Sunday Wrap: Mariners win wild Grand Final rematch, 96th-minute goal lifts defending champions

Round 13 action concluded on Sunday with plenty of thrills in the Liberty A-League and one in the Isuzu UTE A-League.

In the Isuzu UTE A-League, titleholders Central Coast Mariners prevailed 2-1 over three-time reigning premiers Melbourne City thanks to an 88th-minute goal via Angel Torres.

Across in the Liberty A-League, defending champions Sydney FC vanquished Newcastle Jets 2-1 after Zara Jewel Kruger struck in the sixth minute of stoppage time.

Western Sydney Wanderers moved up to fourth with their 2-1 success against Central Coast Mariners, while Western United edged Adelaide United 1-0.

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MATCHDAY AGENDA

Western United 1-0 Adelaide United – City Vista Recreation Reserve (Liberty A-League)

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Western United made it three straight wins over Adelaide United thanks to Keiwa Hieda.

Hieda struck seven minutes into the second half to lift the home side and sink the bottom-placed Reds on Sunday.

Western are fifth in the standings – level on points with Western Sydney Wanderers but adrift on goal difference, while Adelaide are two points adrift at the foot of the table.

Sydney FC 2-1 Newcastle Jets – Leichhardt Oval (Liberty A-League)

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Sydney FC maintained their stranglehold on Newcastle Jets following yet another victory against the team from the Hunter Region.

Sarina Bolden had given the Jets a 1-0 lead before 16-year old Maddie Caspers equalised in the second half for Sydney, who jumped up to second spot.

The Sky Blues completed the comeback in the 96th minute via Kruger.

Sydney have now won their last consecutive 10 A-League Women matches against the Jets; only against Adelaide (W12 from December 2008 to November 2016) have the Sky Blues recorded a longer winning run against a single team in the history of the competition.

Central Coast Mariners 2-1 Melbourne City – Industree Group Stadium (Isuzu UTE A-League)

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Central Coast Mariners made it nine matches unbeaten in the league with a thrilling 2-1 success at home to Melbourne City.

In a Grand Final rematch in Gosford, the Mariners broke the deadlock thanks to Christian Theoharous, who scored his first A-Leagues goal for the defending champions five minutes into the second half.

Steven Ugarkovic restored parity 11 minutes from the end, but Central Coast had the final say when Torres scored with two minutes of regulation remaining before tempers threatened to boil over in stoppage time with Storm Roux sent off.

Central Coast – fourth and four points off top spot – are undefeated in their last nine A-League Men matches (W6 D3) – equalling their nine-game unbeaten from March to November in 2013.

Central Coast Mariners 1-2 Western Sydney Wanderers – Industree Group Stadium (Liberty A-League)

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Western Sydney Wanderers made it four wins on the bounce after edging Central Coast Mariners 2-1 in Gosford.

Wanderers star Holly Caspers and Isabel Gomez had traded goals before a Jazmin Wardlow own goal in the 54th minute restored Western Sydney’s lead and gave them victory.

The in-form Wanderers are within two points of second-placed Sydney and Perth Glory.