A legend returns in huge ACLE Clash: Mariners vs Marinos Preview

Central Coast Mariners take on Yokohama F. Marinos on Matchday Six of the AFC Champions League Elite on Tuesday evening, the first of two huge home matches this week.

The Mariners are facing J1 League opposition for the second time in a week, returning from Japan after a narrow 3-2 defeat to ACLE East and J1 League leaders Vissel Kobe.

Yokohama F. Marinos present another tough challenge for Mark Jackson’s side. The J-League giants are currently sitting third in the group and only Neymar’s Al-Hilal (in the West side of the competition) have scored more goals (17) than Marinos’ 16.

🔎 About Yokohama F. Marinos

Marinos are recognised as one of the most prominent clubs in the J-League, competing in the top flight of Japanese football for every season since it’s inception in 1982. The only other team to match that record is Kashima Antlers, who are also the only club to have won more J-League titles (7) than Marinos’ five.

The club is based in Tokyo and plays home matches at the Nissan Stadium which has a capacity of 72,327 and is named after their 80% shareholders Nissan Motor Corporation, whilst City Football Group own the other 20%.

Last season, Marinos finished second in the J-League and reached the Champions League final, losing out over two legs to Al-Ain.

In the dugout for the J-League giants is John Hutchinson who joins a list of esteemed former Coaches including Kevin Muscat and Ange Postecoglu.

The Mariners legend remains in charge on an interim basis after Harry Kewell was sacked in July, following a poor start to the season that had the club sitting 12th in the J-League with 10 losses from their first 23 matches, 20 points off top spot and just seven clear of the relegation zone.

Hutchinson has somewhat helped revive their season, with Yokohama now sitting seventh in the J-League and currently on a run of five consecutive victories, whilst performing strongly again in the ACLE.

Hutchinson is fondly remembered for his 10 years on the Central Coast which saw him captain the club to our first ever A-League Men’s Championship in 2013 and go on to make a record 226 Mariners appearances.

After retiring in 2015, Hutchinson’s coaching career began at the Mariners where he spent one year as Assistant Manager. Tuesday evening will be the first time he returns to Gosford as a Head Coach.

Players to watch for the J-League giants are Brazilian attacking trio Yan, Elber and Anderson Lopes. 31-year-old Lopes has five goals in four ACLE matches, putting him second in the competition’s scoring charts, whilst he also tops the J-League leaderboard with 24 goals.

🗣 Mark Jackson: “It’s not over in our mind. We want to get our first win in the competition”

Jacko spoke to the press alongside Storm Roux on Monday afternoon. He said the team have ‘recovered well’ from last weeks defeat in Kobe and explained what to expect from Yokoahama as well as what it will take to get the better of the J-League giants, plus much more.

Storm also touched on the return of his former captain Hutchinson as well as the positivity in the group.

Watch the full press conference via Central Coast Mariners on YouTube.

🌴 A big week of football at Our Paradise

Following up Tuesday’s big Champions League match is a tasty clash with Sydney FC on Sunday. Douglas Costa and co. visit the Coast for the first time this season as our rivalry with the Sky Blues enters it’s 20th season.

Tickets for that match are available now, as are our flexible six-game memberships for just $90.

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