Central Coast Mariners fell to their first home defeat of the Ninja A-League season, coming out of the wrong side of a second half goal-fest.
An evenly-fought first half ended goalless, before Western took control of the game with two quick-fire goals from Kahli Johnson early in the second half.
Grace Maher’s curling free-kick found the back of the net to make it 3-0 to the visitors before Annalise Rasmussen grabbed a consolation for the Mariners, her third goal of the season.
š¢ Line-Up
Emily Husband made two changes, with Shadeene Evans and Leia Puxty coming into the starting eleven.
Starting XI: Langman, Irwin, Nash, Martin, Pennock, Galic, Ray, Rasmussen, Puxty, Trimis, Evans.
Substitutions:
57′ ON: Nunn OFF: Trimis
66′ ON: Fuller, Quilligan OFF: Pennock, Evans
89′ ON: McMahon OFF: Puxty
Unused Subs: Carmichael (GK).
Your Mariners team to host Western United this afternoon! š#CCMFC #CCMvWUN #RideTheWaveš pic.twitter.com/st4G7TgCA4
— Central Coast Mariners (@CCMariners) December 22, 2024
First Half
The Mariners were solid defensively in the first half despite Western edging the possession. Peta Trimis was our brightest spark going forward but she was just missing the final pass on a couple of occasions.
Sarah Langman’s only real save of note in the first half came on 34 minutes as she smartly tipped a stinging Chloe Logarzo strike over the crossbar.
Trimis forced Chloe Lincoln into her first save of the match on 41 minutes, dancing into the box before shooting low with her left foot from a difficult angle.
Second half
The Mariners started the second half on top and had a flurry of chances, on 49 minutes Puxty nutmegged the Western defender and delivered a brilliant cross, but Evans couldn’t make contact with her header at full stretch.
Minutes later, a fantastic passage of play saw the ball worked out wide to Annabel Martin, she whipped the ball across goal but Trimis was unable to convert at the back post.
Martin was the creator of another big chance on 54 minutes, whipping a ball in which found Evans who this time made good connection but fired straight at Lincoln.
The missed opportunities would prove costly for the Mariners as Western were clinical with their chances at the other end. On 56 minutes, they opened the scoring as Kiara De Domizio crossed from the right onto the head of Johnson who planted it into the net from close range.
Western took real control of the game as they got their second less than five minutes later, Johnson latching onto a ball over the top before rounding Langman and slotting home.
Husband introduced 16-year-old Tiana Fuller for the third consecutive game off the bench, she looked to make an instant impact with a wicked delivery from the left which was cleared, plus a a powerful shot from range which was off target.
With the Mariners pushing to get back into the game, Western remained dangerous on the counter attack and Johnson had a huge chance to seal her hat-trick but was brilliantly denied by Langman in a one-on-one.
Annalise Rasmussen had her best effort on 80 minutes, doing brilliantly to turn in the box and make a chance out of nothing, but her left-footed strike was saved by Lincoln.
Fuller threatened again on 83 minutes, with clever movement in the box to meet Martin’s cross but she glanced her header wide.
Western’s third came directly from a set piece on 87 minutes, to effectively seal the three points for the visitors.
The Mariners didn’t go down without a fight, with Rasmussen scoring almost immediately after the restart from close range, her third of the season which sees her equal her tally from last season after just seven rounds.
Bianca Galic had a long-range strike saved in added time as the Mariners tried to make it a nervy finish for the visitors, but Lincoln made the save and Western saw out the game at 3-1.
šŗ Highlights
ā Next up
Husband’s team face a quick turnaround over Christmas as they face Perth on December 27th, before returning home for our huge New Years Eve Double Header against Melbourne City.
Tickets for all matches are on sale via Ticketek, or you can secure your seat for all remaining matches with an Official Mariners Membership!