Matchday 3 of the Asian Champions League group stage saw Newcastle Jets pick up a valuable away point, but Central Coast Mariners fell to a humiliating home defeat.
The Jets kept their hopes of qualifying for the knockout stages alive with a 1-1 drew in Japan against a lacklustre Nagoya Grampus.
Newcastle took an early lead when Tarek Elrich was first to react when Marko Jesic’s shot was deflected onto the post. But they were unable to hold on, and Keiji Tamada’s free-kick snatched a point for the hosts.
With Ulsan Hyundai beating Beijing Guoan in the other Group E encounter, Nagoya top the group, just a point clear of the Jets and Beijing.
Tarek Elrich’s goal helped Newcastle Jets to a draw in Japan, but it was a night to forget for goalkeeper Danny Vukovic and his Central Coast team-mates at Bluetongue Stadium (Copyright Getty Images)
Central Coast’s campaign looks dead in the water after a thumping 5-0 defeat at home to Japanese club Kawasaki Frontale in Group H.
Frontale were out of sight by half-time thanks to goals from Jong Tae-Se, Hiroyuki Taniguchi and Juninho, with further strikes after the break by Nakamura Kengo and Renatinho completing the rout.
Coach Lawrie McKinna described the result as “the worst result of my coaching career”, and it leaves the Mariners five points off the pace with three games remaining.
Group E Results
Nagoya Grampus (JAP) 1-1 Newcastle Jets (AUS)
Ulsan Hyundai (KOR) 1-0 Beijing Guoan (CHN)
Group H Results
Central Coast Mariners (AUS) 0-5 Kawasaki Frontale (JAP)
Pohang Steelers (KOR) 1-0 Tianjin Teda (CHN)
