Central Coast Mariners Women will travel to Melbourne with a place in the Grand Final all to play for next weekend, following another draw against Melbourne City.
City stormed to the Premiers Plate with an unbeaten record, but are yet to overcome the Mariners after 2-2 and 0-0 draws in the regular season, Saturday evening’s Semi-Final First Leg again finished 2-2 in a thrilling clash at Our Paradise.
Brooke Nunn finished off two fabulous team goals for the Mariners, putting us ahead in the first half before City battled back to lead 2-1 at the break, but Nunn struck again to level the tie with a clever finish from a tight angle.
🔢 Line-Up
Starting XI: Langman (GK), Nash, Martin, Gomez, Pennock, Galic, Rasmussen, Rowe, Kraszula, King (C), Nunn.
Substitutions:
66′ ON: Evans, Hughes OFF: King, Nunn
86′ ON: Fuller, Trimis OFF: Rasmussen, Rowe
Unused subs: Morrissey (GK), Quilligan
Your Mariners XI for our Semi-Final First Leg 🫡#CCMFC #CCMvMCY #RideTheWave🌊 pic.twitter.com/bAVeqbgZpw
— Central Coast Mariners (@CCMariners) May 3, 2025
First Half
The Mariners took the game to City early on, encouraged by a strong and loud crowd of almost 2000 inside Our Paradise, with Annalise Rasmussen forcing Malena Mieres into a double save after two minutes.
Bianca Galic then tested Mieres on 16 minutes with a good hit from range, before Taren King had a chance with a header from a set piece but couldn’t guide it on target.
The Mariners were rewarded for their bright start on 20 minutes as Nunn tapped in the opening goal following a superb move down the left hand side.
Starting all the way back with Sarah Langman after she made an important stop at the feet of Leticia McKenna, the ball was worked to Rasmussen on the left who skipped past Rebekah Stott with a nutmeg before finding Gomez who made a trademark run from midfield, she crossed to Jade Pennock whose shot was saved but Nunn was there to tap home.
City responded strongly and levelled just eight minutes later as McKenna’s rocket of a free-kick found the top corner, leaving Langman with no chance.
The visitors had the momentum at this moment and took the lead on 34 minutes, Bryleeh Henry racing clear of the Mariners defence before rounding Langman and slotting home.
Just three minutes later, Henry had an almost identical chance but this time, as she tried to round Langman, our Number One read it well and managed to dive on the ball to keep her out and crucially keep the score at 2-1 heading into half time.
Second half
The Mariners regrouped at half time and got on top again early in the second half, Izzy Gomez threading a brilliant pass through to Pennock on 48 minutes, but her shot didn’t trouble Mieres.
We pulled ourselves level again on 54 minutes through Nunn, once again finishing off a fine move from the Mariners. Rasmussen was involved in the build up again as she found Pennock on the right, she teed-up her English compatriot with sublime pass as Nunn rounded Mieres and finished brilliantly from a difficult position.
The Mariners were enjoying another good spell in the game and playing some beautiful football. on 56 minutes Gomez sprayed a pass out to Nunn on the right, she cut it back to Pennock who forced Mieres into another save with a shot on the turn.
Rasmussen then almost found the target with a ferocious strike from distance on 65 minutes, but it whistled past the post.
City introduced star player Holly McNamara on 66 minutes, but she would get nothing from the Mariners defence who kept her quiet, in particular 17-year-old Blake Hughes who marshalled her perfectly.
The Sky Blues pushed for a winner deep into added time but were restricted to shots from range, with Rhianna Pollicina and Laura Hughes unable to trouble Langman as the game ended 2-2, making for an enticing second leg.
▶️ Match Reaction via Central Coast Mariners YouTube
Watch the full highlights and match reaction including Emily Husband’s post-match thoughts are now available via Central Coast Mariners on YouTube.
🎟 Second Leg Tickets
The Semi-Final second leg will take place at Melbourne City’s ctrl:cyber Pitch on Sunday 11th May at 2pm.
Tickets are on sale from 5pm on Tuesday 6th May. Get yours here!
