Central Coast Mariners need just one more point from their remaining two matches to secure finals football after defeating Brisbane Roar 2-1 in a huge clash at Industree Group Stadium.
They may have come into the game off the back of four-straight losses but Brisbane stunned their opponents after just 21 seconds; midfielder Laini Freier converting from close range to give her side a lightning-quick lead.
The Mariners responded well though and equalised in the 22nd minute thanks to a brilliant run and finish from the ever-impressive Isabel Gomez in midfield.
Brisbane had plenty of shots on goal but rarely troubled the Mariners and were eventually made to pay; Annalise Rasmussen grabbing her sixth goal of the campaign in the 71st minute after a shocking defensive mix-up by the away side.
The result means the Mariners move to within a point of fourth-placed Western United on the ladder but crucially, they now need just one more point from their remaining two games to seal a spot in the finals.
Furthermore, should Brisbane drop points at any stage in their final two games then the Mariners will also secure their finals berth.
As for Brisbane, Alex Smith’s side’s alarming run of form may well have now cost them a spot in the finals as they drop out of the top six with two games left to play, with their run of five-straight defeats leaving them two points behind sixth-placed Canberra United.
Desperately seeking a win that would put an end to their baron run in the Ninja A-League, Brisbane Roar took the lead after just 25 seconds at Industree Group Stadium.
Capitalising on a series of defensive errors from the Mariners, Matildas attacker Freier eventually bundled the ball home from close range to give her side a miraculous start as they bid to register a first win in almost two months.
Their lead lasted until the 22nd minute though as the Mariners finally clicked into gear, inspired by the brilliant Gomez.
Winning the ball on halfway, Gomez galloped clear of the retreating Brisbane defenders before slotting the ball beyond the advancing Keeley Richards to make it 1-1 and bag her fifth goal in 10 games.
The home side came close to take the lead in the 32nd minute when Peta Trimis cut inside on her left foot, however the youngster’s effort flew narrowly over the bar in what was a let-off for the visitors.
Trimis was then involved again, this time sending a ball into the box which found it’s way to Jade Pennock, however the English forward couldn’t adjust her feet in time and as a result, her shot went wide of the far post.
Despite having 16 shots at goal the Roar were struggling to really test Mariners keeper Sarah Langman and Deborah-Anne De la Harpe summed up their shooting woes, sending her effort high and wide in the 63rd minute.
They may have had less of the ball but the Mariners were certainly looking the more dangerous when they broke forward and they eventually made their opponents pay care of their top scorer Rasmussen.
Initially dropping deep to win a flick-on, Rasmussen then sprinted forward to join her teammates in attack and when a poor defensive mix-up presented the Mariners with a four-on-two advantage they made the Roar pay as Rasmussen slotted home Trimis’ cross to make it 2-1.
Now throwing everything forward in search of the leveller Brisbane had a glorious chance to make it 2-2, however substitute Tanaye Morris was brilliantly denied by Langman went sent through one-on-one.
However the away side’s disastrous run of form continued at Industree Group Stadium and they now drop out of the top six with just two games left to play in the regular season whilst also confirming Western United’s spot in the finals.
