KEY POINTS:
By the barest possible margin, season-long contenders Central Coast Mariners were crowned A-League minor premiers thanks, in the end, to Adam Kwasnik's stoppage strike against the Wellington Phoenix in Gosford on Saturday night.
With the points on the board, Mariners' coach Lawrie McKinna and his players then had
to sit through two Sunday games before their triumph could be confirmed.
Victory for either Sydney FC or Queensland Roar would have dashed their hopes.
In front of a season-best 33,458 fans - a club record - Sydney twice took the lead over arch-rivals Melbourne Victory in a match well-controlled by New Zealand referee Peter O'Leary but in the end had to settle for a 2-2 draw and third place.
Steve Corica gave the home side a dream start when he scored inside five minutes. In sight of the break and still in front, Sydney then played Melbourne back into the game when Mark Milligan conceded an own goal.
Alex Brosque put Sydney back in front on the hour with his eighth goal of the season but the final say was with visiting striker Danny Allsopp who tied it up in the 77th minute.
Queensland Roar had the last chance to end the Mariners' hopes but found no joy on their trip to Hindmarsh Stadium, going down 2-0 to Adelaide United who got home with first half goals from Bruce Djite and Lucas Pantelis.
The visitors played the second half a man short after Danny Tiatto was sent off.
Newcastle Jets had kept their Hyundai A-League hopes alive with their 2-1 home win over Perth Glory in the opening match of the round.
Golden boot Joel Griffiths, with his 12th of the season, gave the Jets the lead after 22 minutes. Jamie Harnwell got the visitors back to 1-1 in added time at the end of the first half. Needing victory to remain in the minor premiership race, Mark Bridge brought joy to 16,212 enthusiastic fans with his 64th minute winner in a game also under the control of a New Zealand referee with Michael Hester in charge.
Aware of their near neighbours' triumph, the Mariners tackled the Phoenix 24 hours later with relish.
John Aloisi, captaining the Mariners with older brother Ross wearing the armband for the Phoenix, opened the scoring after 52 minutes. Kwasnik added the vital second goal three minutes into stoppage time.
Edging Newcastle by just one goal on goal difference in the final tally, earns the Mariners home ground advantage for the second leg of the major semifinal on Sunday week. They play their opener on Sunday at EnergyAustralia Stadium. The winner of that home and away series takes the direct route to the final.
In the minor semifinal, Sydney FC have home advantage for Friday's first leg over Queensland Roar. The loser of that series is eliminated.
