Central Coast Mariners score last-gasp goal to secure FFA Cup semi-final spot
It’s been a long haul for A-League cellar-dwellars Central Coast Mariners but they may finally be emerging out the other sideif their charge into the FFA Cup semifinals is any guide.
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The Hume Highway leads straight to the semi-finals of the FFA Cup for the Mariners, as the Alen Stajcic revival continues at the Central Coast.
A dramatic goal in the 92nd minute from new signing Abraham Majok broke the hearts of Hume City and took the Mariners into the last four of the competition for only the second time.
They were pushed all the way by a polished Hume side exemplified by the performance in goal of home keeper Michael Weier a fortnight after he dislocated his shoulder.
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But with City flagging in the final minutes substitute Mark Ochieng clumsily fouled Tommy Oar right in the corner, and amid scenes of pinball in the Hume box from the free kick Majok stabbed the ball home.
Ultimately the visitors narrowly deserved the win for theirs had been the clearer chances to break the deadlock earlier.
Milan Duric forced a brilliant save from Weier with a powerful free kick, while 18-year-old Samuel Silvera casually chipped Meier from 30m and struck the bar.
When Danny De Silva blazed the rebound from that over the bar Stajcic’s brow darkened, fearing his side would lose to an NPL side for what would have been a record third time.
Instead Stajcic’s attempts to revive the struggling club have received a fresh shot in the arm, with a semi-final to follow now a week before the A-League starts.
In Silvera he seems to have a player with some flair, keen to run at players on just his third first team appearance and confident to shoot from distance.
Hume could look back at the far-post opportunity Steven Hewitt scuffed wide in the first half, but for all their comfort on the ball they rarely looked like seriously threatening the visitors’ goal.
Originally published as Central Coast Mariners score last-gasp goal to secure FFA Cup semi-final spot