Central Coast Mariners vs Odisha FC highlights, CCM 4-0 OFC, AFC Cup 2023-24: Doka, Roux, Barcellos score for easy Mariners win in first-leg

It turns out to be an easy day at the office for the Central Coast Mariners as it cruises to a 4-0 win against Odisha FC. 

Mikael Doka stars with two goals and an assist, while the other two strikes have come from Storm Roux and Ronald Barcellos.

The second leg will be played at the Kalinga Stadium on March 14, 3:30 PM IST. 

Doka in the thick of the proceedings yet again as he combines with Edmondson to send the latter on a darting run inside the box. Edmondson goes for a shot from a tight angle but it is saved by Amrinder. 

Five minutes added at the end of the second-half!

It almost seems like Playstation football on amateur mode for the Mariners. The home team launches an attack from the left and the Odisha defence is too slow to react. Doka goes on an excellent run and sets up Barcellos with a pinpoint pass. Barcellos pokes the ball past Amrinder to score Mariners’ fourth of the night. 

It is not sure what Theoharous intended but his cross/shot almost creeps inside the Odisha goal for a fourth Mariners goal on the night. Theoharous showed good pace to get past Ranawade. 

Odisha sub: IN- Vignesh, Lenny OUT- Jerry, Puitea

Mariners sub: IN- Barcellos OUT- Balard

Edmondson, who has already bagged an excellent assist, looks to get his name on the scoresheet. This time, he gets on the end of a clever through ball and makes his way inside the Odisha box. He shoots across the face of the goal from the right but cannot hit the target. 

To add salt to the wounds, Doka goes for the Panenka and successfully beats Amrinder, as the Odisha keeper goes the opposite way. It was a calm and composed penalty, which rattles the top-right corner of the Odisha goal. 

It is a brace for Doka on the night and with a 3-0 lead in the first-leg, Mariners would assume they already have one foot inter-zone final. 

Penalty to Mariners - Roy Krishna catches Farrell with an extended arm as he tries to win the ball off the Mariners player. Nothing malicious in that but it is a penalty nonetheless. 

Odisha looks to come back into the in style as a ball is drilled at the edge of the box from a corner. Jahouh goes for a first-time shot on the volley but he cannot hit the target. He had connected fairly well with the effort and if it was on target, it could have troubled Vukovic. 

Aniket tries to find a pass around the corner but it is a good read by Hall as he anticipates it and wins back possession from Odisha. 

Odisha sub: IN- Isak OUT- Jadhav

Mariners sub: IN- Theoharous, Di Pizio OUT- Torres, Roux

Odisha FC is put under pressure as the home team get three consecutive corners but Lobera’s men backline is in sync and manage to see them out without any danger. 

Mariners sub: IN- Steele OUT- Tapp 

Odisha FC trying desperately to shift gears after conceding the second. After Mauricio came close, Amey had gotten a chance to trouble Vukovic from the edge of the box. But his shot on the volley was disappointing as the ball sailed above the Mariners goal. 

Odisha FC almost pulls a goal back as Mauricio takes a shot from inside the box. His connection to the ball is good but the ball takes a deflection and goes out of play. 

Storm Roux combines with Ryan Edmondson in a beautiful one-two to score Mariners’ second. Edmondson just gets ahead of Delgado and threads an excellent through ball to Roux, who had timed his run well inside the box. He has a look up and shoots at the far-post and finds the target. Amrinder dives at full-stretch but cannot get a hand to the ball. 

Nisbet gets the ball at the edge of the box and works out a bit of space himself. Amrinder had already committed himself for the dive at the far-corner, which is why Nisbet looks for the near-post. But his effort is blocked. 

Jahouh floats in a good cross inside the Mariners penalty area. Odisha tries to capitalise but does not really find an opening. The home team launches a counter-attack, putting Odisha on the backfoot but it ends as Doka’s concedes possession with a loose pass. 

Mariners sub: IN- Edmondson OUT- Reec

Doka’s goal keeps Central Coast Mariners in a 1-0 lead against Odisha FC as the second-half kicks-off at the Central Coast Stadium in New South Wales, Australia.

The first-half has flown by and it is been utter dominance by the Mariners, Don’t let the scoreline fool you. Odisha FC, barring a couple of positive attacking moves late in the first half, have been second best in all departments. 

Mariners booking: Tapp sees a yellow card for his reckless challenge on Godard. 

Two minutes added at the end of the first-half!

It is a tidy and precise performance from the Mariners yet again. Nisbet shows his class, controlling the pass and finding Torres with a reverse pass. Torres shoots across the face of the goal but sees his effort go out of play. 

Odisha FC finally works Mariners keeper Vukovic, who has been a mere spectator for the most of the clash. 

Jahouh goes a grounded pass from an Odisha freekick, which finds Krishna. Krishna backheels the ball to Mauricio, who takes a couple of touches, before shooting it at the near-post from a tight angle. Vukovic gets his hand to it but cannot hold on, as the ball goes out for a corner.

It is poor defending from Odisha again and the Mariners finally capitalise on the situation. Nesbet finds Doka with a cutback from the left and Doka’s first time effort rattles the bottom-left corner of the net. 

The goal was coming in all honesty. Odisha has been completely overrun, as the Mariners have been superior in all departments. 

Mauricio was eager to make a run on the right but Halls put in a solid challenge to sto Mauricio in their tracks. 

With the 25-minute having past, Odisha is yet to register its first shot on target. Right now, there is nothing appealing about Odisha’s style of football. 

Roux tries to find the net by heading the ball at goal from a corner. Roux did well to get in a good position but his header is wide. 

Balard swings a cross inside the box, which Ranawade intercepts. Ranawade had lot of time to find an outlet but the ball gets stuck under his foot, allowing the Mariners to close in the Odisha defender. In the end, Ranawade keep his nerve to send the ball out for a throw-in under pressure for Farrell. 

Farrel makes an overlapping on the left and sends in a floating cross, which falls to Reec t the far-post. Reec goes for a shot on the volley and the ball rattles the underside of the crossbar and comes back into play. 

For a moment, the ball seemed to have gone over the line, that is what the Mariners players were claiming at least. There a couple more chances on the rebound, but the Juggernauts hold on and finally get a reprieve as the referee blows his whistle for a handball. 

From what looked it like it could be Odisha’s first attacking move of the match, Amey dampens it with a lazy cross from the right flank, which hits the first defender inside the box, giving possession back to the Mariners. 

By the looks of it, Odisha FC is not going for the press. The Mariners keep possession inside their own-half without much pressure and look to create another opening for the first goal. 

This time it is Doka who looks to trouble Amrinder, but it is a weak effort from the Mariners winger. Amrinder will collect those all day. 

It has been all about the Mariners in the opening stages of the match. The Odisha defence has been kept busy till now and Lobera’s men are yet to have a significant passage of possession. 

Reec sets up Torres for a shot and the latter obliges as he pulls the trigger from the left side of the box, hoping to find the far-corner. But the effort is not on target and the Juggernauts will get a goalkick. A positive start for the home team. 

A mistake at the back as Delgado fails to control the ball. Reec capitalists on the mistake and collects the loose ball, making his way towards the Odisha goal. One-on-one with Amrinder, he tries to roll it past the Odisha keeper, but the latter makes a good save to prevent a horror start for the Juggernauts. 

The first leg of the AFC Cup 2023-24 Inter-zonal semifinal clash between Central Coast Mariners and Odisha FC is underway at the Central Coast Stadium in New South Wales, Australia.

Odisha XI (4-2-3-1): Amrinder (GK); Ranawade, Fall, Delgado, Jerry L; Puitea, Jahouh; Krishna, Goddard, Isak; Mauricio

Central Coast Mariners XI (4-4-1-1): Vukovic(GK); Roux, Kaltak, Hall, Farrell; Doka, Ballard, Tapp, Torres; Nisbet; Reec

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Central Coast Mariners: WWWWW

Odisha FC: LWDDW

Odisha FC will clash against Australia’s Central Coast Mariners in the first leg of the AFC Cup 2023-24 inter-zone playoff semifinals at the Central Coast Stadium in New South Wales, Australia on Thursday. 

Odisha FC is in top form and leads the Indian Super League (ISL) table with 35 points from 18 matches. The Juggernauts qualified for the inter-zone semifinals after bagging top spot in Group D. 

In the group stage, Odisha FC started its campaign with consecutive losses Mohun Bagan Super Giant and Bangladesh’s Bashundhara Kings. However, Sergio Lobera’s side recovered well to win the AFC South Zone group.

Central Coast Mariners, reigning A-League champion qualified for the AFC Cup inter-zone semifinals after a 3-2 victory against Macarthur FC, thereby winning the ASEAN Zone. 

The team that wins this two-legged encounter will face either Kyrgyz club FC Abdysh-Ata Kant or Chinese Taipei’s Taichung Futuro in the zonal final. 

Subsequently, the winner of the zonal final will compete against the winner of the Western Zone final between Lebanon’s Al-Ahed and Oman’s Al-Nahda Club in the AFC Cup 2023-24 final.

When and where will the Central Coast Mariners vs Odisha FC AFC Inter-Zonal semifinal (leg 1) kick-off?

The Central Coast Mariners vs Odisha FC AFC Inter-Zonal semifinal (leg 1) will kick-off at 1.30 PM IST on Thursday, March 7 at the Central Coast Stadium.

Where can you watch the first leg of the Central Coast Mariners vs Odisha FC AFC Inter-Zonal semifinal in India?

The match will be telecast live on the Sports 18 Network TV channels. 

Viewers can also live stream the match on the Fancode app and website