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Two set-piece sucker punches forced the Central Coast Mariners to settle for a 2-2 away draw with China’s Tianjin Teda in their Asian Champions League football clash on Wednesday night.
The Mariners came from 1-0 down at halftime to lead 2-1 just after the hour following goals to substitute midfielder Adrian Caceres and striker Matt Simon.
Their lead lasted just five minutes before Wu Weian headed an equaliser from a corner.
It was almost a carbon copy of the home team’s first-half goal from Brazilian Eber Luis, who nodded home 36th-minute corner.
The Mariners soaked up plenty of last-quarter pressure, but almost stole the game at the death, going close with three late chances.
They earned their second point from as many games.
In the other Group H game, Korea’s Pohang Steelers were held 1-1 at home by Japan’s Kawasaki Frontale, who lead the group on four points after two rounds of matches.
The Mariners and Steelers are both on two points, with Tianjin Teda on one.
Tianjin Teda had more possession in the first half, but the Mariners manufactured five goal attempts to three.
Lively Socceroos striker Simon had a close-range shot saved and put a header wide, while defender Predrag Bojic went close with an acrobatic scissors kick.
Simon and Bojic will both miss the Mariners’ next game at home to Kawasaki Frontale on April 18 after each collected second yellow cards from as many matches.
Mariners coach Lawrie McKinna’s halftime substitution of Caceres for Bojic paid an almost immediate dividend, with the replacement deflecting a shot from industrious midfielder Shane Huke past the goalkeeper within three minutes of the restart.
Buoyed by the equaliser, the Mariners started to dominate.
Simon pushed them ahead in the 61st minute when he brushed aside Wang Xiao and stabbed the ball home.
The Mariners almost surrendered the lead immediately, but substitute Mao Biao headed just wide from close range.
He had come on just three minutes earlier as a replacement for Tianjin’s Socceroos striker Mark Bridge, on loan from Sydney, who had little impact.
The reprieve proved brief for the visitors, who conceded a second goal within four minutes.
Tianjin pressed for a winner, but the Mariners almost stole maximum points at the death, with Simon and captain and central defender Alex Wilkinson both going close.
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jimbo said | March 19th 2009 @ 9:52am | Report comment
Stayed up to watch this one and it wasn’t a bad game.
Mariners were the better team and should have won. Wilkinson had a free header with a couple of minutes to go that he put wide when he should have scored and the goalkeeper spilled a shot from Caceras which just rolled too far away from McAlister to slot home in the final minutes.
The marking at set pieces let them down and for both the Tianjin goals Simon was the nearest defender and he was more interested in the player than getting to the ball. Where were the defenders?
Tianjin had a couple of chances to score the winner in the last ten minutes as well but were foiled. Exciting stuff.
Mariners are getting better with each game and if they can get a point or two against Kawasaki home and away, they might be a chance to get the second spot and progress to the knockout stage.
Joe FC said | March 19th 2009 @ 12:33pm | Report comment
thanks for the report jimbo. I’ll make sure I catch highlights on Fox.
jimbo said | March 19th 2009 @ 3:14pm | Report comment
Joe FC
replay this evening at 5:30 FoxSports1.
Dave said | March 19th 2009 @ 3:29pm | Report comment
Jimbo/ Joe FC
Didnt watch every minute but from what l did see CCM played well, pushed forward and had a real go. Unfortunately the defending at set pieces let them down but this performance will give them and their fans great heart.
A good week for the Oz clubs
Midfielder said | March 19th 2009 @ 4:20pm | Report comment
We played well godd report Jimbo… IMO Huke is the signing of the year will play for the Hallaroos IMO has made all the difference … with this guy in our side we may have won the GF he is that good.
jimbo said | March 19th 2009 @ 10:22pm | Report comment
You asked for it.
Fox Sports3 are showing a J-League highlights package show,
but its on at 3pm tomorrow afternoon, when most of us are at work, so I’ll have to tape it.
Come on Fox – can’t you think of a better timeslot?
jimbo said | March 19th 2009 @ 10:23pm | Report comment
Mid,
very impressed with Huke – he did the most running of anyone on the field and his deflected shot was the first goal.
Just needs a bit more maturity and composure and to find his man a bit better with his passes out of defence and midfield.
Midfielder said | March 19th 2009 @ 10:36pm | Report comment
Jimbo
Huke defensive play is about the best I have ever seen in the A-League, he does not tackle as much as hold shape and get into positions where he constantly turned the game from the center of the park to the wings.
Agree his attacking needs improvement, but his short passing game to players in a better position has also be excellent and he has supported the player he passed to.. This guy has been very well coached and knows his stuff early prediction but I think he will wear a Halaroo shirt sooner rather than latter.
jimbo said | March 20th 2009 @ 12:00pm | Report comment
Mid,
do you think Pimbo will give the HALaroos another chance (and a decent preparation)?