AFC CLE and CL2 2024/25

[Edinburgh]

The league stage of both competitions kicks off this week.

CCM are away to Shandong tonight, kicked off at 8pm. 1-1 at HT after ludicrous unpunished delaying tactics by Shandong when CCM were awarded a penalty after VAR intervention right on HT.

SFC play on Thursday night.

[Edinburgh]

CCM blew it. Deserved a lead at HT but could only get a last second equaliser. A more even 2nd half but CCM should have taken the lead a couple of times but gave away a goal instead after a poor pass from Kaltak trying to play out from the back. Created equaliser opportunities but ended up conceding a 3rd goal instead. 

[mack]

Not so easy when you aren't playing semi-pro farmers league tier 3 teams.

[Sithslayer1991]

10 hours ago, Edinburgh said:

CCM blew it. Deserved a lead at HT but could only get a last second equaliser. A more even 2nd half but CCM should have taken the lead a couple of times but gave away a goal instead after a poor pass from Kaltak trying to play out from the back. Created equaliser opportunities but ended up conceding a 3rd goal instead. 

I saw it that way as well. Mariners played well but far out they need to take those chances.

[SBW]

If you thought Mariners had a bad night Yokohama FC lost 7-3 to Gwangju.

Kobe drew 0-0 with Buriram Utd

And Shanghai Shenua beat Pohang 4-1

[jockman]

I watched the smurfs game. Admittedly  against what looked like  average opponents,  however they looked pretty good, Costa definitely significant contribution..they look far more like a finished product moved the ball at speed some excellent interplay between defence,mids and attack...   where we still imo are definitely a work in progress..doesn't give me much confidence going into the derby..first game. Already preparing mentally for another humiliating home defeat against them 

[Unlimited]

The fact Costa even started is big

I think Mata will get the Ono treatment and be unleashed the second half of the season…

[StringerBellend]

Mata will start the Derby..it will be Eetswa 

That said their other imports look good. Antonessen still looks lost

[BoyFromTheWest]

Watched some more highlights of the Smurfs. Have to admit they have a decent front end, with for of their imports front 3 and AM, then the fourth as CM. They looked pretty decent against a terrible side and will have much more match fitness than us before the Derby. That will be a pretty tough opening match.

I don't like opening the drain with a Derby. A few weeks in after publicity...

[StringerBellend]

2 hours ago, BoyFromTheWest said:

Watched some more highlights of the Smurfs. Have to admit they have a decent front end, with for of their imports front 3 and AM, then the fourth as CM. They looked pretty decent against a terrible side and will have much more match fitness than us before the Derby. That will be a pretty tough opening match.

I don't like opening the drain with a Derby. A few weeks in after publicity...

#InStajWeTrust

[Davo]

Mariners currently 1-0 down at home against Buriram.

Getting dominated at the moment. 36% possession, 0 shots on target, struggling to string two passes together.

[mack]

2-0 now.

[mack]

And their keeper gets sent as well lol.

[SBW]

Yokohama FC beat Ulsan Hyundai 4-0
Vissel Kobe beat Shandong Taishan 2-1 and there seems to be a post match fight between the Kobe and Shandong players
Pohang Steelers have beaten Musky's Shanghai SIPG 3-0

Smurfs play Kaya in the Philippines tonight 

[BoyFromTheWest]

Top keeping by Redders (and the defence!) - Smurfs down 1-0 in 4 minutes

[StringerBellend]

What an ace ACL Two ground massive running track round the outside no crowd and a **** pitch. 

#acltwotastic

[StringerBellend]

Do you think we might be the only people watching this?

[StringerBellend]

I've seen better games at Beaman Park Earlwood 

[StringerBellend]

With more atmosphere 

[BoyFromTheWest]

I think there 2-3 in the crowd and the commentators as well. Not stimulating.

[SBW]

Filipinos are only interested in watching Japanese teams play.

Speaking of Japanese team, Sanfrecce Hiroshima got an almighty scare against the Hong Kong team by just beating them 3-2.

[SBW]

Last night, CCM have gone down to Shanghai SIPG 3-2

Yokohama FC and Shandong drew 2-2

Al-Hilal have beaten Al-Ain 5-4

Al-Nasser beat Iranian team Esteghal 1-0

Tonight the Smurfs play Sanfrecce Hiroshima in the ACL2

[mack]

Smurfs down 1 after 20.

[mack]

Smurfs lose 2-1.

They wasted a minute of their stoppage time when they all failed to realise the ref had a drop ball restart with the keeper, and he took it back to pretend it was a goal kick & the smurfs stood around doing nothing while the time went. 

[Kotallo]

Winning in Asia isn't for everyone 

[mack]

Mariners losing 2-0 with 15 to go.

And they get one back.

[mack]

Last minute equaliser for CCM, keeper up and everything.

[Edinburgh]

Theoretically, with a draw tonight, could the Mariners repeat last season's a-league efforts and win the ACL this season? 

[mack]

20 minutes ago, Edinburgh said:

Theoretically, with a draw tonight, could the Mariners repeat last season's a-league efforts and win the ACL this season? 

It's a 12 team league (8 games due to avoidance of playing same-country teams, and certain match ups like the Mariners not playing any Korean team) with a top 8 progression and the Mariners are in 11th with 1 point. It's still quite possible they could progress, but they play the three Japanese teams and the one Malaysian team, so the odds aren't really in their favour.