Central Coast Mariners scored at least two goals in each qualifying game of the Menpora Cup. In the final, only scoring once cost them the pre-season tournament title as two Keith Gumb goals led home standing Arema FC to a 2-1 victory at the Kanjuruhan Stadion in Malang. Marcos Flores scored his third goal in two games for the Mariners in defeat.
Central Coast Mariners fall in Menpora Cup final, 2-1
Another Marcos Flores goal was bested by two Keith Gumb penalties as the Mariners lost to Arema FC in the final in Malang.
All three goals came in a thirteen minute spell as the 41-year-old Gumb scored from the spot in the 42nd and 55th minutes, while Flores equalized the initial Arema goal in the 45th. The Mariners, who left only thirteen players in Indonesia, as the club also had a pre-season game against Newcastle Jets in Tamworth, did not use any substitutes. Despite the thin roster, Graham Arnold did leave most of his top players for the cup final, which was reflected in Central Coast’s domination of possession against the Indonesia Super League’s second place finishers. The Mariners racked up 61% of possession and put five shots on target, yet only managed the sole Flores goal just before half-time.
The Mariners will return to Australia this week and prepare for their season opener, a rematch of the 2012/13 A-League Grand Final at Bluetongue Stadium against Western Sydney Wanderers on Saturday October 12. The Menpora Cup title completes a very successful season for Arema as they qualified for the Champions League and won the friendly tournament in their home stadium.
Scoring:
AFC Gumbs 42’
CCM Flores 45’
AFC Gumbs 55’
Line-ups:
Arema FC: Kurniawan, Igbonefo, Yudhi, Gathuessie, Wahyudi, Sukadana, Siswanto, Gumb, Gonzales, Goncalves (Melgiansyah 87’), Nwokolo
Unused subs: Munhar, Ginarsa, Santoso, Maulana, Garcia
Central Coast Mariners: Pasfield; Rose, Hutchinson, Sainsbury, Roux; Slater, Fitzgerald, Montgomery; Flores, Simon, Sterjovski
Unused subs: Anderson, Clark
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