A shattered Central Coast squad has set its sights on qualifying for the next phase of the AFC Champions League after their Hyundai A-League title dream was ended in heartbreaking fashion.
A shattered Central Coast squad has set its sights on qualifying for the next phase of the AFC Champions League after their Hyundai A-League title dream was ended in heartbreaking fashion.
Only four days after the Mariners were beaten on penalties by Perth Glory in the grand final qualifier, Graham Arnold’s men have to regroup for a crucial clash with Seongnam in Korea.
With three draws so far, a victory would give the Mariners a great chance to finish in the top two of the group and advance to the knockout stages in just the club’s second tilt at Champions League glory.
Arnold will be hoping the heartbreak of the grand final qualifier, when the Mariners had a host of chances to beat Perth before losing on penalties, will spur the players on to success in Korea.
Captain Alex Wilkinson said the match will prevent his side from dwelling on Saturday night’s disappointment.
“I don’t think the football God likes us, we had enough chances to win,” Wilkinson said of the Perth defeat.
“I thought we played good football but we still had a fantastic season and now we can focus on the Asian Champions League.”
Midfielder Mustafa Amini was not included in the Mariners squad against Perth, but is a good chance to come back into calculations in a match that Central Coast is desperate to win.
So far in the ACL the Mariners have looked very solid and more than capable of holding their own against Asia’s best.
But with matches running out Wednesday night’s clash shapes as a vital contest.
