AFC Champions League football returns for matchday three this week, and with it two exciting fixtures involving a pair of Isuzu UTE A-League teams.
After kicking off their title defence with a 0-0 draw against Melbourne Victory on Friday night, two-time reigning champions the Mariners make the trip to China for Tuesday’s showdown against Kevin Muscat’s Shanghai Port.
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Mark Jackson’s new-look Central Coast have the chance to register their first points in the AFC Champions League Elite.
Then on Wednesday, high-flying Sydney FC are away to J1 League title hopefuls Sanfrecce Hiroshima in the AFC Champions League Two.
Star-studded Sydney are two from two in ACL Two, while they earned bragging rights over Western Sydney Wanderers in the opening round of the Isuzu UTE A-League season.
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Mariners set for showdown with Muscat’s stars
A familiar face will be in the dugout when Central Coast Mariners go head-to-head with defending Chinese Super League champions Shanghai Port on Tuesday night.
A-Leagues great Kevin Muscat is head coach of Shanghai Port after arriving from J1 League giants Yokohama F.Marinos – another one of Central Coast’s opposition in this season’s tournament.
Ex-Melbourne Victory boss Muscat, whose side are now one point off the pace in the CSL with two rounds remaining, is not the only Australian at the club. Former Brisbane Roar head coach Ross Aloisi is his assistant, along with former Western United assistant Vincenzo Ierardo.
The Mariners – without captain Trent Sainsbury until the New Year – enter the contest still searching for their first points in the ACL Elite after back-to-back defeats to Shandong Taishan and Buriram United.
Adam Pavlesic had started both of the Mariners’ opening continental matches but he was left out of the matchday squad for Friday night’s clash with Victory in Gosford, where Jack Warshawsky was on the bench.
After Peraic-Cullen kept a clean sheet on his professional bow, Mark Jackson was asked about the goalkeeping situation.
“Dylan got the nod tonight (Friday) and I spoke to the other two goalkeepers,” Jackson told reporters. “There’s not much between them but I just felt in the lead-up to the game, his performances in training and certain games gave him the edge on the other two.
“We have three young goalkeepers there who are performing and pushing each other in training. That’s what we want, that’s healthy.
“But there’s no number one as yet. If you want to put a label on it, Dylan started tonight so he’s taken that mantle. He had a clean sheet and showed lots of positive things in the game, which can move forward.”
As for Muscat’s Shanghai Port, they are coming off consecutive defeats across all competitions.
The Chinese giants – boasting former Brazil and Chelsea star Oscar – have one point through two matchdays in the ACL Elite following a 3-0 loss away to Pohang Steelers in South Korea, while their two-point buffer atop the CSL is no more after a 3-1 defeat at third-placed Chengdu Rongcheng.
How to watch?
The Mariners will do battle with Shanghai Port at Pudong Football Stadium, China with kick-off slated for 9:00pm AEDT. All the action will be LIVE on Paramount+.
Match details
Shanghai Port v Central Coast Mariners
Matchday Three – AFC Champions League Elite
Tuesday, October 22 2024
Venue: Pudong Football Stadium
Kick-off: 9:00pm AEDT
Broadcast: Paramount+
Can the Sky Blues make history in Japan?
Sydney FC are two from two to start their ACL Two campaign, but their biggest test awaits in Group E on Wednesday night.
Ufuk Talay’s Sydney make the trip to Japan to face J1 League league leaders and title hopefuls Sanfrecce Hiroshima midweek.
With former Melbourne City star Tolgay Arslan playing a key role, Sanfrecce are a point clear atop the standings in Japan’s top tier.
The matchup pits two team with perfects records against each other.
Sydney come into the game having disposed of Eastern (5-0) and Kaya FC (4-1) before edging city-rivals Western Sydney Wanderers 2-1 in an opening-round Isuzu UTE A-League Derby.
But the big question is can Sydney get the job done against Japanese opposition? In 14 previous meetings against Japanese clubs in AFC competition, the Sky Blues have never won, losing nine games and drawing on five occasions.
This season’s Sky Blues, however, look a formidable thread with the arrival of Brazilian superstar Douglas Costa, along with former Celtic striker Patryk Klimala, ex-Serie A midfielder Leo Sena and Anas Ouahim.
The new faces are helping ease the creative burden on Englishman Joe Lolley.
“I think it takes away the pressure of Joe actually trying to do everything with the ball and without the ball,” Talay told reporters in the aftermath of the Sydney Derby when asked what impact signings such as Costa and Ouahim will have on Lolley’s game.
“We’ve got those players that can hurt you and we still have Joe that’s very influential in what he does.
“I thought he had a great game tonight (Saturday). Probably could have got a couple more if he didn’t slip on that last one in the second half.
“We sat down at the end of last season and thought through and went through the process of what we believe could create a team that could challenge for the title. And that’s the type of players we tried to bring in.”
As for Sanfrecce, they enter the matchup having suffered a surprise 2-1 loss away to Shonan Bellmare.
It snapped their five-game winning streak and six-match unbeaten match across all competitions as the J1 League title race was thrown wide open.
Since joining Sanfrecce from Melbourne City this year, Arslan has scored seven goals in 10 league appearances.
How to watch?
Kick-off to Sydney’s third ACL Two fixture is 9:00pm AEDT on Wednesday, October 23 at Edion Peace Wing Hiroshima, Japan. You can catch all the action from Sanfrecce Hiroshima v Sydney FC LIVE and FREE on 10 Play.
Match details
Sanfrecce Hiroshima v Sydney FC
Matchday Three – AFC Champions League 2
Wednesday, October 23 2024
Venue: Edion Peace Wing Stadium
Kick Off: 9:00pm AEDT
Broadcast: 10 Play
