The Central Coast Mariners suffered a crushing blow in the AFC Champions League on Tuesday, falling 2-1 at home to Thailand’s Buriram United. The loss, which came with a red card for the Mariners’ goalkeeper, leaves the Australian side at the bottom of the East Zone league table.
The first blow came in the 30th minute when Brazilian striker Guilherme Bissoli put Buriram ahead. Dion Cool’s cross from the right flank found Bissoli, who expertly poked the ball past the Mariners’ defense.
The second goal, however, was a painful reminder of the Mariners’ current struggles. In the 50th minute, Australian defender Curtis Good, who had previously played in the English Premier League with Newcastle United, rose unmarked to head home Goran Causic’s cross. Good’s goal was a stark example of the Mariners’ defensive vulnerabilities.
The situation worsened for the Mariners just seven minutes later when goalkeeper Adam Pavlesic was shown a straight red card. He was sent off for charging out of his area to tackle Bissoli, who had cleverly evaded the offside trap. The red card left the Mariners with 10 men for the remainder of the match.
Although the Mariners did manage a consolation goal in the fifth minute of injury time, through Lucas Mauragis’s well-struck effort from outside the box, it was too little too late.
Buriram, who drew 0-0 with Japan’s Vissel Kobe in their opening match, remain unbeaten after two rounds. The Mariners, meanwhile, are bottom of the league table, having lost their first two matches, including a 3-1 defeat to China’s Shandong Taishan in the opening round.
The defeat will be a major setback for the Mariners, who will now be facing an uphill battle to qualify for the knockout stages of the tournament.
