Macarthur FC booked a place in the semifinals of the A-League playoffs by beating Central Coast Mariners in the elimination finals on Saturday.
The visitors, who are making their debut appearance in the A-League, silenced a boisterous home crowd at the Central Coast Stadium to knock out their hosts despite playing over half an hour with ten men.
Mariners themselves were making their first playoffs in seven seasons and were the overwhelming favourites going into this tie after finishing third on the table. But they were undone by their visitors, who needed two extra-time goals to condemn them to a defeat as a largely successful season now ends in disappointment.
The visitors deserved their win after standing strong in the face of a challenging situation. They started out the better of both teams and were in control early on in the game.
Ante Milicic’s side had their first go at their hosts in the fourth minute when English marksman Derbyshire volleyed home. But his goal was ruled out for offside.
They again thought they had scored in the eleventh minute when James Meredith directed a bullet header from a Benat Etxebarria free-kick at goal. But a brilliant reflex save by Mariners ‘keeper Mark Birighitti denied the left-back an opener.
The visitors continued to boss the game but were dealt a huge blow in the 75th minute when Meredith was sent off for bringing down Marco Urena. Replays showed that Urena had handled the ball before the Meredith challenge, but the VAR judged it accidental and the red card stood.
With a man up, the Mariners had the opportunity to press home the advantage. But they could not take it and were made to rue their poor display when in the third minute of extra time, Charles M’Mombwa opened the scoring for the visitors.
The midfielder was at the right place at the right time to head home after Markel Susaeta’s shot which had ricocheted off the far post, found him free in the six-yard box.
The Bulls wrapped up the win with the last kick of the game when Jake Hollman sent teenager Michael Ruhs through on goal in the 121dt minute to score and condemn Mariners to their first-ever defeat to Macarthur FC.
The win means that Macarthur book a semifinal date with Melbourne City.
