The Central Coast Mariners have dented the Wellington Phoenix’s premiership hopes.
The reigning champions have beaten the Phoenix 2-1 in their rescheduled fifth round match at polytec Stadium in Gosford after a scoreless first half.
The Mariners scored both of their goals before Nix midfielder Macey Fraser scored a spectacular free kick in second half stoppage time.
The result leaves Wellington six points adrift of leaders Melbourne City with just two matches to play.
Bev Priestman made one change to the XI which started Friday’s 3-1 win over Sydney FC with Mackenzie Anthony replacing fellow American forward Makala Woods, who was named amongst the substitutes alongside a returning Fraser.
Both sides appeared to struggle to adjust to the slickness of the surface and a skied effort from former Phoenix midfielder Isabel Gomez was the only shot in the first nine minutes.
The next two followed within 60 seconds. Grace Jale had a long-range shot deflect into the arms of Mariners ‘keeper Annalee Grove and then Central Coast striker Eliza Familton drew Victoria Esson into action for the first time.
The Nix had the better of the next 20 minutes. Jale struck a promising free kick straight at the Mariners’ wall, Manaia Elliott looped a volley into Grove’s arms, Lucía León shot narrowly over the bar from the top of the box and Anthony headed a corner, the first of the match, wide of the far post.
Esson wasn’t called upon again until the 38th minute when she made a comfortable save to keep out a tame effort from Peta Trimis.
Anthony came closest to breaking the first half deadlock on the stroke of halftime after Elliott had won possession high up the pitch and found the American, who saw her shot from the edge of the area drift narrowly wide of the right hand post.
Brooke Nunn delivered a threatening ball into the Central Coast penalty area in first half stoppage time but Elliott was unable to direct the cutback on target and it remained scoreless at the interval.
Priestman made her first change at halftime, bringing Woods on in place of León.
Esson ensured the Phoenix didn’t fall a goal behind within the first couple of minutes of the second half. She made a top save to deny Gomez after she slipped in behind the Wellington defence and unleashed a powerful shot.
The Nix produced an impressive response. Vlok saw a left footed effort rise just outside the top left hand corner of the Mariners’ goal, Nunn rattled the crossbar with an audacious long-range effort and Anthony drew a save from Grove at her near post after playing a one-two with Woods.
However, it was instead Central Coast who took the lead shortly before the hour mark. Eliza Familton headed past Esson after Trimis stood up a cross to the edge of the six yard box.
Priestman responded by making her second change, bringing on Fraser in place of Anthony.
Esson made another sharp save a few minutes later, this time with her left foot, to again deny Gomez.
The Mariners frustrated the Phoenix for the next quarter of an hour and Priestman cleared her bench in the 76th minute, with Zoe Benson and Daisy Brazendale replacing Vlok and Emma Pijnenburg respectively. Marisa van der Meer had made way for Tiana Jaber midway through the half.
As the Nix pushed numbers forward in search of an equaliser, Central Coast caught Wellington on the break seven minutes from fulltime when substitute Tamar Levin found Gomez in space on the edge of the penalty area. Gomez wasn’t to be denied this time, slotting her shot in off the underside of the crossbar.
The Phoenix pulled a goal back in the third minute of stoppage time when Fraser picked out the top left hand corner of the Mariners’ goal after the Nix were awarded a free kick some 25 yards out from goal.
Wellington were unable to find an opening in the remainder of time added on and Central Coast held on to secure all three points.
The Wellington Phoenix will have no time to dwell on the defeat as they’re back in action against Western Sydney Wanderers at Porirua Park on Sunday afternoon.
Wellington Phoenix: 1. Victoria ESSON (gk), 4. Mackenzie BARRY (c), 5. Ellie WALKER, 7. Grace JALE, 11. Manaia ELLIOTT, 14. Lucía LEÓN (31. Makala WOODS 46th), 16. Marisa VAN DER MEER (3. Tiana JABER 67th), 23. Brooke NUNN, 24. Pia VLOK (27. Zoe BENSON 76th), 30. Mackenzie ANTHONY (8. Macey FRASER 59th), 32. Emma PIJNENBURG (15. Daisy BRAZENDALE 76th).
Unused substitutes: 22. Aimee DANIELI (gk).
Central Coast Mariners: 15. Annalee GROVE (gk), 3. Elizabeth BARWICK-GREY, 5. Annabel MARTIN, 6. Isabel GOMEZ, 7. Avaani PRAKASH, 12. Tiana FULLER (10. Tamar LEVIN 72nd), 14. Greta KRASZULA, 18. Taren KING (c), 21. Eliza FAMILTON (16. Tess QUILLIGAN 76th), 22. Peta TRIMIS (4. Baxter THEW 89th), 23. Lorena BAUMANN.
Unused substitutes: 30. Sophia VARLEY (gk), 9. Millie FARROW, 13. Kaiya BUCHANAN.
Goals:
21. Eliza FAMILTON (Central Coast Mariners) – 58th
6. Isabel GOMEZ (Central Coast Mariners) – 83rd
8. Macey FRASER (Wellington Phoenix) – 90+3
Cards:
23. Brooke NUNN (Wellington Phoenix) – yellow – 87th
6. Isabel GOMEZ (Central Coast Mariners) – yellow – 90+4
