AFC Cup: Central Coast Mariners vs Odisha FC: Preview, Predicted lineup, injury news, H2H, telecast details

The two-legged AFC Cup fixture is set to be entertaining considering the quality in both camps.

Indian Super League’s Odisha FC are set to face Central Coast Mariners of the A-League in the upcoming inter-zonal semi-final of the 2023-24 AFC Cup. The first leg of the two-legged fixture will take place on 7 March 2024 at the Central Coast Stadium in Gosford, Australia while the second leg will be played at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneshwar, Odisha on 14 March 2024.

The Juggernauts are excelling in the Indian Super League’s 2023-24 season but the focus now shifts towards the continental odyssey that the club is proud to be on. Beating the A-League outfit will be a huge achievement for Odisha FC and take them to the semi-finals (inter-zonal finals) of the AFC Cup Final Stage.

As the day of the first leg nears, here is a look at how the teams are shaping up before it:

Stakes

Central Coast Mariners

Central Coast Mariners have a better form heading into the game and will favour themselves to defeat Odisha FC over the two legs. They have a slight advantage going into the fixture having to play the first leg in their own backyard. Pressure will be on them to secure a win with a big margin to make the challenge easier going into the second leg.

Odisha FC

Odisha FC will be the underdogs against Central Coast Mariners. The outfit is looking to create history and reach the AFC Cup final which is two rounds away. Their immediate goal will be to come away from Australia with a respectable scoreline, giving them a chance to use home advantage and secure qualification into the inter-zonal final. 

Team News

No injuries have been reported from either side.

Head-to-Head

This is the first meeting between the two clubs. 

Predicted Lineups

Central Coast Mariners (4-4-2)

Danny Vukovic (GK), Storm Roux, Daniel Hall, Brian Kaltack, Jacob Farrell, Mikael Doka, Max Balard, Brad Tapp, Angel Torres, Joshua Nisbet, Ryan Edmondson

Odisha FC (4-2-3-1)

Amrinder Singh (GK), Amey Ranawade, Mourtada Fall, Carlos Delgado, Jerry Lalrinzuala, Ahmed Jahouh, Puitea, Isak Vanlalruatfela, Cy Goddard, Roy Krishna, Diego Mauricio

Players to Watch

Angel Torres (Central Coast Mariners)

Angel Torres has a knack of scoring goals for the Central Coast Mariners. The attacker has 11 goals in the A-League, the most for the club in the ongoing campaign. The 23-year-old has two goals and four assists in the AFC Cup 2023-24 and will be a massive threat for the Odisha FC defence.

Ahmed Jahouh (Odisha FC)

Ahmed Jahouh is the driving force behind Odisha FC. The midfielder loves to dominate the midfield and feeds the ball all over the field owing to his expert vision. He has six assists in the AFC Cup which further cements his reputation as the main creative outlet in the Odisha lineup. Sergio Lobera, the head coach, relies on him to create scoring chances for the attackers and will expect him to turn up against the Aussie club.

Did You Know?

• Central Coast Mariners are on a five-match winning streak.
• Odisha FC have only one win in the last four matches.
• Ryan Edmondson, signed in January 2024, has played for England U-19.

Telecast

The first leg between Central Coast Mariners vs Odisha FC will take place on 7 March 2024 with the kickoff slated for a 1:30 PM IST start. The game will be played at the Central Coast Stadium in Gosford, Australia. The live streaming of the game will be available on the FanCode app.

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