Brisbane Roar rising star Grace Kuilamu suffered a worrying knee injury as a double from Annalise Rasmussen lifted Central Coast to a thrilling 3-2 A-League Women victory.
In a hectic start to Wednesday's match at Polytec Stadium in Gosford, the Mariners trailed 2-1 after 18 minutes before Rasmussen's strikes either side of half-time rescued the defending champions.
But there were sad scenes in the 23rd minute when Kuilamu collapsed to the turf with a left knee injury after attempting to evade an opponent.
Kuilamu, who made her Matildas debut in July, was just 16 when she tore her ACL for the first time in November, 2023.
The 18-year-old was visibly upset as she lay on the turf on Wednesday contemplating her latest setback, with teammates consoling her before she limped off the field.
If scans show she has suffered another devastating ACL tear, it would rule her out of April's AFC Under-20 Women's Asian Cup.
Central Coast entered Wednesday's match desperate to make up for last Saturday's massive choke, when they conceded three goals in stoppage time in a 3-3 draw with Melbourne Victory.
Isabella Coco-Di Sipio opened the scoring for the Mariners against Brisbane in the third minute when the ball fell in her lap for an easy tap-in after her initial shot was saved.
Kuilamu was left in pain when her hand was trodden on, but that was forgotten in the 13th minute when she guided the bouncing ball home after an initial save from Mariners goalkeeper Annalee Grove.
It was 2-1 to the Roar five minutes later when Sharn Freier rose high above an opponent to head in a goal off the post.
Annabel Martin's long free kick in the dying seconds of the half led to Central Coast's equaliser.
Brisbane goalkeeper Chloe Lincoln was taken out by her own teammate as she attempted to collect the floating ball.
And although Roar defender Momo Hayashi was on hand to head the ball off the line, it only made it as far as Rasmussen who jumped high to nod it home.
A fast break from Rasmussen put the Mariners ahead in the 55th minute, and also lifted her goal tally this season to an equal competition high seven goals - level with Holly McNamara.
Brisbane pushed hard for an equaliser, but they missed a series of golden chances late in the match.
