This is the fourth match between Central Coast Mariners and Tianjin Teda in the AFC Champions League. The teams drew 0-0 in China in March and also met during the group stage in 2009 when Tianjin won 1-0 at Gosford after being held to a 2-2 draw in China.
Central Coast Mariners vs. Tianjin Teda
Tuesday 1 May – 7:30pm
Central Coast Stadium, Gosford
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This is the fourth match between Central Coast Mariners and Tianjin Teda in the AFC Champions League. The teams drew 0-0 in China in March and also met during the group stage in 2009 when Tianjin won 1-0 at Gosford after being held to a 2-2 draw in China.
Central Coast Mariners
Central Coast suffered their heaviest away defeat in the AFC Champions League when they lost 5-0 at Seongnam two weeks ago. It equalled the margin of defeat that they suffered against Kawasaki Frontale at home in 2009.
The Mariners are still seeking their first victory in the AFC Champions League after drawing five and losing five of their previous 10 games in the competition.
Along with Al Arabi, Central Coast are the second-lowest scoring side in the AFC Champions League with only two goals in their first four games. Only Tianjin, with one goal, have been less prolific so far this season.
Defender Joshua Rose is set to return to action after being suspended two weeks ago for his red card in the first meeting with Seongnam. Tom Rogic, Predrag Bojic, Adam Kwasnik and Patrick Zwaanswijk have one booking each and face one-match bans if they pick up another yellow card during the group stage.
Domestic form
Central Coast Mariners were knocked out of the A-League play-offs after losing on penalties following a 1-1 draw with Perth Glory in the preliminary final on April 14. Despite failing to reach the grand final, they have booked their place in the 2013 AFC Champions League after finishing first in the table during the regular season.
Tianjin Teda
Tianjin Teda are winless in their last six matches in the AFC Champions League. They do not have a good away record in the competition with two wins, two draws and five defeats in nine road matches.
Aside from their win against Central Coast in 2009, Tianjin-s only other AFC Champions League match in Australia came last year when they lost 2-1 to Melbourne Victory in the group stage.
The Chinese club are the lowest scorers in the competition with only one goal, scored by Lucian Goian in the 1-1 draw at Seongnam Chunma on Matchday Two.
Three Tianjin players – defenders He Yang and Cao Yang and forward Zhou Liao are all suspended for the visit to Central Coast after they received their second yellow cards of the group stage at Nagoya two weeks ago. However, central defender Li Weifeng is available after serving a one-game suspension.
Domestic form
After winning two matches in a row, Tianjin Teda-s recent revival was halted when a late goal saw them lose 1-0 to Chinese Super League leaders Guangzhou Evergrande last Friday. Tianjin are currently in eighth place, nine points behind Guangzhou.
