Central Coast Mariners coach Phil Moss believes his in-form side are primed to be “giant-killers” when Korean powerhouse FC Seoul visit Bluetongue Stadium on Wednesday night.
A ticket to the Asian Champions League knockout stage is up for grabs and the tables have turned since the Mariners fell to a one-sided 2-0 defeat against the five-time Korean champions in their Group F opener in February.
The Mariners roared into the A-League finals on the weekend with a fifth win from their final six matches, while FC Seoul conversely have suffered a surprise form slump in their domestic competition and are winless in their past five outings.
“They gave us a tough and torrid contest in Seoul but we are in a much better place as a team (than in the opening game),” said Moss.
“Six to eight weeks ago everyone was writing us off to even make the A-League top six.
“We have put the changes to the squad and coaching staff behind us now.
“We are not taking anything for granted but certainly there is large belief within the squad that we are good enough to qualify for the next round of the ACL, and do some real damage in the (A-League) finals.”
Progress to the Asian last 16 would be a significant achievement for the Mariners with their Champions League group comprised of last year’s runners-up in FC Seoul, J-League champions Sanfrecce Hiroshima and Chinese big-spenders Beijing Guoan.
A home win at Gosford, combined with a result between Beijing and Sanfrecce in the Chinese capital, would lift the Mariners into the knockout stage for the second successive year.
“It is a massive challenge. Seoul are a massive club with great pedigree,” Moss said.
“The beauty of this competition is that it gives clubs like the Mariners the opportunity to be giant-killers.
“A club like the Mariners love a challenge, we love being the underdogs and flying under the radar.”
Striker Matt Simon and Korean Kim Seung-Yong are both expected to line-up after missing the Mariners’ impressive win against premiers Brisbane Roar last Saturday.
Much interest will focus on attacking midfielder Kim who spent five seasons at FC Seoul.
“He has given us some great insights into Korean and Asian football. We want to make sure we do Kim proud as well, because there is a lot of people watching across Asia,” Moss said.
The Auteur
Guest
This has nothing to do with anything.
Franko
Guest
"On another note a Great guardian Australian article about the Mariners and technical aspects… love to see more articles like this coming from our media" Pft, Where are the subtle digs to other codes and sulking about lack of personal recognition? Cohen has a lot to learn... ;)
Matthew Skellett
Guest
Not like you to be the-dog -in-the -manger ;-)
Matthew Skellett
Guest
C'mon Stevo is this tanty all because Heart didnt make the finals? ;-)
Stevo
Guest
Que?
AZ_RBB
Guest
http://www.theroar.com.au/2014/04/16/victory-beat-acl-reigning-champions/ - you missed this one.
Stevo
Guest
This comp is merely a poor man's Champions League. I prefer to watch the real thing from Europe with teams people know and care about. I guess I am not alone which is why crowds for these ACL games are lower than regular HAL fixtures.
Midfielder
Guest
COYY Me think Moss will rest players as at this stage the GF is more important than the ACL... On another note a Great guardian Australian article about the Mariners and technical aspects... love to see more articles like this coming from our media..... the link has drawing and models well worth the read ... http://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2014/apr/15/a-league-tactics-how-to-stop-brisbane-roar A-League tactics: how to stop Brisbane Roar Central Coast Mariners changed formation to stifle the Roar's usually fluid attack, and the decision paid dividends. The Central Coast Mariners have long been one of the most tactically consistent sides in the A-League but on Saturday night they changed their shape to defeat Brisbane Roar 2-0. In what was a surprise move, Phil Moss set his side up in a 5-4-1 formation when Brisbane had possession of the ball. For so long, Central Coast’s play has been characterised by their 4-4-2 medium block defence. Only once in the previous 26 rounds had the Mariners altered their shape, moving momentarily to a 4-4-2 diamond. With such consistency in their structure, Central Coast have been able to bring new players into the team to perform the same or similar roles. But at the start of the week, decided to change things up. Nick Montgomery, who usually plays in one of the deeper midfield roles, dropped in between the centre-backs Zac Anderson and Eddy Bosnar to form a back five which helped the Mariners to stifle Brisbane’s attack and allowed them a platform to counter-attack from. Brisbane’s attacking patterns are fluid, meaning players rotate seemingly at will to create vertical passing angles and to try to find pockets of space where they can receive the ball and face forward in between the lines. By packing the defence, as opposed to midfield (which has often been the formula used against Brisbane), the Mariners were able to apply pressure from behind on Brisbane’s front three, making it difficult for them to turn and create. When Brisbane’s wingers, either Dimitri Petratos on the right or Thomas Broich on the left, moved inside to find pockets of space, they were tracked by defenders. By having an extra man in defence, Central Coast’s defenders were able to step out of defence more easily to track those attackers into midfield. In the 31st minute, a perfect example of Central Coast’s approach occurred. Brisbane created a pocket of space in between Central Coast’s lines and in between two midfield players (red circle). Petratos moved inside to receive the pass in the hope of turning, facing forward and playing in the forward runners of Matt McKay or Besart Berisha. But Bosnar stepped out of defence ,which forced Petratos to take his first touch backwards. The measured pressure (not overcommitting and attempting to challenge Petratos, merely forcing him back towards his own goal) from Bosnar forced Petratos to dribble back towards the centre circle, with a player on his back the whole time. By the time Petratos had released the ball (to Shane Stefanutto at left-back), the Mariners had been able to reset defensively, their midfielders had recovered and Bosnar was able to trot back into defence with the Roar again playing in front of them. Whilst it is far from the first time opposition sides have changed their approach to do so, playing reactively to stop Brisbane, Mike Mulvey was still not pleased with Central Coast’s approach. “It’s a lot easier to spoil than to create, and that’s what [Central Coast] came to do tonight,” he said post match. This type of pressure, with Central Coast defenders stepping out from the back to prevent Brisbane’s forwards from receiving in between the lines and facing forward, stifled Brisbane’s usually fluid attack and meant Central Coast went home with all three points.
Franko
Guest
Am hoping it is a bruising encounter ;) Seriously though, good luck to the Mariners they were fairly well outplayed in Seoul last time. Crowds for Mariners in ACL so far: 2,168 and 3,316 am hoping they can improve somewhat.