AFTER a long day of travel, Central Coast Mariners have arrived safely in Guiyang, China ahead of their 2013 AFC Champions League Matchday 4 meeting with Guizhou Renhe on Tuesday.
AFTER a long day of travel, Central Coast Mariners have arrived safely in Guiyang, China ahead of their 2013 AFC Champions League Matchday 4 meeting with Guizhou Renhe on Tuesday.
Graham Arnold-s team departed Sydney early on Sunday morning and following a ten hour flight to Guangzhou, a three hour layover, a two hour domestic transfer and a one hour bus ride, are now settling in to the southwest Chinese city.
The Mariners will have just one familiarisation session in Guiyang before their clash with Gong Lei-s outfit.
Arnold, his assistant Phil Moss, and the Club-s goalkeeping coach John Crawley will guide the team through a one hour session on Monday afternoon at the 52,000 capacity Guiyang Olympic Sports Centre.
As indicated by Arnold last week, the Mariners- knowledgeable Head of Sports Science, Andrew Clark, has remained on the Central Coast in order to help prepare a contingent of the Club-s first team squad for Sunday-s sudden death semi final against Melbourne Victory at Gosford-s Bluetongue Stadium.
A vociferous, orange-clad crowd of over 20,000 supporters are expected to converge on Guizhou Renhe-s impressive Stadium for Tuesday-s fixture.
And while the yellow and navy can expect to be met by a wall of noise from the partisan home faithful, the team will not be without their own devotees in the crowd. Indeed, some 16 Mariners fans have travelled to China on an official Club tour led by Lawrie McKinna.
Central Coast Mariners defeated Guizhou Renhe 2-1 last Wednesday, with the win propelling the Club to second place in Group H after three AFC Champions League matchdays. Defenders Pedj Bojic and Trent Sainsbury netted in the second half to ensure Arnold-s side secured a deserved three points following a dominant display in Gosford.
Another positive result in China will ensure Central Coast stand in good stead to advance to the knockout phase of Asia-s premier club competition for the first time in history.
Central Coast Mariners Squad in China: 1. Mathew RYAN (Gk), 5. Zachary ANDERSON, 7. John HUTCHINSON (c), 8. Adriano PELLEGRINO, 9. Bernie IBINI, 11. Oliver BOZANIC, 13. Brent GRIFFITHS, 15. Brad MCDONALD, 16. Trent SAINSBURY, 17. Anthony CACERES, 19. Mitchell DUKE, 20. Justin PASFIELD (Gk), 24. Hayden MORTON, 25. Michael NEILL, 29. Nick FITZGERALD
Guizhou Renhe (CHN) Central Coast Mariners (AUS) – 2013 AFC Champions League Matchday 4
Tuesday 9 April, 2013
Guiyang Olympic Sports Centre, Guiyang
Kick-off: 7:30pm (local); 9:30pm (AEST)
Twitter: Join the match conversation on Twitter! The official match hash tag is #GRvCCM
Television: Watch the game LIVE on FOX SPORTS 3 & 3HD from 9:25pm AEST on Tuesday
