A BRILLIANT brace from crafty Brazilian Leandro Domingues helped J-League outfit Kashiwa Reysol secure a 3-1 victory over Central Coast Mariners in Japan on Wednesday
A BRILLIANT brace from crafty Brazilian Leandro Domingues helped J-League outfit Kashiwa Reysol secure a 3-1 victory over Central Coast Mariners in Japan on Wednesday.
Patrick Zwaanswijk had given the Mariners an early lead in front of a vociferous crowd of 6,472 spectators at the Hitachi Soccer Stadium, however Kashiwa-s class ultimately told as Nelsinho Baptista-s men claimed three valuable Group H points against a proud Central Coast team.
Zwaanswijk headed an Oliver Bozanic corner beyond Sugeno Takanori in just the eighth minute of play to give the Mariners a dream start against the 2012 Japanese Emperor-s Cup winners.
But, the dazzling Domingues managed to finish clinically past Mathew Ryan just 13 minutes later to level proceedings, before Kano Kenta deftly flicked the ball into the back of the net to give Reysol a 2-1 lead 67 minutes in.
Domingues was at his brilliant best for Kashiwa-s third goal, which ultimately guaranteed Baptista-s team recorded maximum points from their first two 2013 AFC Champions League encounters.
Back-heeling the ball into the path of the pacey Fujita Masato, Domingues then made a telling run into the box before placing his volley beyond Ryan.
Central Coast Mariners- anguish from the penalty spot unfortunately continued late on, with substitute Michael McGlinchey striking an effort from 12-yards direct at Sugeno after tireless attacker Mitchell Duke had been tripped in the box.
Disappointingly, McGlinchey-s penalty was the fifth in a row the Mariners have missed in all competitions.
While displeased with having lost to Reysol, Central Coast Mariners coach Arnold outlined after the game that the key difference between the two sides on the night was the inspired Domingues – a player believes is better than anyone currently playing in the A-League.
“The only difference was their number ten, Domingues,” Arnold said. “He-s total quality.”
“His first finish was a great finish. We gave away two cheap goals, and in international football if you give away possession like that you get punished.”
“(But) the third goal from them was absolutely world class,” he said.
The Mariners went into the second game of their 2013 AFC Champions League campaign with a relatively inexperienced line-up, with Arnold opting to fill his first eleven on the evening with as many fresh legs as possible.
The result of Arnold-s astute selections was a team full of running, and one able to compete determinedly with a well-oiled Kashiwa side for the majority of the Matchday 2 encounter.
Arnold praised his “kids” who again proved to themselves they can compete on the international stage.
“We had five 21-year-olds out there and the performance and the fight tonight was very good, it was more like I expect,” he said.
“It-s an experience for the younger boys and they-re only going to get better out of it.”
“We finished the game with six or seven young boys. Sure, it hurts to lose away from home but against the top side we-re not embarrassed.”
Despite only having one point from two AFC Champions League games thus far, Arnold believes reaching the second round of Asia-s premier club competition is still well within his side-s reach.
Gaining three points against Guizhou Renhe in Gosford on Wednesday 3 April will place the Mariners well in the reckoning to advance to the next phase of the tournament, especially given Korea Republic-s Suwon Bluewings recorded a scoreless draw at home to the Chinese Super League side this evening.
“We-ve got to win our homes games now,” he said. “We-ve got the Chinese at home and we-ve got the Japanese Reysol at home as well.”
“I am sure we can do that.”
Kashiwa Reysol 3 (Domingues 21-, 88-, Kano 67-)
Central Coast Mariners 1 (Zwaanswijk 😎
Hitachi Soccer Stadium, Kashiwa
Kashiwa Reysol: 2. Fujita MASATO, 3. Kondo NAOYA, 5. Musuhima TATSUYA, 7. Otani Hidekazu (c), 9. Masato KUDO, 10. Leandro DOMINGUES, 11. CLEO, 14. Kano KENTA, 21. Sugeno TAKANORI (Gk), 29. Taniguchi HIROYUKI, 30. Yamanaka RYOSUKE
Substitutes not used: 1. Kirihata KAZUSHIGE (Gk), 17. Akino HIROKI, 18. Tanaka JUNYA, 19. Kimura YU, 23. Watanabe HIROFUMI, 26. Ota TETSURO, 28. Kurisawa RYOICHI
Yellow cards: Nil
Red cards: Nil
Central Coast Mariners: 1. Mathew RYAN (Gk), 5. Zachary ANDERSON, 6. Patrick ZWAANSWIJK, 7. John HUTCHINSON (c), 8. Adriano PELLEGRINO (14. Michael MCGLINCHEY 59-), 11. Oliver BOZANIC, 13. Brent GRIFFITHS, 16. Trent SAINSBURY, 17. Anthony CACERES (18. Nick MONTOMGERY 74-), 19. Mitchell DUKE, 29. Nick FITZGERALD (9. Bernie IBINI 70-)
Substitutes not used: 20. Justin PASFIELD (Gk), 15. Brad McDONALD, 24. Hayden MORTON
Yellow cards: Sainsbury, Griffiths
Red cards: Nil
Attendance: 6,472
Referee: Ali Hamad Albadwawi (UAE)
