In a tense and entertaining football match at Bluetounge Stadium in Gosford last night the Central Coast Mariners FC defeated Newcastle United Jets FC 3-0.
Adam Kwasnik bagged one in the first half, and Saso Petrovski (shaking off his markers as well as his critics) allowing the home side to draw level in the 74th minute, thus reaching a 2-2 scoreline on aggregate.
As the game then went into 30 mins extra time Petrovski sent the majority of the nearly 20,000 fans into delirium, scoring his second to give a winning 3-2 aggregate lead. The Mariners held on and ended 120 minutes of football out on their legs, yet with a spring in their step and standing inside a wall of yellow and of increbible noise.
Coming into this match the Jets held a distinct advantage, having won 2-0 at home a fortnight ago in the first leg. To overcome that the Mariners would need to get at least 2 goals, keep a clean sheet, and possibly win on penalties. They did better than that, climbing the mountain set before them they gained their best F3 derby result of the A-League.
After days of rain, and with the game in doubt on Saturday morning the football gods shone on the Central Coast; the ground heavy but playable as the teams entered the field with a sold-out stadium full of yellow and navy, and quite a bit of old gold garbed fans, all eager to urge their team to the 3rd Hyundai A-League Grand Final.
Before the game the Premiers Plate (known as 'the frisbee') was presented to the Mariners with a beaming Lawrie McKinna hanging onto it firmly like a veteran ultimate frisbee player. A second, bigger, Trophy to display in the club's Tuggerah offices - would it be joined by another big on ('the toilet seat') after the Grand Final.
For the first 15 minutes or so the home side came out of the blocks putting pressure across the park on the team that was 'in front' - they were not able to get a shot in though, with the best chance a free kick for Mile Jedinak who hit it softly and a defelction took it wide.
First real danger from the Jets came in the 17th minute as the Mariners turned over possession and even with three moving to cover allowed HAL 'Golden Boot' and BOTN POY Joel Griffiths to get a shot on target - albeit covered without much trouble by an underworked Danny Vukovic in the Coast's goal.
Saso Petrovski got on the end of a Mile Jedinak ball in the 34th minute as the end to end nature of the game tilted toward the Coast.
Reward came in the 37th minute. Kwasnik received on the left flank, turned inside and outfoxed a trio of Jets defenders on the left before approaching the penalty area, shooting wickedly. It deflected off the leg of Jets’ defender Tarek Elrich, and evaded their ‘keeper Ante Covic, before entering the net. 1-0
"We haven't had much luck since the Sydney game and it came tonight so we'll take it," goal scorer Adam Kwasnik said after the game about the route his shot took to get into the net!
Saso Petrovski was able collect a firm cross from Andre Gumprecht, deflected into his path by John Aloisi in the 74th minute. The goal-poacher was visibly pleased to end his recent drought - knocking it past Socceroo 'keeper Ante Covic. 2-0
Matt Thompson tried to get the Jets the away goal they needed, with an 81st minute screamer from 30m on the left that Vukovic saw early and got down to smother.
An incredible feeling in the ground during the lul between full-time and the start of extra time. Mariners fans bubbling but renewed silence from the major 'old gold' area in the south east of the stands.
Again the Mariners took the initiative with Kwasnik hitting the left side netting from an acute angle after 3 minutes.
Two minutes later John Hutchinson, who had been a rock in midfield held the ball up and laid off to Saso Petrovski on the left. The big striker bounded into action and slammed the ball across Covic in goal, and into the net. 3-0
The best chance of the game for the Jets came at 12 mins into extra time, when Matt Thomson broke free at the edge of the penalty area and blasted a shot had Vukovic had to palm over the crossbar.
It could have been four for the Mariners with John Aloisi powering free toward goal on the right but blasting across the goal.
Wild scenes as referee Ben Williams eventually blew the whistle to finish over 120 mins of pulsating A-League football.
Central Coast Mariners coach Lawrie McKinna will be glad to have a week off ahead of the grand final on Sunday February 24, 2008. A few players have injury concerns headed by attacking midfielder Tom Pondeljak who will have scans on a knee injury that forced him off the field in the 32nd minute.
Defender Alvin Ceccoli who went off in the 28th minute also has a suspected dislocated toe (suffered from a challenge with Jets debutant Song Jin-Hyung), whilst Nigel Boogaard has a groin strain, John Aloisi aggravated his knee, and Mile Jedinak also pulled up sore. The early injuries affected the Mariners ability to radically change the game plan if needed, but that proved unnecessary as minor adjustments by the Coast kept the pressure on.
McKinna said his side's major semi-final win over Newcastle rates as the club's best performance in the three-year history of the Hyundai A-League. "I'd probably say the 120 minutes was probably our best performance in such a crucial game," McKinna said after the win.
"Other games we have played well in patches, but I think we achieved everything we had to do tonight. The overall performance combined with the importance of the game, it will go down in our short history as our best performance",
Central Coast Mariners go straight to the Grand Final in a fortnight at a Sydney venue to be declared by FFA this week - Newcastle will now play Queensland Roar FC in the knock-out Preliminary Final at EnergyAustralia Stadium next Sunday.