Mariners suffer another ACL blow as keeper sees red Former City star delivers shock blow to Thai champs
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Central Coast Mariners’ first home Asian Champions League Elite game in almost a decade ended in a disappointing 2–1 defeat to Thai powers Buriram United.
Defeated with goals from Brazilian attacker Guilherme Bisoli and former Melbourne City and Socceroo defender Curtis Good, Mark Jackson’s side have now lost both of their opening ACLE matches before traveling to Kevin Muscat’s high-flying Shanghai Port.
The contest will take place four days after the reigning A-League Men’s champions begin their home campaign against Melbourne Victory on October 18.
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Trying to bounce back from a 3–1 defeat to Chinese side Shandong Taishan in their opening ACLE game, the hosts made a strong start at the Central Coast Stadium as Allou Kuoal’s shot went wide in the fifth minute.
But without injured captain Trent Sainsbury, the Mariners were quickly pushed aside by the Thai champions, who drew 0-0 with J1 League champions Vissel Kobe in their opening match.
After a series of near misses by the visitors, a quickly taken free kick opened up the Mariners on the half-hour mark and found Dion Cools in space and he crossed for Bisoli, who guided the ball into the net. .
Five minutes into the second half the deficit was doubled by a familiar face when Good Buriram advanced from the backline and headed a Goran Cosic cross.
And things went from bad to worse for the Mariners in the 57th minute, when a moment of carelessness from Adam Pavlešić saw the ‘keeper move quickly out of his area and bring down Bissolí as he broke through on goal and received a red card. Earned.
Kept under siege for much of the remainder of the game, the Mariners salvaged something late when ex-Newcastle Jets player Lucas Mouragis burst into space above the Buriram box and slotted home a powerful consolation in the 95th.
© AAP
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