CC Mariners in ASIAN Champions League

[TOPGUNJIMMYAUFC]

By Adrian Warren 05:54 AEST Thu Mar 19 2009


Two set-piece sucker punches forced the Central Coast Mariners to settle for a 2-2 away draw with China's Tianjin Teda in their Asian Champions League football clash on Wednesday night.

The Mariners came from 1-0 down at halftime to lead 2-1 just after the hour following goals to substitute midfielder Adrian Caceres and striker Matt Simon.

Their lead lasted just five minutes before Wu Weian headed an equaliser from a corner.

It was almost a carbon copy of the home team's first-half goal from Brazilian Eber Luis, who nodded home 36th-minute corner.

The Mariners soaked up plenty of last-quarter pressure, but almost stole the game at the death, going close with three late chances.

They earned their second point from as many games.

In the other Group H game, Korea's Pohang Steelers were held 1-1 at home by Japan's Kawasaki Frontale, who lead the group on four points after two rounds of matches.

The Mariners and Steelers are both on two points, with Tianjin Teda on one.

Tianjin Teda had more possession in the first half, but the Mariners manufactured five goal attempts to three.

Lively Socceroos striker Simon had a close range shot saved and put a header wide, while defender Predrag Bojic went close with an acrobatic scissors kick.

Simon and Bojic will both miss the Mariners' next game at home to Kawasaki Frontale on April 18 after each collected second yellow cards from as many matches.

Mariners coach Lawrie McKinna's halftime substitution of Caceres for Bojic paid an almost immediate dividend, with the replacement deflecting a shot from industrious midfielder Shane Huke past the goalkeeper within three minutes of the restart.

Buoyed by the equaliser, the Mariners started to dominate.

Simon pushed them ahead in the 61st minute when he brushed aside Wang Xiao and stabbed the ball home.

The Mariners almost surrendered the lead immediately, but substitute Mao Biao headed just wide from close range.

He had come on just three minutes earlier as a replacement for Tianjin's Socceroos striker Mark Bridge, on loan from Sydney, who had little impact.

The reprieve proved brief for the visitors, who conceded a second goal within four minutes.

Tianjin pressed for a winner, but the Mariners almost stole maximum points at the death, with Simon and captain and central defender Alex Wilkinson both going close.

[Dr. Wankenstein]

Both Aussie team have only lost 1 out of 4 between them so they are doing well.

They are keeping th A-League rep intact so far I hope they can keep performing!

[The Joker]

Both Aussie team have only lost 1 out of 4 between them so they are doing well.

They are keeping th A-League rep intact so far I hope they can keep performing!

Even though I want the A-league "rep" to continue , part of me wants them not to go very well, so it's only us that have gone past the group stages in the ACL.