Gosford: In a masterful second-half performance in the AFC Cup, the Central Coast Mariners triumphed with a 4-0 victory over Indian Super League champions Odisha FC.
Mikael Doka was outstanding, contributing two goals and an assist, and maintaining his excellent form.
His Brazilian colleague, Ronald Barcellos, also scored, adding to his AFC Cup tally, while Storm Roux scored a remarkable goal.
This significant win positions the Mariners favourably for the Inter-Zonal final, bringing a four-goal lead into the upcoming second leg.
The Mariners started the match energetically, creating multiple opportunities early on. Jing Reec had a promising chance in the 2nd minute, but Odisha’s goalkeeper, Amrinder Singh, made a superb save.
The deadlock was broken by Doka, who showcased his form by skillfully scoring from the edge of the box, following impressive teamwork and another assist by Nisbet.
At halftime, Coach Jackson made strategic changes, introducing Ryan Edmondson in place of Reec.
Edmondson quickly made his mark by setting up Roux, who scored with a striker’s finish. Doka then doubled his tally with a beautifully taken penalty in the 76th minute, following a foul on Farrell by Roy Krishna.
The team’s fluid play continued, with Edmondson nearly adding a fourth goal after receiving a ripper of a pass from Dan Hall.
Later, substitute Ronald Barcellos widened the gap further, scoring in the 90th minute after an assist from Doka.
With a solid four-goal advantage, the Mariners are set to face the Indian team in the semi-final’s second leg in India, holding a strong position in the semi-final tie.