Mariners book grand final showdown with Victory after controversial semi-final

The Central Coast Mariners have booked a spot in a second straight grand final after edging past Sydney FC in one of the most contentious A-League Men games in recent memory.

The Mariners, who drew 0-0 in Saturday’s semi-final second leg in Gosford, won the tie 2-1 on aggregate.

But Mark Jackson’s Mariners, who have kept their hopes of a treble alive, survived as a result of two highly debatable second-half decisions from referee Alireza Faghani.

The referee had earlier sent off Mariners assistant Danny Schofield, who reacted by gesturing with his middle finger, in a hotly contested second half.

But the entire Sydney bench could have been dismissed for reacting with fury when two late Faghani calls went against them.

Faghani chalked off a second-half goal for Robert Mak for offside, then waved away claims that Mariners midfielder Max Balard had handled the ball in his own box.

Central Coast Mainers players celebrate making the grand final.Credit: Getty

Sydney boss Ufuk Talay and assistant David Zdrilic were ropeable, but the Mariners hung on in front of a 20,059-strong home crowd to book a place in next Saturday’s grand final back at Gosford against Melbourne Victory.

There were several nervous moments for the home side, the first coming in the seventh minute when Dan Hall clipped Sydney’s Jordan Courtney-Perkins as he ran into the Mariners’ box.

Faghani waved away Sydney’s protests, but the Sky Blues kept coming, Mariners goalkeeper Danny Vukovic thwarting both Hayden Matthews and Fabio Gomes.

Luke Brattan was in the thick of the action for Sydney and, despite receiving lengthy treatment for an ankle injury and struggling to run, the Sky Blues captain soldiered on.

Referee Alireza Faghani shows Mariners assistant coach Danny Schofield a red card.Credit: Getty

The Mariners’ bench was becoming increasingly frustrated with Faghani’s officiating, with the referee brandishing a yellow card to Jackson.

Their protests continued into the second half, with Faghani booking Jackson’s assistant Schofield as he remonstrated with the referee.

Schofield was ordered to return to his seat on the bench and, after mockingly sitting down, was shown a second yellow.

As Schofield trudged towards the tunnel, he flipped the bird down the barrel of the broadcast camera and his send-off – and lewd gesture – will mean he misses next week’s grand final.

Schofield’s dismissal ignited the semi-final, and what followed was one of the most chaotic 60-second spells of the season.

Brattan chested a Miguel Di Pizio backheel off Sydney’s line, and the Sky Blues charged up the other end of the field.

Gomes and Mak combined, and the latter opened fire, his shot creeping over the Mariners line despite the best efforts of defender Brian Kaltak.

Faghani didn’t signal for a goal before opting to inspect the replay.

He then deemed that Gomes had obstructed goalkeeper Vukovic after laying the ball off to Mak.

Still Sydney kept searching for a goal, and they thought they had a penalty when Mak’s cross cannoned off Balard’s arm in the 76th minute.

Sydney were livid and, as the Mariners held on to book their place in the final, midfielder Anthony Caceres was sent off after full-time for spraying Faghani.

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And there it is.

The Mariners are through to the grand final - and they’ll host it next Saturday night at Industree Group Stadium against Melbourne Victory.

They have beaten Sydney FC 2-1 on aggregate. Tonight’s second leg was scoreless, and largely dominated by the Sky Blues, who were unable to find that last action in the final third to turn their possession into goals. On a night like this, the absence of their injured star Joe Lolley really told. Without him they had nobody able to provide the breakthrough.

Although they were a bit toothless, it still took a huge defensive effort from the Mariners to keep them at bay for the full 90 minutes.

Now they are just one win away from sealing a first-ever treble.

Fabio Gomes has a header but it’s well off the target. Speculative stuff from Sydney FC who have taken one last throw of the dice - Max Burgess is off and Jaiden Kucharski has been sent on for the last five minutes of stoppage time.

Central Coast Mariners 0-0 Sydney FC (2-1 aggregate), 90 minutes

Not a bad moment there for the Mariners who broke quickly after winning the ball off Sydney FC - the move ends with Miguel Di Pizio but he can’t quite make proper contact with his shot and it goes over the bar.

The clock is ticking on Sydney FC’s season. They need a goal to stay alive.

Central Coast Mariners 0-0 Sydney FC (2-1 aggregate), 87 minutes

The crowd tonight in Gosford is 20,059 - an equal-record which also happens to be the official capacity of Industree Group Stadium.

Those fans are five minutes away from having grand final tickets to book at the same venue.

Central Coast Mariners 0-0 Sydney FC (2-1 aggregate), 85 minutes

A long-range ping by Fabio Gomes, almost made out of frustration, is easily saved by Danny Vukovic - and that moment feels symbolic of Sydney FC right now. They’ve tried everything but can’t get past this Mariners defence. They’ve also just had a penalty shout denied and denied again by the VAR who deemed an alleged handball on a Central Coast player shouldn’t be given because their arm was in a natural position.

Central Coast Mariners 0-0 Sydney FC (2-1 aggregate), 80 minutes

Sydney FC have brought on Patrick Wood for Jordan Courtney-Perkins while the Mariners just swapped Bradley Tapp for Harry Steele - so fresh legs have been injected by both sides.

The Mariners are continuing to hold on in defence and are posing threats whenever they break on the counter-attack.

This is so delicately poised - and what a game it’s been already. Who says the A-League is boring?

Central Coast Mariners 0-0 Sydney FC (2-1 aggregate), 77 minutes

Just wide from Josh Nisbet! He couldn’t quite make proper contact with that cutback and his shot skews wide, but that’s a good moment from the Mariners are being let off the hook massively with that denied goal to Sydney FC.

There’s only 20 minutes left and the Mariners still hold that aggregate lead.

Central Coast Mariners 0-0 Sydney FC (2-1 aggregate), 70 minutes

Alireza Faghani has been called over to take another look at the goal... it appears Fabio Gomes may be offside and potentially impeding with the run of Brian Kaltak? What’s he looking at? Well, thanks to the VAR announcement trial, we’ve just heard it from Faghani - the ball DID cross the line but because Fabio was offside and interfered with the play… no goal is given!

What a massive call.

Central Coast Mariners 0-0 Sydney FC (2-1 aggregate), 67 minutes

They’ve just had a corner kick and came oh, so close… it was hard to tell what exactly happened but there was a mad scramble in the goalmouth and now everyone is waiting for a VAR check. I need to see that again… so Luke Brattan blocked a shot on the line and the claim is that he perhaps used his arm? The replay shows it was all chest, so it’s given the all clear...

...and WOW! The ball surges up the other end, Sydney FC fashion probably the clearest-cut chance of the match so far and it’s cleared off the line by Brian Kaltak! Did that cross the line? Fabio Gomes set it up for Robert Mak, he twists this way and that, takes a shot, it’s deflected… it’s hard to say whether that has fully crossed the line because we don’t have the right angle.

Wow, this is incredible...

Central Coast Mariners 0-0 Sydney FC (2-1 aggregate), 65 minutes