This time last year, the 360,000 residents of the Central Coast were toasting the triple crown champion Mariners men who went back-to-back with Grand Final wins and won all three titles on offer.
Now it’s a courageous and highly talented group of Coast girls setting the A-Leagues alight, with the Mariners women to play Melbourne Victory in the Grand Final at AAMI Park, Melbourne this Sunday (3pm kick-off).
“I’m so proud of this group of girls and we know the local Central Coast community will be right behind us when we travel to Melbourne for the Grand Final,” said Central Coast Mariners coach Emily Husband. Husband has received much praise for the way she has developed the Mariners into a premiership force in only the club’s second season back in the A-Leagues.
The Mariners were huge underdogs going into the two-leg Semi-Final against a Melbourne City team that had remained unbeaten all season.
But in front of loyal fans at Industree Group Stadium on May 3, the Mariners women held City to 2-2 in the First Leg before they pulled off a dramatic win in Melbourne on Sunday afternoon, with Emily Gomez scoring for the Mariners in the 121st minute of a marathon Second Leg match (in Injury Time of Extra Time), just as everyone was preparing for Penalties to decide the contest.
Gomez, 22, who cruelly missed out on her maiden Matildas team call-up in November due to a knee injury, has dominated the Ninja A-League since returning from injury and was deservedly named Player of the Match in the Semi-Final.
Tickets for the Grand Final went on sale to Central Coast Mariners Members today (Monday 12 May) and General Public tickets will be on sale from 1pm Tuesday 13 May, with a strong contingent of Central Coast fans expected in Melbourne for the decider.
Back on the Coast, tens of thousands of fans will be cheering on the Mariners, either from home or as part of packed audiences at pubs and clubs from Gosford to Wyong, Terrigal, The Entrance, Ettalong Beach, Budgewoi and Bateau Bay, among other villages.
Everyone hoping that our Central Coast girls can emulate the success of the men and bring further title glory to the region.
Ninja A-League Grand Final Melbourne Victory v Central Coast Mariners - Sunday 18 May
Kick-Off: 3:15pmTickets: Central Coast Mariners Member Pre-Sale Monday 12 May, 10am via Ticketek Australia. General Public On-Sale Tuesday 13 May, 1pm via Ticketek Australia.
