Final Score (2nd Leg) | Mariners 1 – 0 City |
| Aggregate Score | Mariners 3 – 2 |
| Winning Goal Scored | 121st minute (Gomez) |
| Controversy | Goal appeared offside |
| City Red Card | Lourdes Bosch (25th minute) |
| McNamara Injury | Concussion, subbed in 10th minute |
| Mariners’ Opponent Next | Melbourne Victory (Grand Final) |
| Grand Final Date | Sunday, May 18 (in Melbourne) |
Mariners’ Miracle: A Match Full of Mayhem
- Early carnage: City’s Holly McNamara copped a brutal head clash with Mariners keeper Sarah Langman just 10 minutes in. She left the field looking dazed and City’s composure followed her to the sideline.
- Red alert: Not long after, City’s Lourdes Bosch decided to audition for the UFC by clocking Brooke Nunn in the face. Straight red. Down to 10.
- Nervy 120 minutes: With both teams pushing — and City somehow hanging on despite being a player down — the match looked headed for penalties.
- Then BAM: Enter Peta Trimis. A defensive hiccup, a slick assist, and Gomez coolly chips the City keeper like she’s at a backyard BBQ. 121st minute. Cue chaos.
But wait — she looked a bit offside. No VAR, no worries. Ref’s call stood, and the Mariners are off to the big dance.
What This Means?
Melbourne City’s dream of a treble this season is toast. After dominating the regular season and aiming for three trophies, they’ve been undone by the one team they couldn’t beat all season — the Central Coast Mariners.
Meanwhile, the Mariners become the ultimate storyline: returning to the league after a long hiatus and heading straight into the grand final. If this were a Hollywood movie, you’d say the script was too far-fetched.
The Grand Final Showdown
Next Up:
- Grand Final: Central Coast Mariners vs Melbourne Victory
- When: Sunday, May 18
- Where: Melbourne
Victory cruised past Adelaide United with a 6-2 aggregate win, but they’ll know not to underestimate the Mariners now. Especially when the Coast girls seem to thrive on chaos.
Quote of the Match
“We always believed we could do it. City are a great team, but sometimes football writes its own fairytale.”
– Mariners coach (probably wiping away tears and eating humble pie with a side of champagne)
