Central Coast Takes Down Melbourne to Win grand Final
21,379 fans packed into Industree Group Stadium in Gosford for the A-League Grand Final. No matter who came out victorious between Central Coast and Melbourne, history was set to be made.
Melbourne was looking to win their record-equaling fifth title, while Central Coast was hoping to become the first Australian side to complete the treble.
It was a slow start to the all-important winner takes all match from both sides. Each team seemed content early to work their way into the game slowly, and not try anything that may leave them exposed at the back to have an early goal against.
This slow, back-and-forth midfield play dominated the match until the 19th minute, when the first opening came from the Melbourne Victory.
Mariner’s goalkeeper Danny Vukovic nonchalantly tried to clear the ball but scuffed the ground before contacting the ball.
As such, his clearing attempt went directly to Melbourne’s Daniel Arzani who took a pair of touches and tried to pick the far corner from 25 yards out as Vukovic scrambled back to his net. The shot floated just wide as the score remained knotted at zero.
Just a few minutes later, the match had to be stopped for a substantial amount of time thanks to a collision between Alou Kuol of Central Coast and Damien Da Silva of Melbourne. Both players received treatment for head gashes but returned all bandaged up.
It was again Daniel Arzani with the match’s next real chance this time in the 42nd minute. From a nearly identical position to his last attempt, he went for the same corner, this time with the ball looking to be on target, but Vukovic stretched out for the save.
After having the better of the dangerous play in the first half, the Victory were rewarded early coming out of halftime.
Jordi Valadon made a move into the box and received the ball at a good time, quickly flicking it back to Jason Geria at the edge of the box who made no mistake, placing it into the top corner.
The 50th minute goal seemed to wake up Central Coast, but they were held at bay brilliantly by Melbourne’s defense for nearly the whole match, unable to muster even a shot on target in the opening 90 minutes.
However, just one minute into injury time, the Premiers broke through. In an oddly similar manner to Melbourne’s goal, Josh Nisbet moved into the box, received a pass and sent the ball to the edge of the box for a streaking Ryan Edmonson who made no mistake.
Tied at one’s, the Grand Final would need extra time.
Seven minutes into the extra time, Central Coast took the lead in a match that had looked all but lost just minutes ago. It came off the boot of 18-year-old Miguel Di Pizio, who received a cross from Ronald Barcellos at the penalty spot and sent it to the back of the net.
With Melbourne pressing for an equalizer in the 120th minute, Central Coast cleared their line and Ryan Edmonson found himself in all alone, sealing the 3-1 victory by curling the ball into the right corner.
Mariners Win the Treble
With the win, the Central Coast Mariners have etched themselves in the history books as the only Australian side to ever win a treble, with the AFC Cup, the Premiership, and now the Championship, for the second year in a row, to put the icing on the cake.
The Central Coast Mariners came up with injury time magic against Melbourne to tie up the Grand Final before taking over in extra time to win the Championship for the second year running while in the process also completing the treble.
