Central Coast Mariners through to first FFA Cup final after controversial defeat of Sydney FC

A controversial Marco Urena penalty was the difference as the Central Coast Mariners sealed their first FFA Cup final spot with a 1-0 win over Sydney FC at Kogarah Oval on Tuesday night.

After almost a month off due to COVID-19 postponements, the Mariners sealed victory in the 82nd minute when Urena nutmegged stand-out goalkeeper Andrew Redmayne for the contentious winner.

But every bit of evidence suggested referee Alex King should never have pointed to the spot.

Mariners winger Lewis Miller had made a charging run down the right side, receiving a clip from Sydney left-back Joel King as he approached the penalty area.

However, replays showed the foul happened outside the box. But with no VAR on hand — as there is in the A-League Men — Sydney were at the mercy of the referee's decision.

Miller was awarded a penalty without hesitation and Redmayne, who had kept Sydney in the game with three close-range denials of Brazilian striker Moresche, was unable to stop Urena's strike that fizzed between his legs.

«I don't think it was a penalty, I thought it was outside the box, to be honest,» Sydney striker Elvis Kamsoba said.

«Both teams had enough chances to score, but if you don't score you don't win games and you get punished for that.»

Kamsoba had Sydney's best opportunity of the first half but Mariners centre-back Dan Hall was on hand to block the close-range effort.

At the other end, Redmayne's heroics denied Moresche, Beni Nkololo and Urena from giving the Mariners the lead.

Milos Ninkovic and Trent Buhagiar had chances for Sydney, but King's challenge on Miller gave Urena the opportunity to convert from 18 yards.

Despite Redmayne skipping his feet and waving his arms, the Sydney gloveman was unable to stop Urena as he blasted the