Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Gosford: Central Coast Mariners opened up an 11 point lead at the top of the 2011/12 A-League standings with a 3-2 defeat of Adelaide United as two of Australia's three representatives in this year's AFC Champions League met in Round 18 of the current domestic campaign.
Josh Rose, who recently extended his contract with the Mariners, netted the winner 12 minutes from time to extend the Central Coast club's unbeaten record to 15 matches after a thrilling contest that saw Adelaide score twice in two minutes to lead 2-1 at the interval.
Daniel McBreen put the home side one up with quarter-of-an-hour at the Bluetongue Stadium gone but the Mariners' lead was short-lived with Sergio van Dijk equalising in the 17th minute before Bruce Djite made it 2-1 to the 2008 ACL finalists two minutes later.
Adam Kwasnik made it 2-2 in the 75th minute before Rose capitalised on the rebound after Adelaide goalkeeper Eugene Galekovic had parried McBreen's shot three minutes later as the Mariners took their points tally to 40, 11 more than fellow 2012 ACL qualifiers Brisbane Roar, who lost ground on the A-League leaders after the defending champions drew 1-1 with Melbourne Heart.
The Mariners open their 2012 AFC Champions League campaign on March 7 when they take on Tianjin Teda in China while Adelaide, runners-up to Gamba Osaka in first-ever ACL final to feature an Australian club, open their 2012 continental campaign on March 6 away to Uzbekistan's Bunyodkor.