Grand final heroics just the start for Mariners’ Gomez

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Grand final heroics just the start for Mariners’ Gomez

Grand final heroics and a Matildas call-up are just the beginning for emerging midfield star Izzy Gomez.

That’s the view of Central Coast coach Emily Husband after her midfield maestro led the charge in the Mariners’ breakthrough A-League Women triumph on penalties on Sunday.

But whether she can keep hold of the 22-year-old is yet to be seen.

The midfielder scored the opening goal in the regular-time 1-1 draw and also converted her penalty as part of a masterful performance as Central Coast won the shootout 5-4.

Gomez notched seven goals and three assists from 16 games this season, having missed 11 through her MCL injury suffered in November, days after her first Matildas call-up.

She is due to head into camp later this week ahead of friendlies against Argentina.

“This past week has been amazing to be selected in the Matildas as well. It’s such an honour. So I’m super grateful,” Gomez said.

“I’ll go in with a lot of confidence. I’ve definitely grown in that aspect.

“That’s thanks to Em – she’s really pushed me to be a better player and step up in these moments. And, yeah, I think it’s great.”

Veteran Victory striker Emily Gielnik, who missed out on Matildas selection, gave some timely advice.

“I saw Izzy Gomez crying, and I gave her a hug and I said, ‘enjoy that first cap when you wear that green and gold jersey. You deserve it. Embrace it and enjoy every minute, because you’ve had a hell of a season’,” Gielnik said.

That will only be the start, according to Husband.

“She’s an incredibly special player, and she’s somebody that we know has incredible talent, and she’s still got a lot more to give,” Husband said.

“I don’t think she’s still even quite 100 per cent yet.

“I look at our season and wonder what we could have achieved if we’d have had her all season.

“She’s not only just an incredible player with great athletic ability and great technical ability, great decision making, she’s a phenomenal person as well.

“So credit to her, credit to her family, she’ll have made a lot of people proud, not just tonight, but for the last two seasons, and she’s been an absolute dream to coach. I couldn’t ask for a better player.”

Gomez is contracted for next season but offers from overseas and elsewhere in the ALW are certain to come.

“There’s a lot of options, but still unsure where I’m headed,” Gomez said.

Husband is confident she can keep most of her championship-winning team together.

“I think they’ll bring themselves together, I really do,” she said.

“I look at around the changing room, how close they are as a group and how much they they back each other, and how collective they are.

“I think that’s more of a selling point than anything else, to be honest.”

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