CENTRAL Coast Mariners will meet Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma for the second time in two weeks following their 1-1 draw in Gosford on AFC Champions League Matchday 3.
CENTRAL Coast Mariners will meet Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma for the second time in two weeks following their 1-1 draw in Gosford on AFC Champions League Matchday 3.
Seongnam are taking part in Asia’s premier club competition for the fifth time, while Central Coast are making their second appearance in the prestigious tournament.
Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma
Since their 5-0 loss to Al Ittihad in the second leg of the AFC Champions League final in 2004, Seongnam have not lost a home match in the competition. They have won 10 of the last 12 matches that they have played at the Tancheon Sports Complex.
Seongnam have won both of their previous home games against Australian clubs in the AFC Champions League. They beat Adelaide United 1-0 in the 2007 group stage and edged Melbourne Victory 3-2 in 2010.
Hevertinho remains the club-s leading scorer in the AFC Champions League with two goals despite missing a penalty in the 1-1 draw with Central Coast. Fellow Brazilian forward Everton Santos and Han Sung-wan have one goal each for the Korean club.
With his booking at Central Coast, Lim Jeung-eun joined fellow defenders Yun Young-sun, Sasa Ognenovski and Hong Chul, and midfielders Kim Sung- hwan and Jeon Sung-chan on one yellow card each.
Domestic form
Seongnam claimed their second win a row in the K-League as Lee Chang-hoon-s first-half strike gave them a 1-0 win over Daejeon Citizen last Saturday. The Korean FA Cup holders are now 11th with 10 points, nine behind leaders Suwon Bluewings.
Central Coast Mariners
Central Coast are seeking their first victory in the AFC Champions League after the draw with Seongnam a fortnight ago. They have drawn five and lost four of their matches in the competition with two draws and two defeats in four away games.
The Australian side lost 3-2 to Pohang Steelers on their only previous AFC Champions League visit to Korea in 2009.
Joshua Rose is suspended after he was sent off for his foul on Everton Santos that resulted in Hevertinho-s missed penalty in the first meeting with Seongnam.
Tom Rogic, Predrag Bojic and Adam Kwasnik have one booking each and face one-match bans if they pick up another yellow card during the group stage.
Domestic form
Central Coast Mariners were knocked out of the A-League play-offs after losing on penalties following a 1-1 draw with Perth Glory in the preliminary final last Saturday. Despite failing to reach the grand final, they have booked their place in the 2012 AFC Champions League after finishing first in the table during the regular season.
