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Stunner ... Daniel McBreen celebrates his goal. Source: PAUL MILLER / AAP
Central Coast will face Western Sydney in the A-League grand final after beating Melbourne Victory 1-0 on Sunday to book a place in their fourth decider in eight seasons.
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Daniel McBreen, this season's golden boot winner, scored the lone goal at Bluetongue Stadium to add to his already impressive tally and hand the Mariners another shot at sealing their maiden championship at Allianz Stadium next Sunday.
The result however, spoils the faultless finals record of coach Ange Postecoglou.
The Victory mentor, who led Brisbane to back-to-back championships, had yet to taste defeat in seven A-League finals matches.
The last time Victory travelled to Gosford they were dismantled 6-2 by the Mariners.
The Victory's defence, their Achilles heel this season, was again exposed by the hosts, although not to the same degree.
Melbourne mentor Ange Postecoglou pin-pointed his team's defence and McBreen's goal as the match-deciding events.
"It is a tough one to take,'' an extremely dejected Postecoglou said.
"Being so close to getting there, it's always really disappointing.
"I thought we were solid enough early on, not threatening, but the first goal was always going to be the key.
"Unfortunately that's been our weakness all year. We conceded a goal and that made things difficult because they're a very hard team to break down.
"We just weren't good enough to get back into the game.''
This was the fourth game in 16 days for the Mariners, who had to also contend with the Asian Champions League.
Mariners manager Graham Arnold praised his players determination, in particular Michael McGlinchey, one of the standout performers in the league this season.
"Tactically the boys carried the gameplan out perfectly,'' Arnold said.
"If you ask where we won the game I thought it was our defensive structure.''
But with most key players rested from this week's trip to China, Central Coast were too strong for a lacklustre Victory side in front of a crowd of 10,651 - including Wanderers coach Tony Popovic.
With the two most potent forward packs in the league it was always going to be an attacking encounter.
Pint-sized striker Marco Rojas and veteran Archie Thompson looked dangerous from the get-go.
But it was the Mariners who forced the first save of the match with Victory goalkeeper Nathan Coe clearing a long-range effort from Mile Sterjovski 14 minutes in.
Re-live Central Coast's win over Melbourne Victory in our A-League Match Centre, featuring video highlights.
Pedj Bojic, Bernie Ibini and McBreen continued the first-half assault.
And McBreen finally broke through just before the break to put the hosts 1-0 up in the 42nd minute with his 18th goal of the season.
Young gun Ibini did all the lead-up work, getting past two defenders to set the veteran striker up for the shot from outside the box.
The Victory tried to find the leveller in the second half with Thompson forcing Mariners gloveman Mathew Ryan into action with half an hour to go.
Mitchell Duke looked like doubling the Mariners' lead in the 70th minute but sent his powerful strike wide.
The stadium erupted in the 80th minute when Joshua Rose slotted one home, only to be ruled offside.
But there was late drama for the Mariners with Nick Montgomery sent off in stoppage time for his second yellow card for a foul on Mark Milligan, meaning he will now miss next week's grand final.
Oliver Bozanic or Anthony Caceres appear the likely replacement.
"Montgomery is a big loss,'' Arnold said.
"But (Wanderers winger) Youssouf Hersi is suspended as well so that's one each.''
Despite the Mariners having failed in three previous grand finals, Arnold feels win or lose in next Sunday's Allianz Stadium decider his side has already had a successful season.
"The Wanderers will be a huge challenge for us, especially with their '12th man' the 30,000 plus supporters there. So we'll have to be at the top of our game,'' Arnold said.
"But it's already been our year in my view.
"To finish in the top two three years in a row. Three years in a row we've gotten more than 50 points, we've scored more goals than anyone.
"So the season has already been a massive success.''
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