Chris Macpherson 
Mariners and Buriram United line-up prior to kick off in their ACL Elite match. Photo: Chris Macpherson
Central Coast Mariners have made it zero points from two outings in the Asian Champions League Elite to leave their chances of progressing to the round of 16 already in significant danger.
The Mariners looked uncharacteristically sluggish and lacking in attacking prowess as they succumbed 2-1 to Thai League 1 defending champions Buriram United. Gone was the fast paced free moving football that brought them local and continental success last season, replaced with a disjointed unfamiliar slow build that delivered just 3 shots on goal in the match.
Mariners coach Mark Jackson described his teams play as “not as creative as they wanted to be in the final third” and expressed his disappointment with his sides defensive lapses that led to the two Buriram goals.
The Thai champions looked comfortable in the first half as they created numerous chances with Brazilian back Jefferson Tabinas looking dangerous pressing forward from left back on many occassions as they had the best of the opening exchanges.
Buriram scored through a deft stroke across the face of goal from Guilherme Bissoli in the 30th minute and continued to press their advantage as they headed towards the break with only scrambling last line defensive efforts denying them on multiple occasions.
Come the second half it was a similar story and the visitors struck again to double their lead as former Melbourne City defender Curtis Good scored for the first time in his new colours via header from a Goran Causic cross.
Things went from bad to worse for the Mariners when Adam Pavlesic raced forward to break up an attacking raid and clattered into the Buriram attacker, leaving the referee to brandish an undeniable Red Card.
Buriram continued to press their advantage but could not add further to the scoresheet across the remaining 33 minutes.
There were some glimpses of positivity for the Mariners late in the match headlined by two strong saves by Jack Warshawsky and a stunning stoppage time individual goal from new signing Lucas Mauragis.
Warshawsky’s showing will be some comfort for Mariners fans as he will likely need to step up to the starting line up in their next AFC Elite fixture, with Pavlesic out of action following the red card, and no other full contract goal keepers in their squad, with Mark Jackson likely needing to take one of their two academy keepers as cover on the bench for that fixture.
Jackson summed up the Mariners efforts describing them as “disappointing” and “not us, not who we want to be”. Jackson also said with reference to the competition ahead that his side “need to improve quickly”.
He also repeatedly referenced a need for his side “to learn quickly” whilst referencing that their display was not in line with what they delivered last season as they are “a different team with a lot of different players”.
It will now be back to the drawing board for the defending A-League Men & AFC Cup champions as they prepare for a busy period that will see them kick off the A-League season at home against Melbourne Victory on October 18, before a trip to China to take on Kevin Muscat’s Shanghai Port on October 22, who were defeated 3-0 by Pohang Steelers and will be without midfielder Matheus Jessa, who picked up a red card in the 79th minute.