Canberra United’s brave season ended in frustration as Central Coast Mariners overturned a 0-1 half-time deficit to win 2-1 in the Elimination Final at Industree Group Stadium courtesy of a brace from English forward Jade Pennock.
There was one change from the United team that had won 3-1 away to Western Sydney Wanderers, and it was a defensive one, as Tegan Bertolissio was recalled in to the starting eleven having recovered from a knock, to replace Alex McKenzie who slotted onto the extended bench.
The home side began the sharper of the two teams and almost went in the tenth minute. Jessika Nash took aim from twenty-five metres and clipped a delightful lob at goal that a back-peddling Sally James flung up an arm to and clawed away from the top corner to prevent a certain goal.
Canberra’s best effort of the opening quarter came in the 26th minute of the contest. A lovely, weighted ball from Sofia Christopherson sent Michelle Heyman on her way, the striker hitting a low shot across the bow of Sarah Langman forcing the Mariners stopper into a one-handed stop.
There was a worrying moment for the visitors when James needed treatment after diving across goal to shepherd an Isobel Gomez effort wide, but it was Canberra who took the lead a minute before half-time.
Christopherson played a pass into the channel for Heymman to chase, the forward showing strength to brush aside Taren King, composure to set herself for the target, and accuracy to curl a superlative finish beyond the diving Langman and into the far corner of the net.
And they almost had another goal minutes later as Christopherson struck an effort from the angle of the box that forced Langman to palm over for a corner, from which ultimately Malone drilled a strike straight at the home ‘keeper.
Trailing at the break, it took Mariners just 23 seconds to level matters at the start of the second-half. A cross into the area from Fuller caused panic in the United defensive ranks, the deep delivery met by Annabel Martin whose header bounced off a defender and fell for Pennock who lashed home the equaliser.
In a robust Finals match the challenges were whole-hearted from both teams, and the urgency was building as the time ticked on, Canberra beginning to look a little leggy as the Mariners, buoyed by the goal began to dictate the possession.
Canberra looked to rectify that by adding some added mobility into the midfield as Jagarinec sent on Holly Murray for Mary Stanic-Floody, however it was Central Coast who would find the lead with sixteen minutes remaining, and it was a goal of some class from Pennock.
Collecting a short pass, Pennock took a touch inside her marker and curled a sensational finish past James, the United custodian at full stretch, the ball flashing into the inside of far post.
Maja Markovski, Jynaya Dos Santos and Ruby Nathan were called from the substitute’s bench as United went for broke, the season seeping away as the clock ticked on, but try as they might Canberra just could not find the breakthrough and saw their campaign brought to a close.
ELIMINATION FINAL
Monday 28 April 2025
Central Coast Mariners 2 (Pennock 46’, 74’) Canberra United 1 (Heyman 43’)
(Industree Group Stadium, Gosford, 18:00)
Canberra United: 1. Sally JAMES, 5. Madison AYSON, 10. Mary STANIC-FLOODY (4. Holly MURRAY 57’), 11. Emma ROBERS, 12. Hayley TAYLOR-YOUNG, 13. Sofia CHRISTOPHERSON, 21. Aideen KEANE (9. Ruby NATHAN 89’), 23. Michelle HEYMAN, 25. Darcey MALONE (17. Maja MARKOVSKI 77’), 28. Tegan BERTOLISSIO (7. Jynaya DOS SANTOS 89’), 32. Bethany GORDON
Substitutes not used: 2. Alex MCKENZIE, 18. Coco MAJSTOROVIC
