Mariners force Phoenix to settle for second after a wet win against Adelaide

posted in: A-League (Men), News |

The Wellington Phoenix will have to wait till late Sunday evening to learn who’ll they’ll meet in the two-legged semi-final for the men’s A-League finals series.

The Phoenix were consigned to finish runners-up in the regular season competition when Central Coast Mariners beat Adelaide United in the rain at Gosford on Wednesday night to clinch the Premiers Plate.

The result means the Phoenix will face the highest-ranked (by league table placing) winner of the two elimination finals to be played over the weekend of May 4-5.

To win the plate, the Phoenix needed Adelaide to beat the Mariners, but it was not to be.

After dominating the game for the first half hour, Adelaide could not convert a run of goal opportunities and Mariners goalkeeper Danny Vukovic kept his side’s hopes alive with a string of saves.

Main photo: Mariners captain Danny Vukovic punches the air with delight at the final whistle.

The sucker punch came after 36 minutes when Jacob Farrell headed the Mariners into the lead, easing nerves and starting a resurgence for the home side.

Max Balard doubled the Mariners’ lead in the 76th minute when he seized on a poor Adelaide pass across their backline, drilling it into the net.

*Max Balard runs to Mariners supporters after scoring his side’s second goal.*

As the rain poured down, the Mariners were content to run down the clock and, eventually, the final whistle went, giving them their first Premiers Plate in 12 years.

Importantly, it means they’ll meet the lowest-ranked winner from the elimination finals in their two-legged semi-final, and they’ll host the grand final if they reach it, regardless who they meet.

The Phoenix have to wait for this weekend’s elimination finals to discover who they’ll play in their two-legged semi-final.

Their opponents won’t be confirmed till the final whistle of the second elimination final, between Melbourne Victory and Melbourne City, which will finish between 8.50pm and 10pm (NZT) on Sunday, depending on whether the result is settled in 90 minutes or requires a tiebreaker.