Central Coast Mariners earned a deserved point against the unbeaten Ninja A-League leaders after a dramatic second half.
Melbourne City were awarded two penalties, with Sarah Langman saving the first from Rhianna Pollicina, before Mariana Speckmaier dragged her spot kick wide.
🔢 Line-Up
Sarah Rowe made her first Mariners start at right back, coming into the side in place of Leia Puxty.
Emily Husband’s only other change was an enforced one as Ash Irwin missed out with an injury picked up in Perth, Tess Quilligan came into the midfield in switch that saw captain Bianca Galic slot into centre back.
Starting XI: Langman, Nash, Martin, Pennock, Galic (C), Ray, Rasmussen, Rowe, Nunn, Trimis.
Substitutions:
63′ ON: Fuller, Evans OFF: Rasmussen, Trimis
81′ ON: Puxty, McMahon OFF: Pennock, Rowe
Unused Subs: Carmichael (GK)
🔒 Our final Ninja A-League lineup of 2024 is locked in!
— Central Coast Mariners (@CCMariners) December 31, 2024
🌴 Rowe starts on her home debut
☝️ Quilligan in for their first start of the season
🔁 McMahon returns to the squad#CCMFC #CCMvMCY #RideTheWave🌊 pic.twitter.com/KpVQMSHsZW
First Half
The Mariners started strongly with Peta Trimis looking lively on the left hand side, she won the game’s first corner on five minutes, Annabel Martin delivered and at the second attempt found the head of Galic but it was a comfortable save for Malena Mieres.
Brooke Nunn also looked sharp in the Mariners attack, on eight minutes she tried a cheeky lob but Mieres recovered and caught under her crossbar.
City’s biggest threat in the first half was lively winger Lourdes Bosch, she forced Langman into a save on 16 minutes, before curling an effort wide before half time.
Second half
City came close on 59 minutes as Leticia McKenna rattled the crossbar with a strike from outside the box, as the visitors piled the pressure on in the second half.
They were presented with a glorious opportunity to open the scoring on 73 minutes as the referee pointed to the spot, but Rhianna Pollicina couldn’t get the better of Langman as she dived to her left and kept out the penalty at full stretch.
Langman was in unbeatable form as she made a fine string of saves, tipping Laura Hughes shot wide on 77 minutes before keeping out a header from the resulting corner.
City were awarded a second penalty on 88 minutes in a dramatic end to the game, but it just wasn’t to be for the league leaders as Speckmaier dragged her shot wide of the post.
▶️ Highlights via Central Coast Mariners on YouTube
🌴 Next Up
The point sees Husband’s side jump to fourth in the Ninja A-League, with fifth placed Adelaide next up as the team kick-off the New Year with a special first ever home match at Woy Woy Oval on January 4th.
Tickets for all matches are available via Ticketek, with our great value, flexible six-game memberships also available for just $90, via the Official Mariners Membership Portal.
