Central Coast Mariners ready for Buriram United to ‘go for it’ in AFC Champions League Elite battle

A couple of Aussies will be keen to get the better of the Central Coast Mariners in AFC Champions League Elite action on Tuesday night.

Central Coast Mariners could run into a pair of Socceroos when they attempt to kickstart their AFC Champions League Elite campaign in Gosford on Tuesday night.

The Mariners host Thai League One leaders Buriram United, whose squad includes Australian duo Kenny Dougall and Curtis Good.

Midfielder Dougall, capped five times for the Socceroos, joined Buriram in January this year from English lower division club Blackpool.

Good, whose most recent of his two Socceroos appearances was in 2021, left Melbourne City at the end of the last season before moving to Buriram.

Dougall and Good both played in their club’s 0-0 Champions League Elite home draw with Japanese outfit Vissel Kobe earlier this month.

The Mariners started their Champions League Elite journey with a 3-1 away loss to Chinese team Shandong Taishan.

Our final training run before we take on Buriram United! 💪

🎟: https://t.co/lBM7DTlylR#CCMFC#RideTheWave🌊 pic.twitter.com/8tbeCFnJwT

— Central Coast Mariners (@CCMariners) September 30, 2024

“First and foremost, it’s great to be back on our home ground,” Mariners coach Mark Jackson said on Monday.

“We feel like we’re ready to perform. We’re excited about the possibility of playing in such an elite competition against an extremely good opponent as well, and more importantly, in front of our whole fans at our stadium.”

“Like I said, (after) the Shandong game, we’ve learned a lot as regards to embedding our principles, what we do with the ball to maybe stop those situations developing again.

“That level of learning, with the players has been really good over the days since that last game.”

Jackson said he expected Buriram to “press” the Mariners and “go after the game”.

“Their coach (Brazilian Osmar Loss) is very knowledgeable and very experienced, so I’m sure he’ll have them prepared to best execute their plan,” the Mariners mentor said.

Originally published as Central Coast Mariners ready for Buriram United to ‘go for it’ in AFC Champions League Elite battle