Match Report
1 points for Central Coast Mariners (11th), 14 for Johor Darul Ta'zim (3rd): a 13-point gap. The last five rounds placed Central Coast Mariners no better than 22nd for form, against 11th in the standings. Scoring rates set the scale: Central Coast Mariners 1.14 scored and 2.57 conceded per game, Johor Darul Ta'zim 2.29 and 1.14, with the league averaging 1.51.
Central Coast Mariners arrived off four consecutive draws. Johor Darul Ta'zim arrived on a run of seven straight wins, having scored in 7 consecutive games. The last-five ledger: Central Coast Mariners 7/15, Johor Darul Ta'zim 15/15.
The venue was Central Coast Stadium in Gosford, with room for 20,119 spectators. On the scoreboard, it was 0-0 at the break; 3 second-half goals set the final 1-2.
Goal scorers
Central Coast Mariners: Alou Kuol (70') · Johor Darul Ta'zim: Álvaro González (79'), Álvaro González (64')