Last season’s treble winners Central Coast Mariners were knocked out in the first hurdle of the 2024 Australia Cup after suffering a shock 3-1 defeat after extra time away at National Premier League Victoria side Heidelberg United on Wednesday.
Josh Pin’s powerful penalty gave the hosts the lead just before half-time at the Olympic Village football field in the Melbourne suburb of Heidelberg, but Mariners’ Mikael Doka responded swiftly after the break.
Neither team managed to find a winner in regular time, leading the game into extra time, where Pin struck again to make it 2-1. In the final seconds, Heidelberg sealed the victory with a third goal.
Mark Jackson’s starting lineup featured four of the club’s five new signings: Adam Pavlesic, Lucas Mauragis, Alfie McCalmont, and Vitor Feijao all made their debuts. Diesel Herrington came off the bench in extra time, becoming the fifth debutant of the evening. Additionally, academy graduate Sasha Kuzevski made a promising return off the bench, marking his ninth senior appearance for the club, nearly 18 months after his eighth due to a serious injury.
The Mariners started the game strongly, with Feijao forcing a smart save from Heidelberg goalkeeper and former Mariner Yaren Sozer in the 15th minute.
On the half-hour mark, Doka sent an effort over Sozer’s bar following a neat Mariners move, while Pavlesic made a flying save to deny Heidelberg’s lively winger Sabit James Ngor.
McCalmont came close to scoring on his debut in the 36th minute, shifting the ball onto his right foot at the edge of the box and forcing Sozer into a low save.
The opening goal came in the 43rd minute when referee Alex King awarded a penalty after Asahi Yokokawa was brought down. Pin stepped up and converted with a powerful strike, giving the hosts a halftime lead.
The Mariners quickly responded in the second half, with Doka’s deflected shot finding the bottom corner of Sozer’s goal, leveling the score at 1-1 in the 53rd minute.
The Mariners finished the game strongly, creating a series of chances after the 80th minute. Ryan Edmondson couldn’t quite connect with Mauragis’ dangerous cross from the left, and Sozer made a crucial save to deny Alou Kuol in a one-on-one situation.
Shortly after, McCalmont’s teasing delivery from a short corner narrowly missed Kuol and Nathan Paull at the back post.
In extra time, Edmondson’s effort from Will Wilson’s cross had Sozer beaten but hit the post in the 100th minute. Heidelberg then capitalized on the other end, with Pin’s deflected shot giving them the lead just before the halftime break of extra time.
The Mariners pushed hard for an equalizer in the final moments, with Wilson flashing a shot wide. However, in the dying seconds, Heidelberg broke away, and Sean Ellis scored a third goal to secure the win.