Central Coast Mariners fall short against Kevin Muscat’s Shanghai Port

Central Coast coach Mark Jackson was full of pride despite the Mariners losing to the Chinese club guided by former Melbourne Victory mentor Kevin Muscat.

“Proud” Central Coast coach Mark Jackson remains confident the Mariners will break their AFC Champions League Elite duck despite a third successive defeat in the competition.

The Mariners were beaten 3-2 by Chinese Super League heavyweights Shanghai Port on Tuesday night at Pudong Football Stadium.

Coached by former Melbourne Victory mentor Kevin Muscat, Port went ahead in just the second minute through Li Ang.

The hosts had doubled their lead by half-time, with Wu Lei scoring in the 41st minute.

A sizzling long-distance strike from the Mariners’ Brazilian star Mikael Doka about quarter-of-an-hour into second half reduced Port’s advantage.

However, Muscat’s men sealed the win with an 86th-minute goal from substitute Matias Vargas.

Mariners substitute Nicholas Duarte scored in stoppage time but it proved too only be a consolation goal, with Central Coast still without a point after three games in Asia’s most prestigious competition.

An absolute thunderbolt from Mikael Doka last night, his second in the AFC Champions League Elite competition! ⚡️#CCMFC#RideTheWave🌊 pic.twitter.com/9V7lg87d8g

— Central Coast Mariners (@CCMariners) October 23, 2024

“Obviously the result didn’t go our way but as a manager, I’m really proud of my team,” Jackson said.

“Of course it’s a difficult start for us but we have to understand that we’re competing with the top teams in Asian competition.

“There’s a big gulf in finances at our club compared to anyone else but we don’t use that an excuse.

“We go out in every game looking to compete. We have games remaining and we will be confident that we can win some of those games.”

The Mariners will return to A-League duty on Saturday night when they meet Adelaide United at Coopers Stadium.

Jackson’s men, who won last season’s A-League premiership-championship double as well as the AFC Cup, started the defence of their domestic title with a 0-0 draw last Friday night against Melbourne Victory.

Originally published as Central Coast Mariners fall short against Kevin Muscat’s Shanghai Port