The Mariners took the lead when Annalise Rasmussen pounced on a poor back pass from Stacey Papadopoulos in the 71st minute and appeared destined to lock in a top-four spot.
But United youngster Kiara De Domizio responded in the 82nd to earn her side a point.
Come for Kiara De Domizio's first Liberty A-League goal, stay for her family's incredible reaction in the stands🥹��— Liberty A-League (@aleaguewomen) @wufcofficial level it up in Gosford! 🟢⚫�Tune in on 10 Play 📺#CCMvWUN #ALW pic.twitter.com/usdwpZciQzMarch 28, 2024
The top two teams sit out the first week of finals, while the third and fourth-placed teams earn home elimination finals.
Either Sydney FC (39 points) or Melbourne City (38) will win the premiers plate, with the other team locked in for second place.
United (36, 11 wins) sit third ahead of the Mariners (35) and cannot slip below fourth, as wins are now a tiebreaker if teams are level on points.
Fifth-placed Western Sydney (33 points, 10 wins) can yet leapfrog United with a strong win over Wellington, but the sixth-placed Victory (33 points, nine wins), who play Sydney, cannot overtake them.
The Victory and Wanderers can both overtake the Mariners with wins.
Seventh-placed Newcastle (30 points, nine wins) can also make finals with a strong victory over Adelaide United, if the Victory and Wanderers lose.
United looked understandably toothless in Gosford early without striker Hannah Keane, who suffered a season-ending ruptured patella tendon against Western Sydney, and Chloe Logarzo (hip).
Central Coast were busy early with Kyah Simon and Bianca Galic fashioning early shots without reward.
Mariners defender Faye Bryson was fortunate not to score an own goal in the 13th minute when she hacked at a clearance and turned the ball onto her own crossbar.
Simon forced a good save from Alyssa Dall'Oste in the 29th minute.
Central Coast turned to Wurigumula off the bench at halftime, with the China international replacing Simon.
Instead, United came perilously close to opening the scoring in the 64th minute when Tyla-Jay Vlajnic forced a big save from Sarah Langman.
The hosts took the lead via a Western brain fade.
Cool, calm and collected from our academy graduate! 🔥— Central Coast Mariners (@CCMariners) On the pitch for just over 10 minutes, Annalise Rasmussen gives us the lead! 🤩#CCMFC #CCMvWUN #BeOurMate pic.twitter.com/HR6E61U4MWMarch 28, 2024
Papadopoulos had just cut out a Mariners attack but opted to pass back, then threw her hands to her face in dismay when she realised she had delivered the ball on a platter to an advancing Rasmussen.
The forward burst forward and coolly scored.
But United wouldn't go down without a fight.
Eleven minutes later, skipper Jaclyn Sawicki slipped through De Domizio, who buried a powerful left-footed finish.
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