Central Coast Mariners matched one of the world’s richest clubs for more than an hour before a late goal by Brazilian forward Muriqui gave Guangzhou Evergrande a 2-1 win in the first leg of their last 16 fixture of the Asian Champions League.
Mitchell Duke put the A-League champions ahead in the seventh minute in Gosford this week, although Paraguay striker Lucas Barrios equalised midway through the first half.
The home side had looked good for at least a draw until Muriqui blasted past goalkeeper Mat Ryan with 14 minutes left in regulation time.
The smallest club in the tournament may not overcome the loss of two away goals in next week’s return leg but the Mariners competed well against the rich Chinese side and its World Cup-winning coach Marcello Lippi.
“You could see that they have quality on the ball and a lot of international players, so a lot of experience,” the Mariners’ soon-to-retire Dutch defender Patrick Zwaanswijk said.
“In transition they are deadly and they showed that, overall they are a great team, but it isn’t over yet.”
The club needs at least two next week against one of the richest clubs in the world to have any chance of reaching the quarter-finals.
“We’ve got one more game to go,” coach Graham Arnold said. “The heads are down but I’ve said to the boys that football’s a funny game. Let’s recover, let’s analyse and let’s go for it over there.
“The pressure’s on them. We’ve got no pressure. They’re expected to win the Champions League. We’ve just got to go there and give it our best shot again.”
