Melbourne Victory capped an unbelievable fightback with three goals in stoppage time to snatch a 3-3 draw against the Central Coast Mariners at polytec stadium.
The two sides met in Melbourne in round three of this season’s competition in what was the first rematch of the 2024/25 grand final. Victory secured a 1-0 win in that match and in the early stages of this encounter it seemed they would continue the theme.
The opening 25 minutes was all the visitors in possession, but in true silly season fashion it was the hosts who opened the scoring against the run of play through a thunderous Peta Trimis goal from almost 40 yards.
That goal of the season contender ignited the home side and the fans, and the Gosford good times continued shortly after the half-time break with Annalise Rasmussen scoring the Mariners’ second in the 53rd minute before adding their third just seven minutes later.
Victory were arguably lucky that Claudia Bunge wasn’t shown a red card in the 77th minute as she seemed to deny Isbella Coco-Di Sipio a goal scoring opportunity, but referee Page Malau-Aduli waved play on and both sides seemed destined to play out a 3-0 win for the Mariners.
Yet on the cusp of the full-time whistle, Victory’s first goal came in the 91st minute following a scramble in the area that saw Rhianna Pollicina force her way through from a Holly Furphy pass.
Just two minutes later Sofia Sakalis was fouled 24 yards from goal before she finished off the scramble from the set piece; the ball to the far post was kept alive and bobbed off a head before Sakalis controlled with her chest and hammered home from close range.
The visitors then scored almost immediately from the ensuing kick-off to level scores in incredible fashion. The Mariners sent the ball long to the opposite end of the field, but a quick return from goalkeeper Courtney Newbon to the middle of the park eventually saw the ball find its way to Ella O’Grady, who finished calmly in the one on one in the 94th minute.
The result meant Victory bounced back from the midweek Melbourne Derby defeat to go one point clear at the top of the Ninja A-League table.
MATCH HIGHLIGHTS
WHAT THEY SAID
Melbourne Victory captain Kayla Morrison analyses her side’s crazy comeback
Central Coast Mariners’ Annalise Rasmussen discusses her two-goal performance
