Central Coast Mariners men suffered a tough 2-1 defeat at home on Tuesday night February 11, against Malaysian club Johor Darul Ta’zim in the AFC Champions League Elite.
Despite a determined effort, a controversial red card in the first half saw the Mariners reduced to 10 men, making their challenge even steeper.
The match was evenly contested in the first half, with both sides finding the back of the net before the break.
However, the sending-off of the Mariners’ goalkeeper Dylan Peraic-Cullen proved decisive, shifting the momentum in Johor’s favour.
The visitors capitalised on their numerical advantage in the second half, securing the winning goal and keeping their hopes alive in the competition.
Although the Mariners are no longer able to progress past the group stage following their previous loss to Yokohama F. Marinos in December, they remained committed to finishing strong and put on a spirited performance for their fans.
Manager Mark Jackson praised his team’s resilience and work ethic despite the challenging circumstances.
The Mariners have a bye this weekend and will return to Industree Group Stadium on February 22 for an A-League match against Western Sydney Wanderers.
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