Central Coast Mariners broke through for their first Australian A-League grand final victory at the fourth attempt to end the Western Sydney Wanderers fairytale winning run in Sydney on Sunday. The Mariners won the A-League championship 2-0 with goals from veteran Dutch defender Patrick Zwaanswijk just before halftime and a 68th-minute penalty from the season's golden boot winner Daniel McBreen. The triumph ended the Mariners' title heartbreak after losing all three of their previous grand finals in 2011, 2008 and 2006.

Young Melbourne Heart striker Eli Babalj has signed with Holland's AZ Alkmaar on a four-year deal, the Australian club said on Saturday. Babalj, 21, has travelled to Holland to undergo a medical and resolve personal terms after AZ scouts watched him play at Melbourne Heart this year. He started to attract interest from European clubs after his breakout season in 2011-12 when he scored nine goals, propelling Heart to its first A-League finals campaign. The striker's potential was recognised last year when he signed with Serbian Superliga side Red Star Belgrade.

Australian A-League player of the year Marco Rojas said Thursday he will leave Melbourne Victory this month and move to an unnamed club in Europe. Rojas, 21, scored 15 goals for Victory this season and is one of the hottest properties in the domestic league. "I have absolutely loved my time at Melbourne Victory, from the fans to the support of my teammates as well as the coaches and the staff -- they have all definitely helped make me who I am today," Rojas said.

Japanese star Shinji Ono produced an exquisite goal on Friday to propel Western Sydney Wanderers into Australia's A-League final in their debut season. Ono's dipping chip into the top right corner clinched the Wanderers a 2-0 win to dump two-time defending champions Brisbane Roar out of the championship title race. Tony Popovic's Wanderers are now one win away from being crowned champions, having already created Australian sporting history by securing the first-past-the-post Premiers' Plate to become the first expansion club to win silverware in their inaugural year.