3 minute read
The Central Coast Mariners have fallen to a second straight defeat in their ACLE campaign after going down 2-1 against undefeated Thai league leaders Buriram.
The Central Coast Mariners' first home Asian Champions League Elite game in nearly a decade has ended in a disappointing 2-1 defeat to Thai powers Buriram United.
Downed by goals from Brazilian attacker Guilherme Bissoli and former Melbourne City and Socceroo defender Curtis Good, Mark Jackson's side has now lost both their opening ACLE fixtures, with a trip to Kevin Muscat's high-flying Shanghai Port up next.
That contest will come four days after the defending A-League Men champions commence their domestic campaign against Melbourne Victory on October 18.
Seeking to rebound from their 3-1 loss away to Chinese side Shandong Taishan in their opening ACLE game, the hosts started with vigour at Central Coast Stadium as Alou Kuol shot wide in the fifth minute.
But without injured skipper Trent Sainsbury, the Mariners began to be increasingly pushed back by the Thai champions who drew 0-0 with J1 League champions Vissel Kobe in their opening match.
After a series of near misses by the visitors, a quickly taken free kick broke the Mariners open on the half-hour mark and found Dion Cools in space and he crossed for Bissoli, who guided the ball into the net.
Five minutes into the second half the deficit was then doubled by a familiar face when Good got forward from the Buriram backline and headed home a Goran Causic cross.
And it went from bad to worse for the Mariners in the 57th minute when a moment of recklessness from Adam Pavlesic saw the 'keeper sprint out of his area before bringing Bissoli down as he broke through on goal, earning a red card.
Placed under siege for much of the remaining game, the Mariners salvaged something late when ex-Newcastle Jets player Lucas Mauragis drove into space atop the Buriram box and smashed home a thunderous consolation in the 95th.