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Husband’s history makers are NINJA A-LEAGUE CHAMPIONS

Central Coast Mariners Women lifted the Ninja A-League Championship in the most dramatic fashion at AAMI Park.

In a close-fought 90 minutes, Izzy Gomez’s opening goal was cancelled out by Claudia Bunge to send the game to extra time before where no further goals meant a penalty shoot-out would decide the Ninja A-League Grand Final for the first time ever.

Alana Jancevski stepped up first for Melbourne Victory and rattled the crossbar and as the Mariners were faultless from the spot, it was down to Bianca Galic to win it with the tenth penalty of the shootout and she made no mistake to cement a historic victory.

The Mariners lift the trophy for the first time in our history, Emily Husband guiding the club to unprecedented success just two years after joining the club and starting completely from scratch.

🔢 Line-Up

Captain Taren King came into the starting eleven in place of Greta Kraszula, Husband’s only change to the team that started the Semi-Final second leg last weekend.

Starting XI: Langman (GK), Nash, Martin, Gomez, Pennock, Galic, Ray, Rasmussen, Rowe, King (C), Nunn.

Substitutions:
71′ ON: Hughes OFF: Rowe
85′ ON: Fuller OFF: Nunn
91′ ON: Kraszula OFF: King
110′ ON: Trimis OFF: Rasmussen

Unused subs: Morrissey (GK), Quilligan

First Half

Victory had the ball in the net early on through Emily Gielnik, but the flag was quickly raised for offside.

The Mariners’ best chance of the first half came through Jade Pennock just before the 30 minute mark but her shot on the turn was blocked.

Brooke Nunn also saw a shot blocked on 39 minutes, before the two teams went in at the break after a half of very few chances at either end in a typically cagey Grand Final first half.

Second half

The second half couldn’t have started better for the Mariners as we hit the front after less than two minutes, Gomez latching onto a missed clearance after Annalise Rasmussen’s shot was blocked and finishing past Courtney Newbon from close range.

Victory responded strongly, Sarah Langman was forced into the save of the game on 61 minutes as she dived to her left to keep out a well-hit shot from Alex Chidiac. They had the ball in the back of the net only for it to be disallowed for a second time minutes later, this time ruled out for a clear foul on Langman.

The pressure kept coming from Victory but still the Mariners held out. On 71 minutes, after Taren King halted Holly Furphy with a brilliant tackle on the edge of the box, the ball fell to Nickoletta Flannery but she blazed over.

The Mariners defence was finally breached after 80 minutes as Claudia Bunge headed in from a corner, Victory once again flexing their strength from set pieces to level the game.

Both sides went in search of a winner before full time, Nunn and Gielnik both seeing shots from range kept out at either end, before Rasmussen almost had a fairytale winner in added time, only to be denied by a fantastic last-ditch tackle by Kayla Morrison.

Extra Time

Chances for both sides in extra time were limited only to set pieces, in the 102nd minute a Victory long throw was flicked on to the back post where Furphy was attacking the ball, denied by some brave defending from Jessika Nash who took a heavy knock to her ankle for her troubles but soldiered on for the Mariners.

The Mariners had a late opportunity from an Annabel Martin free-kick which was flashed into a dangerous area but Newbon did well to punch clear.

Penalties

Penalties would decide the Ninja A-League Grand Final for the first time ever, and a very high standard from both sides meant Jancevski’s miss with the first spot-kick would be the difference.

16-year-old Tiana Fuller stepped up first, seemingly unfazed by most things in this incredible breakthrough season and this penalty was no different as she coolly sent Newbon the wrong way.

After Gielnik calmly slotted home to get Victory off the mark in the shootout, birthday girl Peta Trimis was equally composed to make it 2-1 to the Mariners.

Experienced midfielder Chidiac was next up for Victory and she found the bottom corner, before Jade Pennock expertly converted to make it 3-2.

Furphy was next up for Victory and she held her nerve, Gomez stepped up next for the Mariners and gave the Mariners faithful behind the goal a heart in mouth moment as she slipped, but somehow her penalty squirmed past Gielnik.

Morrison then had to score for Victory to keep them in it and she did, putting the pressure on Galic who beat Newbon with power and sealed a shootout win against Victory for the second time in just over a year.

▶️ Match Reaction via Central Coast Mariners YouTube

Watch the full highlights and all the post-match reaction in one place with our Grand Final Playlist via the Official Central Coast Mariners YouTube Channel.

🛍 Champions Merch Pre-Sale and 2025/26 Membership Info

Champions need something fit for Champions. You can pre-order our 2025 ALW Champions Merchandise now by clicking here.

2025/26 Membership information will also be released in the coming weeks, so you can secure your seat to watch the Champions in action at Our Paradise next season.

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