Captain Kyah inspires Central Coast comeback win in Perth

Central Coast Mariners secured what could prove to be a crucial win in the Liberty A-League, in Western Australia on Sunday evening.

The Mariners ran out 3-1 winners against Perth Glory, thanks to goals from Kyah Simon, Bianca Galic and Annalise Rasmussen, to put themselves back into the top six on the ladder.

Simon was captaining the side on her first start since returning to the club, and made her mark with a crucial equaliser before half time, after Millie Farrow had given Perth the lead.

A strong second half from the Mariners, in extreme heat in WA, saw them run out winners thanks to a stunning strike from Galic and substitute Rasmussen’s second Liberty A-League goal.

Husband’s side started brightly and tested highly-rated Perth stopper Morgan Aquino early on, with Simon forcing her into a save with a header after just seven minutes.

The Mariners then struck the frame of the goal for the first time in the game as Annabel Martin’s long range effort came back off the woodwork.

It was the hosts who took the lead on 25 minutes though, against the run of play, as Farrow latched onto a high ball into the Mariners box before striking past Sarah Langman on the turn.

Emily Husband’s team responded well though, regaining control of the game. Just before half time, the Mariners had two huge penalty appeals waved away after Galic was taken down in the box, before Martin’s cross struck the raised arm of a Perth defender, but Rebecca Mackie was having none of the appeals.

In the midst of the two penalty appeals, Simon came close from a stunning equaliser but her left footed shot came back off the bar.

The Mariners would grab a deserved equaliser before half time though, as Simon netted in first half stoppage time. An expertly taken header past Aquino, her first Liberty A-League goal since March 2020, and her first for the Mariners in 16 years.

Simon was substituted at half time as Husband continues to carefully manage her return from long-term injury. She passed on the armband to Galic, who also decided to take on the goalscoring burden as she fired the Mariners into a deserved lead on 76 minutes.

It has been a mystery of recent weeks how Galic had not yet opened her Liberty A-League account despite coming so close on numerous occasions, but finally that drought was put to an end as she rifled past Aquino from outside the box on her left foot.

Rasmussen had come off the bench on 70 minutes and on 83, she wrapped the game up with another well taken finish, her second in the Liberty A-League.

That would be enough to see off Perth, extending their winless run to six, Glory are yet to win this year after beating the Mariners on New Years Eve.

A welcome return to winning ways for Husband’s Mariners though and three brilliantly taken goals that see us leapfrog Glory, Western Sydney and Newcastle Jets into the top six.

Husband’s side are next in action as they welcome Adelaide United to Our Paradise, make sure you get your Liberty A-League tickets now as the competition ramps up with just five rounds remaining before a huge finals series.

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