Central Coast Mariners fell to another agonising Champions League defeat, in our final home match in this season’s competition.
It was an immense effort from the Mariners on the night who played more than a half with ten men against Johor Darul Ta’zim, following Dylan Peraic-Cullen’s red card.
The Mariners also lost Ryan Edmondson and Trent Sainsbury to injury in the first half, making an already tough task against a side unbeaten domestically in almost four years, even tougher.
Mark Jackson’s spirited side refused to lie down and pushed the Malaysian giants until the very end but ultimately came up just short on the night, a frustratingly familiar story of our 2024/25 ACLE campaign.
Alou Kuol was on target for the Mariners but JDT’s saviour on the night was experienced centre back Alvaro, formerly of the likes of Villarreal and Marseille, who scored both goals for the star-studded Malaysian Champions.
Line-Up
Mark Jackson made two changes from the side that drew in Perth on Friday evening, bringing in Lucas Mauragis and Miguel Di Pizio from the start, Di Pizio making his AFC Champions League Elite debut, as was Abdul Faisal.
Five teenagers featured on the night for the Mariners including four in the starting eleven, with 16-year-old Haine Eames a standout once again.
In contrast, JDT lined-up with vast experience and quality throughout the team, so much so that former Champions League winner with Real Madrid, Jese Rodriguez, did not even make the starting eleven.
Starting XI: Peraic-Cullen (GK), Kaltak, Sainsbury (C), Doka, Mauragis, Roux, Steele, Faisal, Di Pizio, Eames, Edmondson.
Substitutions:
33′ ON: Kuol OFF: Edmondson
40′ ON: Herrington OFF: Sainsbury
45+2′ OFF: Mauragis, Di Pizio ON: Pavlesic (GK), Kuzevski
46′ ON: Theoharous OFF: Faisal
89′ ON: De Lima OFF: Doka
Unused subs: Warshawsky (GK), Feijao, Brandtman, Paragalli, Scicluna.
Your Mariners to host Johor Darul Ta'zim in the Champions League tonight
— Central Coast Mariners (@CCMariners) February 11, 2025#CCMFC #ACLE #RideTheWave
pic.twitter.com/7vSWp9pBmU
First Half
A goalless first half was far from dull, but for all the wrong reasons from a Mariners perspective. Jacko was forced into two early substitutions as Ryan Edmondson (shoulder) and Trent Sainsbury (hamstring) both picked up injuries.
With either side yet to register a shot on target, the Mariners were more than holding their own against the Malaysian Champions but took a big hit before half time when Peraic-Cullen was shown a straight red card in added time.
The young goalkeeper fouled Arif Aiman and despite multiple covering defenders, after a lengthy VAR check, the original decision of red card stood and Jacko was forced into another change.
Adam Pavlesic came on for his first appearance since a red card in this competition against Buriram United. With the Mariners using their final substitution window, Jacko opted to bring on Sasha Kuzevski for Lucas Mauragis at the same time.
The first half drama wasn’t done there, Heberty’s effort from the resulting free-kick came back off the post and was tucked away by Bergson, but after another VAR check, the goal was disallowed for offside.
Second half
Substitute goalkeeper Pavlesic would have been expecting a busy second half and he stood tall on numerous occasions to keep the scores level early in the second half, in a personal battle with JDT’s prolific Brazilian frontman Bergson.
First, Bergson was denied from close range on 50 minutes and eight minutes later, Pavlesic made a fine double save to keep him out. The Brazilian wouldn’t have to wait too long for his next chance, but he missed the target with a glaring back-post header.
As pressure mounted on the Mariners goal, Alvaro hit the crossbar on 63 minutes before Jonathan Viera’s low shot was well kept out by Pavlesic moments later. The next attempt saw the breakthrough for JDT, Alvaro sweeping home into the bottom corner.
The Mariners kept fighting and responded brilliantly, levelling the scores on 70 minutes through Kuol’s first Champions League goal, not without some more VAR drama of course. The goal was initially ruled out with their seeming to be some confusion between the referee and his assistant, before being checked and given.
The game was level for just less than 10 minutes, with Alvaro restoring JDT’s lead with a smart, flicked header which found its way into the back of the net off the post.
There was more injury woes for the Mariners, who made a concussion substitution after Mikael Doka took a ball to the side of the head, replaced by 17-year-old Arthur De Lima.
JDT looked to run the clock down and manage the game using all the dark arts, three yellow cards were shown. Mariners tempers flared for a moment which saw Sasha Kuzevski booked.
Jacko’s team stuck in it right until the end, De Lima skipping past his man and winning a free-kick in a dangerous position, Kuzevski delivered onto the head of Kuol but he couldn’t find the target with the final touch of the game.
February football at Our Paradise
The Mariners have BYE in the Isuzu UTE A-League this weekend and travel to Japan to take on Kawasaki Frontale in our final ACLE match next Tuesday.
Mark Jackson’s team then return home for two huge A-League home matches against fellow top-six hopefuls before the end of the month. On February 22nd we host Western Sydney Wanderers and February 28th sees a huge Double Header at Our Paradise.
