In a thrilling climax in Gosford, the Central Coast Mariners snatched a last-gasp win against Melbourne City, with Max Balard lighting up the pitch with his inaugural A-League net buster on Tuesday, April 2.
With the local team bouncing back from a tough 2-0 loss against Sydney just days before, Coach Mark Jackson shuffled his squad, introducing Mibuel Di Pizio and Nathan Paull to the mix, sidelining Christian Theoharous and Bradley Tapp.
The Mariners hit the ground running, with Ryan Edmondson’s robust presence up front proving a handful, drawing a couple of early fouls in prime territory, though City managed to dodge the bullet early on.
City, however, weren’t just bystanders; they had their moment when Tolgay Arslan’s stealthy strike kissed the post, a close shave indeed.
Arslan kept the pressure on, forcing a brilliant reflex save from our guardian, Danny Vukovic, off a curling free-kick.
Not to be outdone, Balard tested City’s Jamie Young with a crafty back-heel, marking his entry into the fray.
Edmondson, rising like a colossus, nearly broke the deadlock with a header off a Balard corner, narrowly missing the mark.
The game ebbed and flowed, with both teams carving out half-chances, keeping fans on the edge of their seats.
Right before the break, our captain pulled off a miraculous save, denying Marin Jakolis at point-blank range, keeping the scoreboard untouched as the teams regrouped in the half-time changerooms.
City drew first blood in the second act, but the Mariners, undeterred, drew level promptly, thanks to Angel Torres converting from the spot after Christian Theoharous, now off the bench and in the thick of it, was fouled in the box.
As the clock ticked down, Vukovic stood tall, making a series of critical saves, keeping City’s advances at bay and setting the stage for a dramatic finish.
In the dying moments, Balard, with a burst of energy, carved through the midfield, culminating in a decisive strike that sent the home crowd into ecstasy two minutes into injury time.
This victory, a sweet return after a lengthy spell away, sets the stage for an epic showdown with Wellington Phoenix, on the weekend in Gosford where a win could catapult the Mariners back to the summit of the A-League table.