Central Coast Mariners are still chasing their first win in the AFC Champions League after notching a 1-1 draw with K-League club Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma at Gosford Stadium.
Central Coast Mariners are still chasing their first win in the AFC Champions League after notching a 1-1 draw with K-League club Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma at Gosford Stadium.
The Mariners, who finished the match with 10 men following the dismissal of Joshua Rose, had enough chances to beat K-League club Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma before settling for a 1-1 draw.
The result follows draws against Tianjin Teda and Nagoya Grampus so far this campaign.
Seongnam has also scored three draws in a very tight Group G.
Striker Adam Kwasnik opened the scoring for the home team five minutes into the second half before Everton Santos replied for the visitors in the 57th minute.
Chances were few and far between in what was a lacklustre first half.
John Sutton’s long-range effort in the 16th minute was the first chance on goal.
As the first half went on the visitors worked their way into the contest. Korea Republic striker Yoon Bitgaram came close with a good turn and shot in the 36th minute and Santos struck the ball straight at the goalkeeper three minutes later.
One of the best chances of the first half fell to Mariners skipper Alex Wilkinson after 40 minutes. A pinpoint free-kick from Oliver Bozanic found Wilkinson unmarked at the back post, but his downward header went straight to Seongnam keeper Ha Kang Jin.
If the first half failed to reach any great heights the second half was a different story with action at both ends of the field.
Two minutes after the resumption Kwasnik watched on as his curling shot struck the post with the goalkeeper beaten.
The 28-year-old did not have to wait long to celebrate, though, when he was in the right spot to lash home a spilled Daniel McBreen shot in the 50th minute.
Central Coast only led for seven minutes after Seongnam isolated Rose at the back and Santos scored against the run of play.
The K-League club should have hit the front four minutes later but Hevertinho struck his penalty onto the crossbar and the Mariners cleared the danger.
A poorly timed challenge from Rose saw him earn a red card from referee Kovalenko Valentin, reducing the hosts to 10 men.
Both teams created enough chance to claim maximum points in what was a frantic final 20 minutes.
Substitute Sam Gallagher had a shot saved in the 74th minute and three minutes later Mariners goalkeeper Mathew Ryan did well to intercept a dangerous Seongnam attack.
Within a minute Ryan was relieved when Vladimir Jovancic struck well over the bar from close range.
The Mariners kept fighting to the end and nearly secured a win when Sutton’s powerful header was well saved.
Central Coast 1 (Adam Kwasnik 50)
Seongnam 1 (Everton Santos 57)
Crowd: 5018
