Asian Football Confederation - Champions League 2012

Mariners draw in Tianjin stalemate
by Chris Dunkerley

Group G - Round 1 - 1st Leg
8:00pm, Wednesday 7 March, 2012
at Tianjin Teda Stadium, Tianjin


Tianjin Teda FC 0
drew with
Central Coast Mariners FC 0

Central Coast Coast Mariners come away from China with a point in their first Group G ACL game of 2012 against Tianjin Teda, after neither team were able to make or take clear chances on a cold evening.

It was Tianjin's first competitive fixture of 2012 after losing 2-1 in the Chinese Super Cup to Guangzhou Evergrande at the weekend, under new Croation coach Josip Kuze (who was a former coach of Graham Arnold at Sydney Croatia).

An early speculator from Olly Bozanic, even if it went over the crossbar from 30m, was at least a sign that the visitors meant business - and when Tianjin's captain Wang Xin-Xin hit way over the crossbar under pressure from Joshua Rose in the 9th minute it was hopeful - but alas it turned out those sort of efforts were about all we'd see for the night.

In the 31st minute Chen Tao did make a run into the area on the left, where most of the Tianjin moves came, but he blasted his shot at goal into the advancing Mat Ryan, who stoicly took and deflected the force of the shot.

The Mariners were being well channeled too far from goal for any clear shots, but the Mariners defence was also holding fast.

Two minutes after the break the visitors had perhaps their best chance, with Rose surging down the left and truning in toward goal with no ptions opening. He tried instead to beat 'keeper Song Zhenyu at his left post, but the Tianjin custodian spread himself to smother the shot.

In the 60th minute Ryan again came out to deflect a shot after a breakaway down the left. Adam Kwasnil got with in range for a header in the 72nd minute but sent it over.

In the 84th minute substitute Rogic couldn't bring Daniel McBreen into play, so he hit a forceful snap shot toward the top right of the goal - which the 'keeper got behind to save.

Last chance fell to substitute Bernie Ibini-Isei, who was free on the left and who was slipped the ball by McBreen. Alas the young striker hit low, just as Milan Susak threw himself to block and the shot was deflected.

Tianjin Teda's coach Josip Kuse said "At the beginning, we had problems either creating chances or scoring goals when encountering the Mariners' strong defence. But after a while our spirit grew and gradually we could form some effective attacking, based on our stable defence. We had some good chances, but always failed with our finishing. We don't have players with the ability to convert these situations into a winning situation".

Central Coast coach Graham Arnold conceded his team were far from being in perfect condition following their 1-1 draw in the A-League with Sydney FC at the weekend and the tiring journey to Tianjin. "Our players did quite well in the match," he said. "Having had an important match with Sydney on Sunday, plus the travelling, we were not in the best shape. Under these circumstances, a draw is quite good. Also, Tianjin Teda played well too. I think Tianjin is team with good quality."

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