Mauragis stunner not enough as Buriram take all three points

It was another difficult evening in the AFC Champions League Elite for Central Coast Mariners as Buriram United claimed a 2-1 win at Our Paradise on Matchday 2 of the competition.

Goals either side of half time from Guillherme Bissoli and Curtis Good were enough for the Thai League 1 Champions. An unlikely comeback was made even more difficult as the Mariners then saw Adam Pavlesic sent off, but still managed to get one back thanks to a stunning goal from Lucas Mauragis in added time.

Line-Up

Mark Jackson gave starts to Christian Theoharous, Storm Roux, Nathan Paull and Bailey Brandtman. Brian Kaltak captained the side for the first time in his Mariners career in the absence of Trent Sainsbury.

Starting XI: Pavlesic (GK), Kaltak (C), Theoharous, McCalmont, Kuol, Doka, Mauragis, Roux, Tapp, Paull, Brandtman.

Substitutions:
46′ ON: Feijao OFF: Theoharous
70′ ON: Warshawsky, Steele, Edmondson OFF: Roux, McCalmont, Brandtman
80′ ON: Ngor OFF: Tapp

Unused subs: Herrington, Kuzevski, Wilson, Williams, Eames, R. Smith.

First Half

Alou Kuol saw an early attempt from range whistle past Neil Etheridge’s goal in what was a positive start for the Mariners, but Buriram would have the better chances of the half and take a 1-0 lead into half time.

Bissoli first threatened on 22 minutes, seeing his smart volley saved by Pavlesic, before he fired a good opportunity over the bar minutes later.

The deadlock was broken on half time as the Brazilian converted with a neat finish after a cross from the right.

Second half

Pavlesic made a smart stop on 49 minutes but couldn’t keep out Good’s powerful header a minute later as the ex-Socceroo doubled Buriram’s lead.

The game slipped further away from the Mariners on 68 minutes as Pavlesic was shown a straight red card after he fouled Bissoli.

A confident and experienced Buriram side were then able to control the game against ten men, substitute goalkeeper Jack Warshawsky was called upon and made a brilliant save one-on-one late on.

The Mariners didn’t give up and did get something to show for their effort in stoppage time as Mauragis fired a stunner into the top corner from the edge of the box, a fine way to net his first Mariners goal despite it being merely a consolation on the night.

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