TUESDAY will mark the second AFC Champions League meeting between Central Coast Mariners and Guizhou Renhe following the Australian side’s 2-1 victory last week.
Thanks to The-AFC.com, here are a few match facts ahead of Tuesday’s clash between Guizhou Renhe and Central Coast Mariners at the Guiyang Olympic Sports Centre in China.
Guizhou Renhe
• Guizhou will be mathematically out of contention for a spot in the Knockout Stage if they lose to Central Coast.
• Chinese clubs have managed only two wins in the previous 11 home games that they have played against Australian clubs in the AFC Champions League. They have drawn six and lost the other three.
• A Guizhou player has yet to score a goal in the AFC Champions League. The club found the net for the first and, so far, only time via an own goal in the 2-1 loss at Central Coast last week.
• Guizhou coach Gong Lei has made only one change to his starting line-up in their first three games, bringing in Wu Wei to replace suspended defender Zhang Chenglin in the match at Central Coast.
• Captain Sun Jihai, midfielder Jonas Salley and forward Zlatan Muslimovic have one yellow card each to their names and face one-game suspensions if they are booked again during the Group Stage.
• 2013 marks Guizhou Renhe’s first appearance in the AFC Champions League.
Domestic form
Guizhou Renhe picked up their first win of the Chinese Super League season with a 2-1 victory over Wuhan Zall on March 29. They are currently seventh, eight points behind leaders Shandong Luneng but with a game in hand.
Central Coast Mariners
• Pedj Bojic and Trent Sainbury joined Patrick Zwaanswijk as the only Mariners scorers in this year-s tournament with their goals in the 2-1 win over Guizhou.
• Central Coast’s own goal against Guizhou last week was the fifth to be scored in this year-s tournament. Anderson Martins (El Jaish), Hanif Omran Zadeh (Esteghlal), Thritthi Nonsrichai (Muangthong United) and Keita Suzuki (Urawa Red Diamonds) have also scored at their own end this season.
• Central Coast Mariners have not managed a win in their previous seven away matches in the AFC Champions League. They have lost five but have drawn both of their previous matches in China against Tianjin Teda, 2-2 in 2009 and 0-0 last year.
• 2013 marks Central Coast Mariners’ third appearance in the AFC Champions League.
Domestic form
Central Coast finished the A-League regular season in second place after a 2-1 win over Melbourne Heart in their final match on March 3, which left them three points behind premiers Western Sydney Wanderers. The Mariners face Melbourne Victory in the A-League semi-finals on Sunday 14 April.
Guizhou Renhe (CHN) Central Coast Mariners (AUS) – 2013 AFC Champions League Matchday 4
Tuesday 9 April, 2013
Guiyang Olympic Sports Centre, Guiyang
Kick-off: 7:30pm (local); 9:30pm (AEST)
Twitter: Join the match conversation on Twitter! The official match hash tag is #GRvCCM
Television: Watch the game LIVE on FOX SPORTS 3 & 3HD from 9:25pm AEST on Tuesday
