Make or break for Mariners
BARRING a miracle, the Central Coast Mariners must win tonight's final Asian Champions League qualifying match to stay in the competition.
With the top two teams to progress to the next round, the Mariners find themselves one point and goal difference between Group G leaders Seongnam and Nagoya Grampus.
Seongnam will be raging hot favourites to beat Tianjin Teda which means even a draw would not be enough to see the Mariners progress.
Left back Josh Rose said the players were confident of a strong showing against Nagoya tonight after trouncing bottom placed Tianjin Teda 5-1 at home two weeks ago.
"We got our confidence back with that result, but we know it's a win or nothing tonight," Rose said.
The Mariners drew 1-all with Nagoya in Gosford earlier in the competition, but Rose acknowledged it would be more difficult to get a result in Japan.
"Clubs like Nagoya have got big budgets, but it comes down to how you play as a team," he said.
One of the keys for Central Coast will be stopping former Mariner and Socceroos striker Josh Kennedy.
