Australian soccer witnessed another showpiece game last night as the Central Coast Mariners powered into the Hyundai A-League 2008 Grand Final after defeating the Newcastle Jets at Gosford, 3-0. Starting the game with a two goal deficit after the first round, they needed at least two goals to force the game into extra time to give them any chance of being the first team into the Grand Final to be played at Sydney in two weeks time.

The Mariners went at them from the kick off. The [tag-tec]Newcastle Jets[/tag-tec] seemed more intent on sitting back and protecting their two goal advantage on aggregate and this certainly played into the [tag-tec]Mariners[/tag-tec] hands. In front of 19,112 supporters, the Mariners were inspirational and forced the game into extra time when they went to a 2-0 lead in the 74th minute. After just a few minutes into the first half of extra time, the Mariners secured the win with their third goal.

The [tag-tec]Central Coast Mariners[/tag-tec] Football Manager, Lawrie McKinna, said after the game “I think as an overall performance and the importance of that performance – that will go down, in the short history we’ve had, as our best.”

Newcastle Jets now play Queensland Roar next week to determine the Mariners opponents in the grand final, while the Mariners will be easing into their grand final preparations this week, as there are a number of injury concerns as a result of last nights win.

A truly remarkable performance and achievement to be the first team into the Hyundai A-League Grand Final. Congratulations to Lawrie and the boys from the Central Coast Mariners, you have done the Central Coast proud once again and you will certainly have an army of supporters traveling down the highway to Sydney in a fortnight for the Grand Final.