Central Coast Mariners are into the club’s first ever FFA Cup Final after beating Sydney FC 1-0 at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium on Tuesday night.
KEEPUP followed on LIVE to bring you all the goals, highlights, and the biggest talking points from a dramatic night of FFA Cup football between two Isuzu UTE A-League outfits.
MATCH REPORT: UREÑA POWERS MARINERS PAST SYDNEY FC TO FFA CUP FINAL
‘That’s a game-changing decision, a game-changing moment‘ (9.30pm AEDT)
Decide for yourself: inside the box, or outside the box?
That was the split-second decision presented to referee Alex King when Sydney FC’s Joel King brought Lewis Miller tumbling into the penalty area late in his side’s FFA Cup semifinal clash with the Mariners.
King elected to point to the spot, handing Marco Ureña the keys to the FFA Cup final, which he used to unlock the door with authority.
Paramount+ analyst Daniel McBreen wasn’t so sure the decision should have stood.
“The referee made his decision, but clearly in my mind, as you can see it was a controversial moment,” McBreen said post-game.
“The contact is outside the box, but when you don’t have VAR you have to go by the referee’s decision.
“I’m sure that’s no comfort for Steve Corica and the Sydney FC players and supporters, because it’s really the match-winning moment of the game.
“That’s a game-changing decision, a game-changing moment -but all credit to the Mariners.
“A month without football, COVID cases going through (the team), it’s been hard for all teams and for them to come out and put on a performance like that, it’s fantastic.”
The Mariners are through to the club’s first ever FFA Cup final, after falling in two prior semifinal bouts. And Ureña – who could’ve had a hatful of goals on the night if not for Andrew Redmayne’s superb shot-stopping – said that although the Mariners rode their luck at the end, perhaps it was a deserved lucky streak for a team that performed excellently all night.
“It’s good, actually, we deserved it,” Ureña said. “We deserved to win, no matter how.”
Ureña added: “I’m really proud of this team.
“We wanted to make history today. We said before the game started, and we did it, and now we’re in a final for the first time in so many years.
“I’m really excited, I’m looking forward to the final.”
MARINERS BOOK PLACE IN FIRST FFA CUP FINAL WITH 1-0 WIN OVER SKY BLUES (8.50pm AEDT)
The Mariners could have scored a bag of goals on the night, but the solitary strike put on the board by Marco Ureña ultimately came in controversy as a Mariners spot-kick separated the two sides.
Read on below for a full breakdown of the contentious moment, plus all the biggest talking points of a tightly-contested semifinal at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium.
GOAL! UREÑA SCORES FROM THE SPOT TO PUT MARINERS AHEAD (8.55pm AEDT)
Central Coast have pulled ahead with 10 minutes to play in controversial fashion, with Marco Ureña putting a penalty through the legs of Redmayne.
The Costa Rican gave the Mariners the lead after Joel King brought Lewis Miller tumbling down inside the box.
With no VAR in the FFA Cup, referee Alex King’s decision stood; but a second look showed the King challenge beginning outside the penalty area.
“That is outside the box,” said Paramount+ co-commentator Daniel McBreen.
Simon Hill replied: “No VAR in the FFA Cup, so ref’s call is all.”
Redmayne again! Unbelievable keeping on display in Kogarah (8.30pm AEDT)
Sydney FC have Andrew Redmayne to thank as scores remain level heading into the final 15 minutes of play, after a quick-fire double save from the Sky Blues stopper to deny both Ureña and Moresche from close range.
Redmayne kept the former’s header out, hitting the deck as Moresche circled to tuck away the rebound. But Redmayne got up quickly to throw himself across the danger area, sending the Brazilian’s attempt trickling past the post.
Ninković Off the bench and into the action (8.25pm AEDT)
Just minutes after entering the fray, Miloš Ninković missed a gilt-edged chance to put the Sky Blues ahead with less than 30 minutes to play.
Arriving unmarked in the box, Ninković headed his attempt on goal straight down the throat of Birighitti, who is growing busier by the minute as Sydney get on top.
Huge save from Birighitti keeps Mariners in it (8.15pm AEDT)
The Mariners dominated early proceedings in the second half – but were almost made to pay by the Sky Blues when Elvis Kamsoba sent Trent Buhagiar steaming in on goal.
Buhagiar struck, and Birighitti held out an outstretched glove to divert the point-blank shot off target.
Birighitti and Andrew Redmayne have been the key contributors to their respective sides after an hour of play.
Will subs make the difference? (8.05pm AEDT)
No goals through the first half, and no changes at the break as play resumes in this semifinal clash between the Sky Blues and Mariners.
Expect to see some changes throughout the second stanza, with both sides possessing plenty of additional firepower on the pine.
Here are the attacking subs available to each side in the second half:
Sydney FC: Bobô, Ninković, Patrick Wood
Central Coast: Garang Kuol, Matt Hatch, Cy Goddard
All square at the break between Sky Blues, Mariners (7.50pm AEDT)
Andrew Redmayne made three clutch saves to keep the Mariners out through a first-half played in torrential rain at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium.
Trent Buhagiar and Elvis Kamsoba kept the visitors on their toes with half-opportunities down the other end, but neither side could break the deadlock before heading into the sheds for some brief respite from the rain.
Redmayne with the safe hands once again (7.45pm AEDT)
Ureña is getting busy in this opening half, and it was his flick to Nisbet which opened up the space for the Mariners to attack once again.
The ball eventually found its way to Beni Nkololo, who struck low to the bottom-right corner off his left foot, only for Redmayne to get across and smother the strike.
Minutes later the Costa Rican received his best chance of the half, served up on a plate by Moresche after a magnificent piece of footwork along the byline, but – you guessed it – Redmayne was out to quell the danger in rapid time.
Elvis touches, turns, SHOOTS – but Hall blocks! (7.25pm AEDT)
Elvis Kamsoba looked set to add another glistening strike to his growing collection this season after touching down a lofted pass into the box on the turn, opening up space to strike off his left peg near the penalty spot.
But Dan Hall anticipated, getting across to throw his body across Kamsoba and prevent the Burundi international from breaking the deadlock.
Down the other end it was Sydney keeper making up for Joel King’s defensive slip. After putting his foot on the ball it squirmed out from under his boot into the path of Josh Nisbet, who fed Marco Ureña, who called Redmayne into a strong one-handed save.
Chances at both ends are flying in now, but the score stays 0-0.
Kick-off in Kogarah (7.00pm AEDT)
The teams are out at a rain-soaked Netstrata Jubilee Stadium as the Sky Blues get the game underway.
Ruon Tongyik returns to the Mariners squad, albeit from the bench, whilst Max Burgess replaces Ninković in the starting XI.
Oli Bozanic won the toss for the Mariners, handing Sydney captain Alex Wilkinson kick-off as the Mariners look to progress to the club’s very first FFA Cup final.
TEAM NEWS
MATCH DETAILS
Sydney FC v Central Coast Mariners
Date: Tuesday, 18 January
Venue: Netstrata Jubilee Stadium
Kick-off: 7.00pm AEDT
Broadcast: 10 Play
