The Central Coast Mariners defied the odds and became this season's A-League Men's Champions, emphatically beating Melbourne City by six goals to one. The six goals equalled Melbourne Victory's record from the 2007 decider.
Moderate temperatures and no rain meant that the crowd of just over 25,000 would be in for a great night of football, with the majority of the crowd wearing navy and yellow.
The match started evenly with each side testing out the other. The Mariners had the best opportunity in the 7th minute via Jason Cummings but his shot was deflected away by City goalkeeper, Tom Glover.
The Mariners continued to press and were rewarded in the 20th minute. Ben N'Kololo made a loping run down the right beating his defender before putting a cross into the box. Cummings met the cross with a deflection that was blocked by a City defender. However, Cummings was smart and quick enough to gather the ball with a left-foot poke to score.
Cummings then turned provider for Sam Silvera in the 34th minute, winning the ball in a close encounter with City's Nabbout. After winning the ball, Cummings passed to Silvera who beat Nuno Reis with skill and pace. Silvera then shot for goal, beating two retreating City defenders and goalkeeper Glover.
Melbourne City pulled one goal back in the 40th minute. McLaren who had been quiet for most of the game became provider, crossing the ball to Dutchman van der Venne who smartly volleyed the ball home.
The score was 2-1 to the Mariners at half-time.
Melbourne City came out after half-time looking the most likely. They seemed to be winning more contests for the ball and leading the possession stats for the first 15 minutes of the half.
That all changed when Nick Montogomery made his first and most important substitution in bringing on Jacob Farrell in the 63rd minute. Within 10 minutes of making the substitution, the Mariners had scored twice to take the scoreline to four goals to one. Both goals were penalties converted by Jason Cummings from opportunities created by Farrell.
The first of these two penalties in the 65th minute was awarded when Farrell attacked a loose ball in the City penalty box where he was brought down by Nabbout. The second in the 73rd minute was awarded when City's Callum Talbot handled the ball as he slide trying to block an attacking pass from Farrell.
The Mariners scored again 10 minutes later in the 83rd minute. Sam Silvera turned provider this time after receiving a pass from Josh Nisbet. Silvera split two City defenders with a sublime cross using the outside of his right boot. Not only did the cross split the two definders but it passed over a third to find N'Kololo who made no mistake in heading the ball home to make the scoreline 5-1.
The scoring did not finish there. Christian Theoharous won the ball in a contested tackle in midfield. After dribbling the ball forward, Theoharous took a shot at goal that was deflected and saw to a repeat of a trend that happened all evening. Ben N'Kololo who scored the previous goal became provider by knocking the ball out to an unmarked Moresche who cut the ball back onto his right foot and neatly scored the sixth goal in the 91st minute.
A ruthless attacking display from the Mariners that saw them take their second championship home 10 years after earning their first.