The Central Coast Mariners have kept alive their dream of winning four trophies this year.
The team remains in contention for the A-League premier’s plate and title defence and will play for glory in the final of the AFC Cup next month.
The Mariners accounted for Abdysh-Ata Kant at Central Coast Stadium on Wednesday night, winning 4–1 on aggregate.
Coach Mark Jackson said the team relished the opportunity to travel across Asia to play football.
“Obviously, we’re elated,” Jackson said.
“For us as a club to achieve this goal and get into an AFC Cup final is massive.”
It has been a decade since an A-League club made it into an Asian final, with the Western Sydney Wanderers winning the Asian Champions League in 2014.
Jackson said it was a huge achievement for one of the smallest and poorest clubs to be eyeing a $2.3 million payday.
“It’s a financial achievement for the club and a club like ours needs to do that. We all know we’re a club that has to develop players,” he said.
“There are big financial rewards, so that’s part and parcel of it.”
The Mariners have a reputation for developing talent and boast a host of Socceroos such as Matt Ryan, Mile Jedinak, Kye Rowles, and Garang Kuol.
The latest star to emerge is 18-year-old Miguel di Pizio.
The Sydney-born teenager came off the bench last night and scored two goals and said it was a huge achievement for the club.
“Everything feels like a dream,” di Pizio said.
“It’s a competition where we get to play lots of games, so it’s definitely made us a stronger group travelling together, building the connection with each other.”
The Mariners won the A-League title last season, after years in the doldrums, and foundation member Bob Brooks said the success had been stunning to watch.
“Heart-stopping — my heart went boom, boom, boom,” he said.
“Obviously, as a long-time fan, I’m ecstatic … and I’m meeting people from all over the country who are coming to support the Mariners.
“People are just taking this little club to their hearts.”
The Mariners have already claimed the Club Championship for the combined best men’s and women’s side in the A-League.
Coach Jackson said while the team was within reach of claiming the premier’s plate and defending their A-League title, there was still work to do.
“It’s a real carrot for us to go for,” Jackson said.
“It sounds like we’re so close there but, on another front, we’re so far away from it because we’ve got massive games coming up.”
The Mariners’ immediate focus now turns to the local derby against the Newcastle Jets on Saturday, before a final A-League match-up with Adelaide United.
The side takes on Lebanese outfit Al-Ahed in the AFC Cup final on May 5.
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