Another week and another win for Western Sydney Wanderers, who came from behind to sensationally stun Central Coast Mariners 2-1 in the Ninja A-League.
The Mariners led through Isabel Gomez’s 68th-minute opener at Industree Group Stadium but that is as good as it got for Central Coast on a dramatic Friday night.
Olivia Price equalised in the 80th minute before Holly Caspers came off the bench and scored in the 93rd minute to lead the resurgent Wanderers to a third consecutive win.
Amid their best winning streak since March 2024, the Wanderers are now ninth in the standings and nine points outside of the top six, while the Mariners are just a point inside the finals positions following three matches without a victory.
It was a tight affair in the warm Gosford weather as the Mariners and Wanderers traded a couple of decent chances in the opening 45 minutes.
Central Coast’s Annalise Rasmussen was a constant threat throughout and she forced Western Sydney goalkeeper Sham Khamis into quick-fire saves early in the first half, with her ninth-minute strike stinging the palms of the visiting shot-stopper.
The Wanderers, carrying a two-game winning streak into the contest, engineered some good openings themselves but were unable to find the back of the net.
Central Coast continued to huff and puff in the second half and they finally got the go-ahead goal 22 minutes from the end.
Tess Quilligan’s defence-splitting pass released CommBank Young Matildas star Peta Trimis, who squared the ball for Gomez to poke home from close range.
Substitute Tiana Fuller had a great chance to double the lead in the 72nd minute but the teenager fluffed her lines.
Western Sydney, though, refused to surrender and they got themselves back on level terms with 10 minutes of regulation remaining.
After claiming the Golden Boot during the Young Matildas’ triumphant PacificAus Four Nations Tournament in Canberra, Sienna Saveska provided a sublime assist to tee up Price.
The Wanderers were not done there though as Caspers capitalised on Central Coast giving up possession in stoppage time, with the Western Sydney substitute ghosting into the box and scoring.
