Central Coast have completed their A-League Women championship fairytale with Isabel Gomez the hero in an upset win over Melbourne Victory on penalties in the grand final.
Injured Matildas captain Sam Kerr was among the 6,568 on hand at AAMI Park as the Mariners, in just their second year back in the competition, pulled off a stunning underdog story, winning 5-4 on penalties after scores were locked at 1-1 following extra-time.
Related: ‘Proving people wrong’: how Central Coast Mariners reached A-League Women grand final
Seven days after scoring a controversial semi-final winner against Melbourne City, Gomez pounced on a calamitous moment at the back from Victory’s Claudia Bunge in the 46th minute to score.