The Central Coast Mariners women impressively continue their Ninja A-League campaign, remaining unbeaten in their opening three matches.
Coach Emily Husband was pleased when the team secured a hard-fought 2-2 draw against Melbourne City on Sunday, November 17, disrupting their opponents’ perfect start to the season.
Melbourne City had been in red-hot form, coming into the clash with five consecutive wins, including a dominant showing in the AFC Women’s Club Championship last month, where they went three-for-three in their group games.
The match delivered fireworks from the start, with a five-minute pulsating opening setting the tone.
City’s Alexia Apostolakis put the hosts ahead with a stunning strike just two minutes in.
But the Mariners responded quickly, as Annalise Rasmussen notched her first goal of the season to level the score before the five-minute mark.
City regained the lead in the 31st minute through a clever free-kick from Lourdes Bosch, whose low-driven shot slipped through a crowded box to find the bottom corner.
The Mariners kept pushing and found their equaliser in the 76th minute as Izzy Gomez capitalised on a rebound from Jade Pennock’s parried shot, calmly slotting the ball home.
The goal capped off a remarkable week for Gomez, who received her first call-up to the Matildas just two days earlier.
The result marks back-to-back away draws for the Mariners women.
They take on another Victorian team, Melbourne Victory, in the Sydney-based Unite Round at 2pm on Saturday, November 23.