The Final Most Fans Wanted

 The Mariners, who finished second behind Roar during the regular season, beat Gold Coast 1-0 to ensure their spot.

For most of season six, the Mariners have looked the team most capable of beating an incredible Brisbane outfit.

After scoring twice in as many minutes in the second leg, Central Coast were on the way to ending Roar’s unbeaten run and they would have if not for Henrique’s stoppage time equalizer.

Throughout, Graham Arnold’s team has been building towards a win over Brisbane, beginning with a couple of losses, earning a thrilling draw before coming agonisingly close during the finals series.

Central Coast looked the better team on that night but it could have been much different if the first leg had played out otherwise.

The Mariners missed a host of chances at home and Roar squandered a few early in the second leg as well.

But on the biggest stage, there will be no second chances so the attacking men need to take their opportunities.

As important as that will be for both teams, the visitors need to stay tight defensively, particularly early on.

The chances will fall at both ends, making the finishing of Kosta Barbarouses, Jean Carlos Solorzano, Adam Kwasnik, Matt Simon and Daniel McBreen vital.

The keepers, Michael Theoklitos and Mathew Ryan, both of whom have enjoyed outstanding seasons, will play their parts.

Ryan produced a stellar performance in the win over Gold Coast after an error for Roar’s opener in his previous outing.

A man of the match performance from either of those two could be match-winning but the stage is set for an entertaining final most wanted to see.

                                                                                                     

Central Coast Mariners 1 (Adam Kwasnik 75’)
Gold Coast United 0
Crowd: 7539 @ Bluetongue Stadium  

Central Coast Mariners moved into their third grand final after a hard-fought 1-0 win over Gold Coast United.

Adam Kwasnik was the goal-scoring hero for the home side after he placed home the winner in the 75^th minute.

But Mariners keeper Mathew Ryan put in a classy performance in goals, keeping a clean sheet and pulling off a couple of important saves.

The Mariners were on the front foot from the get-go and went close to opening the scoring in the third minute, but Kwasnik’s pass across the face of goal narrowly missed Daniel McBreen.

United carved out a fine opening down the other end after Tahj Minniecon played Bruce Djite behind, but Ryan was up to the task and saved well with his legs.

Patricio Perez went within inches of opening the scoring, but his sweetly struck left foot shot didn’t trouble Glen Moss.

Djite appeared to be set for the opener after rounding Ryan in the second half, but the young keeper dived at his feet and thwarted the danger.

But it was defender Patrick Zwaanswijk who would go closest to making it 1-0 after meeting a corner from Oliver Bozanic, only for his header to cannon off the crossbar.

It was Kwasnik who scored what proved to be the winner in somewhat fortuitous fashion with 15 minutes to play.

Michael McGlinchey took a long-range shot that deflected off a United defender and fell perfectly for Kwasnik to place precisely into the bottom corner.

If not for a brilliant double save from Ryan, the visitors would have been on level terms minutes later.

First, substitute Joel Porter’s shot was palmed away before the young shot stopper somehow kept out Djite’s second effort with a firm right hand.

It provides most fans with the final they wanted to see as the Mariners return to Suncorp Stadium and United’s entertaining run comes to an end.

Central Coast Mariners: 20. Mathew RYAN (gk), 2. Daniel MCBREEN (19. Matt SIMON 69’), 3. Joshua ROSE, 6. Patrick ZWAANSWIJK, 8. Rostyn GRIFFITHS, 10. Patricio PEREZ (22. Mustafa AMINI 66’), 11. Oliver BOZANIC, 14. Michael MCGLINCHEY, 16. Trent SAINSBURY, 18. Alex WILKINSON (c), 23. Adam KWASNIK (7. John HUTCHINSON 86’)
Unused subs: 30. Paul HENDERSON (gk), 24. Bernie IBINI-ISEI
Yellow card: Hutchinson (87’)
Red cards: None

Gold Coast United: 1. Glen MOSS (gk), 2. Steve PANTELIDIS (24. John CURTIS 79’), 3. Michael THWAITE (c), 6. Dino DJULBIC, 7. Zenon CARAVELLA, 8. ANDERSON, 9. Shane SMELTZ, 11. Bruce DJITE, 13. Bas VAN DEN BRINK (14. Joel PORTER 69’), 15. Tahj MINNIECON (22. Adama TRAORE 78’), 33. Peter PERCHTOLD
Unused subs: 20. Scott HIGGINS (gk), 16. Kristian REES
Yellow cards: None
Red cards: None

Man of the match: Central Coast Mariners’ Matt Ryan managed to bounce back after a shaky game last week and prove all his doubters wrong. The young goalkeeper put in a performance that hinted at experience beyond his years and should give him great confidence going into the grand final next week.

Key moment: The first half was full of chances from both sides, however, nobody capitalised on them. After a fairly even first half, the Mariners came out the stronger side in the second half and, in the end, it was only the one goal that separated the two teams.

Hyundai A-League Finals Week 1
Friday, February 18
Adelaide United 1-0 Wellington Phoenix

Saturday, February 19
Central Coast Mariners 0-2 Brisbane Roar

Sunday, February 20
Gold Coast United 1-0 Melbourne Victory

Hyundai A-League Finals Week 2
Saturday, February 26
Brisbane Roar (4) 2-2 Central Coast Mariners (2)

Sunday, February 27
Adelaide United 2-3 Gold Coast United

Hyundai A-League Finals Week 3
Saturday, March 5
Central Coast Mariners 1-0 Gold Coast United

Hyundai A-League Grand Final
Sunday, March 13 – 4pm
Brisbane Roar v Central Coast Mariners @ Suncorp Stadium