Central Coast Mariners out of contention to reach AFC Champions League Elite knockout stages

A familiar face has returned to Gosford to help inflict more AFC Champions League Elite pain on the Central Coast Mariners.

Central Coast defender Storm Roux (left) tries to halt the progress of Yokohama F. Marinos goalscorer Kenta Inoue in Gosford. Picture: Matt King/Getty Images

Disappointed Central Coast coach Mark Jackson apologised to Mariners fans after his side’s slim hopes of qualifying for the AFC Champions League Elite knockout stages were quashed with a 4-0 loss to Japanese club Yokohama F. Marinos in Gosford.

Needing a win to have any chance of progressing to the round of 16, the Mariners were thrashed at home on Tuesday night by a Yokohama outfit coached by former Central Coast star John Hutchinson.

The Mariners – last season’s A-League champions – have just one point from six Champions League matches, and with just two rounds of the competition’s league stages remaining, are out of contention to progress.

Yokohama F. Marinos coach John Hutchinson (centre) celebrates with his players in Gosford. Picture: Matt King/Getty Images

“I say sorry to our supporters because that first-half performance wasn’t acceptable,” Jackson said.

Hutchinson’s team led 3-0 at the break thanks to a Kenta Inoue brace and a goal from Brazilian attacker Anderson Lopes.

Substitute Jun Amano completed the rout in the 70th minute with a superb free kick that curled into the corner of the net.

“The players certainly knew how I felt at halftime,” Jackson said.

“We went into the game and felt we had a plan how we wanted to play … but to do that and defend against a top team like Yokohama, you all have to be willing to work, stick to the game plan, and stay connected, and in the first half we had players who didn’t want to do that.

“The team who went out in the second half collectively worked how we want them to work.

“They had a go. That’s all you can ask.”

Hutchinson was delighted with his team’s performance but admitted it was an “emotional” experience returning to Gosford.

“I spent a lot of time here, 12 years,” he said.

“It’s still home here, but we were good to very good. We controlled the game from start to finish. I expect that from these players.”

The Mariners return to A-League duties on Sunday night when they host Sydney FC.

Originally published as Central Coast Mariners out of contention to reach AFC Champions League Elite knockout stages