Central Coast win A-League Championship, end 10-year drought

Undoubtedly the underdogs going into Saturday evening’s A-League decider at CommBank Stadium, the Mariners shocked 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 following objectives from Cummings and the dynamic Sam Silvera.

Although chopping the Mariners’ lead in half with a purpose from substitute Richard van der Venne, City did not match the eagerness 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 exceptional turnaround for the Mariners, who have been picket spooners three seasons in a row from 2018 to 2020

But below former Mariners participant Nick Montgomery, Central Coast have turn into the brand new entertainers of the competitors, proving it with a surprising grand remaining win in entrance of greater than 26,000 followers.

City didn’t deserve for his or her season to complete in such an embarrassing approach, however questions will once more be requested of their failure to rise to the grandest event of all of them.

The commentators have been blown away concerning the capitulation from City, saying the facet was “utterly humiliated”.

There was to be no fairytale end for retiring City captain Scott Jamieson, who watched the complete match from the bench.

Cummings confirmed post-match that he had performed his final sport for the Mariners, and he couldn’t have completed his Central Coast profession in a greater approach.

After an uneventful begin, the grand remaining 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 appropriate sideline earlier than delivering a cross into the trail of Cummings.

The Scotland-born marksman, who represented Australia eventually yr’s World Cup, met the cross with a first-time volley however it was blocked by City defender Curtis Good

However, the Mariners’ ace was first to react to the free ball and stabbed it residence 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 chopping 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 slightly than taking pictures, laid the ball into the trail of van der Venne, who did nicely to steer his first-time end into the roof of the online.

However, the Mariners 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 effective save to disclaim N’Kololo.

But the Mariners upped the ante within the second half and City had no solutions.