The Central Coast Mariners men’s team have advanced to the A-league grand final 2023/24 after holding Sydney FC to a nil-all draw on Saturday night May 18.
The 20,000 + crowd at the stadium were electric with expectation, making for a spectacular atmosphere at Industree Group Stadium.
The game was characterised by CoastFM Football commentators as chaotic at times, following a series of questionable referee calls.
The hard fought draw gave the Mariners the winning lead on aggregate after they defeated Sydney 2-1 on Saturday May 11.
The Mariners will now play Melbourne Victory after that team defeated Wellington Pheonix earlier in the evening in the other semi-final in New Zealand.
For the first time, the grand final will be held at Gosford’s Industree Group Stadium on Saturday, May 25.
Next week is already shaping up to be the biggest football festival ever on the Central Coast, with a live site being set up across the road and at Leagues Club Park and at other venues across the region to cater for fans unable to get tickets for the game.
Grand Final tickets will be made available online for Mariners and Victory members at 9 am Monday, with General Admission tickets put up for sale from 11 am Tuesday.
Manager/Coach Mark Jackson now has a serious chance to make this season the most successful in the club’s history, after winning the Premiership Plate and the AFC Cup 2023/24.