ALW: Central Coast Mariners upset the reigning premiers to book grand final spot

The Central Coast Mariners have produced a stunning upset in a heated semi final clash with the reigning premiers to book their spot in the grand final.

Blood was spilt, punches were thrown – but it is Central Coast Mariners who are through to the A-League’s Women’s grand final after pulling off one of the biggest upsets in the league’s history to beat premiers Melbourne City 1-0.

The match was pushed into extra time, with Mariners, despite having an extra player on the field for most of the match, needing all 120 minutes to find the net.

It came off the back of a contentious move from 22-year-old Isabel Gomez.

The 22-year-old gathered the ball off a long range kick from keeper Sarah Langman, with commentators questioning if Gomez was onside.

Gomez managed to beat two City defenders then chip the keeper to score the match winner in

injury time of the final half of extra time.

Lourdes Bosch of Melbourne City strikes Brooke Nunn of the Mariners as tempers flared. Picture: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

City went into the game clear favourites having not lost a game the entire season. Mariners though had managed to hold them to three draws.

It is just the Mariners’ second season in the ALW. They were knocked out in the semi-final last season.

Gomez was almost left speechless after the win.

“Words can’t describe how we are feeling right now,” Gomez said.

“It was an interesting game, we didn’t expect the red card, or for us to have the ball and it was good to get the goal.”

Mariners coach Emily Husband said she couldn’t be prouder of the team.

“They are the ones who have been putting the work in all season,” Husband told Paramount post match.

“Credit to Melbourne City they were phenomenal today, they made our job really hard, you wouldn’t have known they were down a player.”

RED CARD 🟥 The Semi-Final 2nd leg EXPLODES! 🤯@MelbourneCity will have to play 60+ minutes with 10 after Lourdes Bosch is sent off.

A HUGE moment in this tie.

Watch #MCYvCCM live now on 10 Play & Paramount+. pic.twitter.com/K4hq8iLaUN

— Ninja A-League (@aleaguewomen) May 11, 2025

City coach Michael Matricciani was gracious in defeat but clearly frustrated at the lack of an off-side call in the lead up to the goal.

“I didn’t need to see the footage back because live even from a 45 degree angle I could see clearly that it was off-side,” Matricciani said.

“You can’t blame anyone, we don’t have VAR in our league and these are the mistakes that happen, but when the girl is three or four metres off-side it’s tough to take.”

The game started the way most would have anticipated with City dominating possession and Mariners waiting for the counter.

But all plans fell apart just 10 minutes in – after a huge collision between City striker Holly McNamara and Mariners’ keeper Sarah Langman.

McNamara was chasing the ball into the box but Langman beat her to it – but neither could get their bodies out of each other’s way in time – their heads colliding and both players falling to the ground.

Holly McNamara of Melbourne City suffered a concussion. Picture: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

The match was paused for six minutes so McNamara, the league’s golden boot winner, could be assessed on the field and cleared of any spinal injury.

She walked off the pitch but wasn’t able to continue. Langman had to have her nose packed up and taped to stem the bleeding.

McNamara was replaced by 16-year-old striker Shelby McMahon.

Less than five minutes after play resumed City playmaker Lourdes Bosch and Mariners’ Brooke Nunn were involved in a clean tackle – the ball rolled over the sideline. Bosch tried to delay the restart, Nunn tried to snatch the ball back and Bosch snapped – throwing a punch towards Nunn’s face – making contact with her ear.

The referee blew her whistle and reached for her red card without any hesitation – leaving City to battle out the rest of the game with just 10 players on the pitch.

It opened a door for Mariners who went from hardly having the ball to ending the half with 66 per cent of the ball.

The Mariners progress to the grand final. Picture: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

Bianca Galic was the closest to scoring for the Mariners – a confident long range shot just sailing over the cross bar – leaving the scores level at 0-0 at half time.

The second half was another tight contest. Mariners had control of the ball but City’s well drilled defence really limited their attacking options to long range shots.

City turned to the bench bringing on striker Mariana Speckmaier in the 77th minute – who has missed the last six weeks out injured.

As the clock wound down, the Mariners shot tally reached 7 but just three were on target – the deadlock sending the game into extra time.

The first half of extra time was rather uneventful with neither team able to break the deadlock.

It looked certain to be heading to extra time as the assistant referee signalled three added minutes of injury time to the final half of extra time.

Then Gomez struck. Making a daring run, splitting two defenders to send the ball flying into the net.

Central Coast Mariners will face Melbourne Victory in the grand final next Sunday, May 18 AAMI Park 3.15pm

Originally published as ALW: Central Coast Mariners upset the reigning premiers to book grand final spot