Central Coast Mariners win AFC Cup clash 9-1 over Filipino outfit

Two Australian teams combined for a massive 11 goals in Asian competitions, with one star setting a new record.

Central Coast’s Brazilian star Marco Tulio became the first A-League player to score a hat-trick in the AFC Cup amid a massive 11-goal haul in continental competition wins for the Mariners and Melbourne City.

The Mariners romped to an astonishing 9-1 win over Filipino club Stallion Laguna in Gosford, while 18-year-old Max Caputo scored to help boot City to a 2-1 AFC Champions League win over Chinese Super League side Zhejiang Professional in Hangzhou.

Playing under new manager Mark Jackson for the first time, the Mariners flexed their considerable muscle that put to bed the disappointment of an opening-day loss to Terengganu on the road.

An injury to goalkeeper and captain Danny Vukovic, with the start of the A-League season just two weeks away, was the only negative on a stunning night for the A-League champions.

Tulio was one of six goalscorers in the Mariners’ blitz, with defender Brian Kaltak scoring for the first time in his professional club career.

Marco Túlio had his match ball signed by the entire team after scoring @CCMariners’ first hat trick in Asian football 💛💙

To think, he scored only a third of their goals in an epic 9-1 win!

📺 Watch all ten goals here 👉 https://t.co/d6J11ffVjY

📸: @CCMarinerspic.twitter.com/2k4dfsLtQ6

— Isuzu UTE A-League (@aleaguemen) October 4, 2023

Coming off an opening round draw Kofu, City got on the scoresheet early through Socceroo Aziz Behich, who has returned to the club after a decade in Europe.

Teenage attacker Caputo then struck in the 17th minute to help City to a victory that puts them on top of group H on four points, ahead of Japanese side Ventforet Kofu in the early rounds of the competition.