Grand last hero Jason Cummings has paid tribute to Central Coast Mariners coach Nick Montgomery for giving him the prospect to revive a profession that’s set to proceed away from the A-League.
Cummings’ hat-trick was the spotlight of the Mariners’ emphatic 6-1 drubbing of Melbourne City in Saturday night time’s decider at CommBank Stadium.
It was additionally the fruits of a outstanding 18 months in Australia for the Scotland-born marksman.
Thrown a profession lifeline by Montgomery after being launched by Scottish membership Dundee for disciplinary causes, Cummings has scored 31 targets in 50 appearances in all competitions for the Mariners.
With Cummings eligible to play for Australia by way of his mom’s heritage, his kind caught the eye of nationwide coach Graham Arnold, who picked him within the Socceroos’ 2022 World Cup squad.
Now at 27, Cummings’ soccer journey is reportedly set to take him to the Indian Super League, suggesting in a tv interview after the grand last that he was shifting on.
Come the post-game press convention, the star striker and Joe Marston medalist for his player-of-the-match efficiency wasn’t as forthcoming about his future.
However, there was no doubting his gratitude to Montgomery, and the Mariners, for taking a chance on him
“Everyone knows how much this club means to me,” Cummings mentioned.
“I was at a stage in my career, Dundee let me go and (Montgomery) gave me an opportunity, and the Mariners in the last year and a half has just been a dream come true.
“I need to just enjoy the moment now, go back with the boys (to Gosford) and enjoy it with my family and the fans, and then see what happens but I don’t know just yet.”
Cummings was lavish in his reward for 41-year-old Montgomery, the previous Mariners midfielder whose future additionally maybe lies elsewhere such has been his rise within the teaching ranks.
“(He’s) the best manager I’ve worked under,” Cummings mentioned of the person they name “Monty”.
‘I’ve had loads of golf equipment and he’s the perfect tactically. On the coaching discipline, as an individual, as a man, his man administration … is a special class.
“He’s young as a manager, and he can go to the top level. Him and (Mariners assistant coach) Sergio (Raimundo) as well on the training patch (leave) no stone unturned
“That’s the reason why we won the (final) 6-1 day, because of these guys.”
Montgomery mentioned if the Mariners misplaced Cummings and different grand last heroes, the membership would recuperate and unearth another hidden gems.
“That’s football – we’ll bring in new players,” Central Coast’s mentor mentioned.
“We’re a selling club. The club needs to sell players to survive.”
Jason v Goliath: Cummings hat-trick seals Mariners fairytale
A hat-trick from Socceroos striker Jason Cummings has propelled the Central Coast Mariners to a fairytale 6-1 grand last demolition of a star-studded Melbourne City.
Undoubtedly the underdogs going into Saturday night time’s A-League decider at CommBank Stadium, the Mariners surprised City, who’ve now misplaced three of the previous 4 grand finals.
City’s common season dominance counted for nothing when it mattered most, with the Melbourne heavyweights by no means recovering after going 2-0 down after 34 minutes after targets from Cummings and the dynamic Sam Silvera.
Although reducing the Mariners’ lead in half with a purpose from substitute Richard van der Venne, City didn’t match the fervour of the Central Coast, who scored 4 occasions within the second half - two Cummings penalties, a header from Frenchman Beni N’Kololo and a stoppage-time strike from substitute Moresche – to seal the Mariners’ first championship since 2013.
It additionally accomplished a outstanding turnaround for the Mariners, who had been wood spooners three seasons in a row from 2018 to 2020
But underneath former Mariners participant Nick Montgomery, Central Coast have develop into the brand new entertainers of the competitors, proving it with a shocking grand last win in entrance of greater than 26,000 followers.
City didn’t deserve for his or her season to complete in such an embarrassing means, however questions will once more be requested of their failure to rise to the grandest event of all of them.
There was to be no fairytale end for retiring City captain Scott Jamieson, who watched your complete match from the bench.
Cummings confirmed post-match that he had performed his final sport for the Marines, and he couldn’t have completed his Central Coast profession in a greater means after profitable the Joe Marston Medal for his man-of-the-match efficiency.
First-half frenzy
After an uneventful begin, the grand last got here to life within the twentieth minute when Cummings gave the Mariners the lead,
The transfer began deep in Central Coast’s half and gathered momentum when Frenchman N’Kololo charged down the correct sideline earlier than delivering a cross into the trail of Cummings.
The Scotland-born marksman, who represented Australia eventually 12 months’s World Cup, met the cross with a first-time volley but it surely was blocked by City defender Curtis Good
However, the Mariners’ ace was first to react to the free ball and stabbed it house previous City goalkeeper Tom Glover.
The purpose despatched the Central Coast followers right into a frenzy they usually appeared set to additional erupt three minutes later when Brazilian attacker Marco Tulio had a double likelihood to extend the Mariners’ lead.
Glover stood tall to disclaim him the primary time, earlier than Good was readily available to clear a goal-bound shot off the road after Tulio was offered with a second alternative from the free ball off the City keeper’s preliminary save.
But the Mariners didn’t have to attend for much longer to attain a deserved second purpose, with the in-form Silvera discovering the again of the online within the thirty fourth minute.
Fed by Cummings, the electrifying Silvera stood up City’s Portuguese defender Nuno Reis earlier than reducing into City’s penalty space and slotting the ball into the underside nook of the online.
A shell-shocked City then did what good groups do – reply with a purpose of their very own.
It got here within the fortieth minute from Dutchman van der Venne, who had come on for the injured Valon Berisha (again).
The transfer concerned Marco Tilio, Good and Jamie Maclaren, who quite than capturing, laid the ball into the trail of van der Venne, who did effectively to steer his first-time end into the roof of the online.
However, the Mariners had a golden likelihood to once more open up a two-goal lead in first-half stoppage-time, however Glover got here to City’s rescue with a high quality save to disclaim N’Kololo.
But the Mariners upped the ante within the second half and City had no solutions.
Mariners captain Danny Vukovic was grateful for the passionate help his facet acquired from Central Coast followers
“We came last three years in a row but you stuck by the club,” Vukovic mentioned.
“This one’s for you guys.”
Originally revealed as A-League Grand Final: Central Coast Mariners hat-trick hero Jason Cummings set to depart membership
Source: www.news.com.au
