Western Sydney Wanderers have won their first Ninja A-League match in over two months, prevailing 2-1 against Central Coast Mariners at polytec Stadium.
The first half hour was scrappy, with both sides struggling to find their passing range and neither side able to put together an attack.
Holly Caspers opened the scoring in the 35th minute, timing her run off the shoulder of Taren King perfectly to get on the end of Yuan Cong’s through ball and finish calmly.
Central Coast equalised just six minutes later when Avaani Prakash slid a pass through for spearhead Annalise Rasmussen to score her ninth goal for the season.
Caspers scored her second goal in the 57th minute to get Western Sydney back in front, Talia Younis with a wicked, bending cross from the right at the perfect height for Caspers to head in.
Central Coast had two late chances at an equaliser, first Eliza Familton’s strike was denied by goalkeeper Shamiran Khamis at close range, then Mia Farrow struck the crossbar.
Central Coast will play the Roar in Brisbane next weekend, while the Wanderers will aim to make it two wins in a row for the first time since last February in the Sydney Derby.
