2014 AFC Champions League

[style_cafe]

what time does the game start? any streams?

 

[eenfish]

10:30 strict, ACL don't have delayed kickoffs like our slack A-League.

gofirstrow.eu should have one up, they usually have all A-League and ACL games. Getting one with English commentary might be a bit hard, though.

 

[eenfish]

Gosh darn Griffo looks good with a full head of hair. Lot better than the baldy look he had the start of the season.

 

[tsd]

For those without streams...

Trifiro gets a well earned start

win and we go top

Their keeper is on debut

 

[nebakke]

In two minds about this, think the boys are looking pretty good again.. Unfortunately I just think the Beijing looks better... Not a lot you can do playing against a better team except for just play for it and sofar, I think the boys look like they are.
Still, gives me hopes for the remainder of the A-league and a little bit of hopes for tonight... Unfortunately I have work early in the morning

 

[style_cafe]

10:30 strict, ACL don't have delayed kickoffs like our slack A-League.

gofirstrow.eu should have one up, they usually have all A-League and ACL games. Getting one with English commentary might be a bit hard, though.

thanks eenfish..

 

[Bradman]

For those of you who don't have FOX, here's a link to watch the game:
http://nutjob.eu/njtvx26.html

Click on the x to remove the advertisements and enlarge the screen. This will get rid of the large box in the middle of the screen.

The commentary is in English too.

Enjoy !!!

 

[nebakke]

Ah well 1-0 after Matty was dragged down and the ball taken from him...

 

[greenlig]

Bosnar has obviously been instructed to sling big crosses from left back. He's doing it a bit deep, and we are way too static for it to work. That said, the best stuff has happened when Matty Simon is involved. The guy has an unbelievable engine.

 

[scottmac]

Matt simon needs to concentrate on football & stop wrestling. I'd drag him at half time.

 

[VicMariner]

The referee is letting a lot go and I think Hutcho does not like mullets.

 

[tsd]

Away from home in the ACL...

50% possession, equal shots on goal even amount of passes completed

Big performance CCM heads held high

Good chance to roll these guys in a fortnight

 

[eenfish]

Good effort by the boys. Triffy I really like so far, a lot of fire in his belly. And how bout that Liam Reddy? Woulda been a massacre without him.

Also if anyone has a good quality pic of that guy's incredible mullet, I'll be very thankful.

 

[Roy Law]

Mariners Beaten but Unbowed​

As the first half was drawing to a close it seemed as if the Mariners could squeeze a result out of this game. They had weathered an early ferocious storm and seemed to have recovered enough poise and purpose to keep Beijing Guoan at bay. But when Matt Simon almost lost an arm in a wrestle with an aggressive defender and lost possession of the ball Guoan broke away. In the A League this would have been a foul any day of the week but this is the ACL and no foul was called. The ball was moved quickly to the dangerous Shao whose finish was far too good for Liam Reddy.
Reddy it was who kept the Mariners in the game in the first quarter of an hour with three outstanding saves as Peter Utaka led the assault on his goal. As if his skills aren’t enough, Utaka, a Nigerian, is a freak of nature: built like a rhinoceros with the pace of a cheetah. He threatened to run amok in those early stages. Eddie Bosnar rose to the challenge and appeared to love the physical involvement.
Some of the full blooded scything tackles thrown by the Chinese defenders would have earned cautions and even straight reds in the A League but most of the challenges went unpunished. Matt Simon was a human tackle bag giving little sympathy by the referee. The frantic pace of the game often showed up the lack of technique from the Mariners; with less time to think the simplest of passes frequently went astray.
The Mariners are a team of great character and slowly they clawed their way back into the game and settled into a better rhythm; Hutchinson calming things down, Trifiro showing neat skills, and Fitzgerald willing to take people on. Bernie Ibini, who seemed overawed by the return to China, blazed a shot wide from an angle; the Mariners were fighting back and having a go.
Guoan reminded of their threat when Reddy had to go full length to save a shot from distance after poor defensive ball security and then Reddy again, stretching to get his fingertips to a cross from Utaka after Bernie had slipped over. All the Mariners brave resistance was brought undone when Simon was fouled and Shao comprehensively beat Reddy to deal a psychological blow just on half time.
After an untidy start to the half where the Mariners struggled under pressure to keep the ball on the ground Bosnar almost brought them back in to it. Trifiro was brutally brought down and Bosnar’s free kick was turned on to the post by the keeper, from the clearance, Bosnar with a cheeky right foot curler, hit the bar. It was cruel luck on Eddie who seemed to relish the combat.
Fitzgerald, one of the more positive of our players, brought a save from the keeper ten minutes later with a shot from the edge of the area. Cernak replaced the ineffective Ibini; Rose had a shot deflected for a corner. The Mariners were pressing well, playing with a sense of purpose, when they were undone by school boy defending.
A long ball from defence and three Mariners went for it and missed it; slick passing from Guoan had Utaka away and he confidently sidestepped Reddy and rolled the ball in to the net. The Mariners responded, with Duke replacing Trifiro, and pushed forward.
Rose broke free down the left and from the corner Anderson got a header on target but it had no venom. Fitzgerald showed great skill to almost wriggle through. The Mariners should have scored moments later when Bosnar’s free kick after Simon was fouled had Guoan all at sea but no Mariner could get the final touch. Finally the Mariners got the break they deserved. Confusion from a corner and Guoan conceded a penalty. Up stepped Fitzgerald to calmly bang it past the keeper and bring respectability to the scoreline.
The Mariners were often outgunned but never subdued; they showed great character to fight back. They certainly are not out of the contest for this Group. Reddy was phenomenal in the first half, without him we would have been swamped; Bosnar lead from the back and played with great determination; Hutchinson did his best to keep things calm and Fitzgerald worked hard and confidently for 90 minutes. Simon will feel as if a chiropractor had walked all over his back.
Moss surprised us all by starting Trifiro and benching Kim Seung-yong. It was a big step up for Trifiro from NSW PL to the ACL but he responded splendidly with an energetic, confident and skilful display.
Reddy was our saviour today and so gets my MoM but Trifiro’s performance deserves special mention.

 

[bikinigirl]

. thanks roy ... your detailed match report is greatly appreciated

. i think the challenge and responsibility the acl has brought has seen a few players step up ... and the team has improved. simon, hutch, rose and bosnar seem to be relishing the commitment required and their performances have encouraged their teammates. positive signs

. it seems from your report ... that a little bit of luck could have seen us taking more out of this game. the only times i can remember us having much luck this year was against newcastle and at nso ... perfect timing now for some luck to start swinging our way

 

[tsd]

Aussie teams have won a few away games in the ACL here and there, all by scoring on the counter and parking the bus. This was the best performance by an Aussie team away in the ACL that I've seen. We gave as good as we got

 

[nebakke]

Yeah, I think the boys should be proud.. on any other day, that first goal would not have happened, it would have been a free kick and potentially a different world. We're not the gentlest of teams, I acknowledge that but I also Beijing got away with a lot last night. Anyway, if the boys keep it up coming home, playing against teams where the wingers can't all nutmeg Rosey and Storm, we should be looking good..

 

[BrisRecky]

that Beijing player had a NovaBogan quality mullet

 

[Big Al]

The chinese swim team just beat us. Ref let the pysical stuff go so can't complain alot about the Simon turnover on 1/2 time that they scored on a quality strike. Simon falling also made it look like his fault instead of the guy who grab his arm a bit.
Turn over at half way - Bosnar out of position as was placed on the LB for a pass from Simon - They put the ball down the middle where Bosnar would be & simply had to much pace - Then from top of box on the run wicked left drive to near post - Reddy no chance.

Best part of the game just after the goal the chinese went through the back of Fitzy - Looked bad at first but wasn't to bad in the end. The walking Mullet was standing over Fitzy giving him some curry. Hutch gave him a push & it was on. Chinese fake handbags from 2 paces. Best part is it was all in. Every mariner backing up the captain. Highlight of the night.

2nd Half Bosnar hits the left post from a free kick which had the keeper beat for speed. The rebound find it's way to the right side of the 18yd box & Bosnar gets there first & try's a cross which loops into a shot & skims off the crossbart back into play. Bosnar hits the posts twice in 10 sec. Not going to be our night.

Also immediately after prob 2 mins - We get burnt on the long ball & another classy finish & down 2-0.

Mariners fight hard with nice pressing - creating lots of turnovers - Get a dodgy penalty when Cernak slips in the box but the Chinese guy had a hand on him looks like a push but definitely not. Fitzy hammers home with 5 to go.

Rest of the match a farce with Monty trying a leg snapper on a breaking away Chinamen. Very bad tackle.

We never touch the ball until the last kicks of the game where we earn a corner. Fitzy over hits it & goes out on the far side. Game over.

Very windy corner flag was at right angles

Chinese loved the rough stuff - Weren't intimidated & probably injoyed. This negated Simon
They were to quick - Shut us down alot & caused our passes to miss & then they won the race to the ball.
Trifiro tried hard but to slow - Had a crack but PL to ACL a bit to much

Good effort. Once again the quality finishing by imports is the difference.

 

[VicMariner]

We have to stop using terms like "Japs" and "Chinamen".

It's 2014, not 1950. A lot of people are going to find this sort of language offensive.