Mariners down Jets, enter finals on a high

Central Coast have ensured they will enter the A-League Men finals in red-hot form after ending their regular season with a 2-0 win over rivals Newcastle.

Jason Cummings and Beni NKololo’s goals proving the difference, the Mariners will now head to the finals on a five-game winning streak and unbeaten in six.

Belying pre-season predictions, Nick Montgomery’s side have now matched the points total from their magical 2020-21 season, while scoring 14 more goals in the process.

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Moving up to fourth place on the table, their finals opponent will be determined by results in the coming days.

Should Adelaide United defeat Western United on Sunday, the Mariners will fall to fifth and play the Reds at Hindmarsh Stadium.

An Adelaide draw or loss, however, means a final heads to Gosford; their foes determined by if Wellington can beat Melbourne City on Monday to leapfrog Adelaide.

Their regular season concluded, the Jets’ final game of 2021-22 will come next week when they take part in playoffs for a spot in the 2022 Australia Cup.

Arthur Papas’ side were down 1-0 on the thirty-minute mark when Cummings found space, cut inside onto his left and curled a gorgeous effort into the net.

It was his tenth goal since landing in Gosford in January; form that has put the Scottish-born, Socceroo-eligible attacker in line for a national team call-up.

Newcastle should have equalised in the 47th minute when Valentino Yuel cut the ball back to an open Beka Mikeltadze just yards out for his shot to vault over the bar.

And when NKololo punished Michael Weier’s poor attempt to clear by stealing it off his feet to fire into an empty net in the 62nd, the result was sealed.

The only dark mark on the Mariers’ night was a potential late injury to their Brazilian attacker Moresche.

Mariners down Jets, enter finals on a high
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