Central Coast Mariners were knocked out of the Australia Cup after extra time against Heidelberg United.
Josh Pin’s powerful penalty gave Heidelberg the lead just before half time, but Mikael Doka provided a quick response after the break.
Neither side were able to find a winner before the 90 minute mark so the game headed to extra time in which Pin found the back of the net again to make it 2-1 and in the final seconds, Heidelberg scored a third to seal the win.
Mariners Line-Up
Alou Kuol, Vitor Feijao, Mikael Doka, Miguel Di Pizio, Alfie McCalmont.
Mark Jackson’s starting eleven featured four of our five new signings, with Adam Pavlesic, Lucas Mauragis, Alfie McCalmont and Vitor Feijao all making their starting debuts.
Diesel Herrington came off the bench in extra time to become the fifth debutant of the evening. There was also a promising return to action off the bench for Academy graduate Sasha Kuzevski, who made his ninth senior appearance for the club, almost 18 months after his eighth, after suffering a serious injury.
Starting XI: Pavlesic (GK), Kaltak, McCalmont, Kuol, Doka (Kuzevski 67′), Feijao (Edmondson 46′), Mauragis (Smith 106′), Roux (Wilson 96′), Tapp, Paull (Herrington 91′), Di Pizio (Brandtman 79′).
Unused subs: Warshawsky (GK).
First half
The Mariners settled into the game well early on, with Feijao forcing Heidelberg keeper and former Mariner Yaren Sozer into a smart save on 15 minutes.
On the half hour mark, Doka saw an effort fly over Sozer’s bar after a tidy move from the Mariners before Pavlesic was forced into a flying save by Heidelberg’s lively winger, Sabit James Ngor.
McCalmont came close to a debut goal on 36 minutes, the Northern Irishman shifted the ball onto his right foot on the edge of the box and his low effort was well saved by Sozer.
The opening goal came on 43 minutes, Alex King pointed to the spot when Asahi Yokokawa went down, Pin stepped up and his powerful penalty found the back of the net to give the hosts the lead at half time.
Second half
There was an instant reaction from the Mariners in the second half, as Doka’s deflected strike found the bottom corner of Sozer’s goal to draw us level after 53 minutes.
MIKAEL DOKA LEVELS IT FOR THE MARINERS!!
— 10 Football (@10FootballAU) August 7, 2024
A wicked deflection, and Doka has left the Bergers marinating in their misfortune… @CCMariners & @HUFCWARRIOR are level at 1 goal apiece.
Watch the #AustraliaCup live & free on 10 Play!
📺📱💻: https://t.co/TvuF7HJPAv #MagicOfTheCup pic.twitter.com/aYP9QKfBym
The Mariners finished the game strongly with a flurry of chances after the 80 minute mark. First, Ryan Edmondson just couldn’t find the right contact to convert Mauragis’ wicked delivery from the left, before Sozer made a big save to deny Alou Kuol one-on-one.
Moments later, McCalmont’s teasing delivery after a short corner agonisingly evaded Kuol and Nathan Paull at the back post.
Extra Time
The Mariners were left frustrated again in the 100th minute, Edmondson stretching to connect with substitute Will Wilson’s cross, his effort had Sozer beaten but came back off the post.
Heidelberg then struck at the other end, Pin’s deflected effort hitting the back of the net to give them the lead before half time of extra time.
The Mariners pushed for an equaliser in the dying stages, Wilson flashed an effort wide but in the final seconds, Heidelberg hit on the break and Sean Ellis put the game to bed with a third goal.
