Central Coast Mariners will face China’s Guangzhou R&F, Myanmar’s Yadanarbon, or Singapore’s Warriors FC in a one-off, high-stakes 2015 AFC Champions League qualification match in Australia on Tuesday 17 February 2015.
The Mariners discovered who their qualifying opponent for the 2015 version of Asia’s premier club competition could be at the official draw held in the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday afternoon.
Should the Mariners defeat their qualification opponent, the Club will enter Group F of the tournament proper.
Group F consists of 2014 Japanese Champions Gamba Osaka, Seongnam FC – whom the Mariners faced in the 2012 version of the competition – plus Thai outfit Buriram United.
Successful qualification for the Group Stages would mean that the yellow and navy have represented Australia and its region on the continental stage for four years in a row.
“Regardless of who we ultimately play in our qualification game it will be a fantastic challenge,” Moss said following the draw. “But now that the draw has been finalised, we can certainly begin to narrow our focus and more thoroughly research and scout Guangzhou R&F, Yadanarbon, and Warriors FC.”
“Successfully qualifying for Group F will present the Club, plus our players and staff with a very unique challenge. Gamba are one of the great Clubs of Asia, Seongnam FC are a former Asian Champion whom we’ve met before, and we know that Buriram United are one of the dominant sides from the progressive Thai league.”
“But before we even worry about Group F, we need to ensure that we do our due diligence and win on February 17,” Moss concluded.
Central Coast Mariners will release further information regarding its 2015 AFC Champions League qualification match in mid-February over the coming weeks. This information will include the match kick-off time, plus ticketing details.
Central Coast Mariners will also release its 2015 AFC Champions League kit online tomorrow. This kit will be available for pre-purchase ahead of the Club’s qualification match.
Central Coast Mariners – 2015 AFC Champions League
Playoff 1.3: Yadanarbon (Myanmar) vs. Warriors FC (Singapore) – 4 February
Playoff 2.3: Guangzhou R&F (China) vs. Winner Playoff 1.3 – 10 February
Playoff 3.3: Central Coast Mariners FC (Australia) vs. Winner Playoff 2.3 – 17 February
*Winner of Playoff 3.3 enters 2014 AFC Champions League Group F
2015 AFC Champions League Group F
F1: Gamba Osaka (Japan)
F2: Seongnam FC (Korea Republic)
F3: Buriram United (Thailand)
F4: Winner Playoff 3.3
