In a thrilling encounter at Industree Group Stadium in Gosford, the Central Coast Mariners clinched a vital 2-1 victory over the Wellington Phoenix, propelling them to the top of the Isuzu UTE A-League ladder alongside their rivals with just three rounds remaining.
The match witnessed Colombian forward Angel Torres breaking the deadlock for the Mariners, only for All Whites midfielder Ben Old to draw the ‘Nix level late in the game. However, it was Brazilian fullback Mikael Doka who emerged as the hero for Central Coast, netting a dramatic winner in the 91st minute to secure all three points for his team.
Despite the disappointment of conceding a late goal, Phoenix head coach Giancarlo Italiano acknowledged the Mariners’ resilience and spirit, conceding that his side faced a formidable opponent on their home turf.
With both teams now tied on 46 points, the premiership race has intensified, with Central Coast holding a slight advantage due to their superior number of victories. However, the Mariners face the additional challenge of balancing their AFC Cup commitments in the midst of the A-League season.
Italiano told the Phoenix website the team remains focused the task ahead to maintain momentum secure victories in the remaining fixtures. The Phoenix have little time to dwell on the defeat as they gear up to face Melbourne Victory at Sky Stadium on Friday night.
