After seven matchdays, Central Coast Mariners’ 2024-25 AFC Champions League Elite campaign will come to an end on Tuesday night.
Bottom of Group A in the league phase and looking for their first win, the Mariners will face four-time J1 League champions Kawasaki Frontale away from home in Japan.
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While two-time reigning Isuzu UTE A-League champions Central Coast are already eliminated, third-placed Frontale are still in the running to finish top – two points adrift of Japanese rivals Yokohama F.Marinos and Vissel Kobe.
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The ACL Elite campaign has been challenging but also a priceless experience for Mark Jackson’s Mariners, who will be without suspended goalkeeper Peraic-Cullen and injured forward Ryan Edmondson.
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This season, Central Coast have fallen narrowly short against Thai juggernauts Buriram United, Kevin Muscat’s CSL titleholders Shanghai Port and J1 League champions Vissel Kobe after holding Chinese giants Shanghai Shenhua to a draw.
While the Mariners head into matchday eight with only one point, Central Coast have been able to give some of their talented young stars a taste of continental football – from 16-year-old sensation Haine Eames, to Arthur De Lima, Dylan Peraic-Cullen, Miguel Di Pizio, Abdul Faisal and Bailey Brandtman, who are all under the age of 20.
“It is a real privilege to compete in this competition, we earned the right to be here, but we are coming up against some fantastic teams and players, Johor themselves have a number of fantastic players,” Jackson said after the 2-1 loss to Malaysian champions Johor Darul Ta’zim last week.
“For our boys, 16, 18, 17, 19 years old, young players pushing a team like that all the way, I’m immensely proud. They will take a lot from it, as they have with every game so far.
“There were a few games where we were out of it, but most of them we have been right in the mix with strong passages in the match. With that it is going to help our young players grow and get better, young Australian players, which is really good for the country.
“These young players, playing well, against high level competition in the Champions League, I’m very proud of them.”
Match Details
Kawasaki Frontale v Central Coast Mariners
Matchday 8 – AFC Champions League Elite
Tuesday, February 18 2025
Todoroki Sports Park
Kick-off: 9:00pm AEDT
