0-0 after the first half in the CCM game. The Kyrgyzstan fellas look pretty decent and have been the better team definitely making CCM work for it, hopefully they can nick a goal and hold on.
Ends 1-1. I thought CCM were gonna get a smash and grab there after scoring. They were outplayed the whole game but a great goal at the end to make it a draw. They also should've had a penalty in the final play but theres no VAR sadly,
I picked the draw at the TAB. I think we under estimate how solid some of those "random" leagues are. I imagine they are pretty solid and well drilled players.
Their prep for the Adelaide game Sunday must be negatively affected. Also they can't relax now ahead of next Wednesday's 2nd leg AFC Cup tie, after the 1-1 draw.
$USD750K is at stake to go through to AFC Cup final, and nice carrot of $USD1.5M if they can win that final.
I imagine what they do for Sunday's game will be dictated alot by how Nix go Friday night. Nix lose in the Castle, and Mariners may bench a few of their more tired players against Adelaide.
Interesting that as AV pointed out, when CCM have previously returned from an away tie in the AFC Cup (much shorter trips than Kyrgyzstan, to Indonesia-Bali & Philippines) they have not won their next ALM game on the short turnaround.
Tricky when their AFC Cup 2nd leg is next Wednesday night (agruably their biggest game in the next week), and then their final ALM game has to really be same KO day/time as Nix verus MAC, Saturday 27th.
Basically no real wriggle room for APL to push CCM's Adelaide game back 24 hours to say next Monday. Mariners will just have to suck it up.
Is it a league rule that all games have to finish by next Sunday? Because the only way it’d make sense for CCM to try get a reschedule would be to move it midweek the following week when the playoffs are supposed to be on as they won’t be playing in them.
But I’m sure Adelaide wouldn’t be happy with a reschedule to that date atm while there’s still a slim chance they could make the top 6 and then have a playoff game in a few days time. Even though it’s likely they probs won’t make the 6 and that week off as well.
You also have to have CCM & Nix playing at the same time on the same day, for integrity don't you? When both will still likely be gunning for the Premiers Plate (as long as Nix avoid losing tomorrow night) next weekend??
Thus eliminating any possibility of some sort of 'Disgrace in Gijón' collusion, setup on either of their final games.
Mariners should have splurged on a return charter flight to Kyrgyzstan with $USD750K on the line!
I do not think we ever had ALM league games postponed to accommodate AFC Cup games that late in the season (not such an issue for anything early in the season when there is room/time to catch up). But others may have better recollection.
Tricky when their AFC Cup 2nd leg is next Wednesday night, and then their final ALM game has to really be same KO day/time as Nix verus MAC, Saturday 27th.
Basically no real wriggle room for APL to push CCM's Adelaide game back 24 hours to say next Monday. Mariners will just have to suck it up.
Is it a league rule that all games have to finish by next Sunday? Because the only way it’d make sense for CCM to try get a reschedule would be to move it midweek the following week when the playoffs are supposed to be on as they won’t be playing in them.
But I’m sure Adelaide wouldn’t be happy with a reschedule to that date atm while there’s still a slim chance they could make the top 6 and then have a playoff game in a few days time. Even though it’s likely they probs won’t make the 6 and that week off as well.
Iirc, the 21/22 season had a game shifted to a date past the date they said they wanted to regular season to finish. But that whole season was a mess of rescheduled matches.
The Reds match this weekend against Central Coast has been postponed after the Mariners were left stranded due to storms in the Middle East, the match will now be played at the beginning of May making it Adelaide's last of the season @10NewsFirstAdl
That does suck, and sorta works out okay for CCM, who now can just soley focus on their AFC Cup 2nd leg tie next Wednesday.
What day in May though for this rescheduled Adelaide game? AFC Cup Final is scheduled for May 5th. So if Mariners get into the final, do AFC reschedule the Final? It would then presumably have to rescheduled post the ALM Grand Final.
That does suck, and sorta works out okay for CCM, who now can just soley focus on their AFC Cup 2nd leg tie next Wednesday.
What day in May though for this rescheduled Adelaide game? AFC Cup Final is scheduled for May 5th. So if Mariners get into the final, do AFC reschedule the Final? It would then presumably have to rescheduled post the ALM Grand Final.
Would have to be midweek between the Jets match & AFC Cup Final. Who is hosting the Final?
Well that really sucks. If we assume they were gonna beat Adelaide anyway, we just gotta win tomorrow and hope next week they slip up and we beat MacArthur then we could celebrate at the ground. Because if it comes down to the Adelaide game and central coast mariners throw it and we win, how and when and where are we lifting the plate ?? We’ll be in the pub but won’t actually lift it live ?.
it can still be. If Nix win vs the Jets & beat Macarthur, then the Mariners have to beat the Jets in the simultaneous kickoff, otherwise the Nix lift the plate next Saturday. Would also work if we get 4 points across both games and they lose to the Jets.
Conversely, if we fail to pick up a total of 4 points in both our games & they beat the Jets in the simultaneous kickoff, then they can lift it the same day. Half a Pint
That final round simultaneous kick off could've been epic
I blame climate warming. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-04-18/alm-game-postponed-as-mariners-stranded-by-dubai-flooding/103742682
The flooding tarmac scenes at Dubai Airport are rather amazing, especially when you normally associate the place as being in a desert.
So Nix at least draw Friday night, still means having the simultaneous 2 game KO next Saturday could be exciting. Especially if news comes to the ROF, that the Jets take a lead against CCM.
Potential for the sort of scenes you see often in the UK leagues end of season, but rare in the ALM (if ever?). This season so unique in so many ways. Please Nix don't lose in Newcastle!
A lot will depend on when their postponed game against Adelaide is played. But at the end of the day who knows how CCM will perform after returning late. Let's worry about how we perform against the Jets and the Bulls, and leave worrying about the Mariners to the Mariners fans.
What do we think the chances are that CCM wouldn't have had their game postponed if it had been one of MVC, Sydney FC etc. vying for the title with them, rather than us.
Mariners flight should be landing at 9.45 tonight Sydney time. They would have been fine
I read somewhere that there needs to be 72 hours between games? which would have ruled out Sunday.
From a selfish Nix perspective, it's annoying and sucks. Mainly because it takes away some of the potential tension and drama, of the 2 simultaneous games next Saturday, knowing CCM will still have a game in hand.
But with hindsight from a ALM & APL view it's the right decision. Regardless of whether the 72 hour thing is a set rule, the ALM & APL need the Mariners to win their 2nd leg AFC Cup tie next Wednesday, and the make the AFC Cup Final. It's 1-1 after the first leg and Abdysh-Ata have been given 2 weeks break from local league games (admittedly very early in their season) by the Kyrgyz FA, to rest & prepare. APL are now just giving the Mariners similar, with $USD750K at stake ($USD1.5M if Mariners make the final & win).
The record of ALM teams in AFC comps is pretty awful, and there is now only 1 spot in the 24 team AFC Elite Champions League for the ALM. The J League has 3 spots, the K League 2 spots & Chinese CSL 2 spots. So the ALM has dropped down the AFC coefficient rankings.
I'm guessing this hurts the ALM & APL financially? Especially given there is now increased cash in this revamped AFC Champions League (Elite).
You'd hope CCM winning the 2nd tier AFC Cup, helps improve the ALM's coefficient ranking within the AFC, and helps them get closer to a 2nd spot in the AFC Champions League (Elite).
Totally understand the disappointment of being robbed of a possible simultaneous Premier’s Plate decider next Saturday, but this is the right call. You can’t ask CCM to play such an important match with a severely compromised buildup. https://t.co/aEfk3aCoJH
I imagine after next Wednesday's AFC Cup tie, the APL will be able to confirm the date of the rescheduled CCM v Adelaide game.
Option 1. CCM beat Abdysh-Ata then they have to be in the Middle East for a May 5th AFC Final in 2 weeks. So as I think RR suggested they will have to play the Reds about Tuesday 30th April, only a few days after playing Jets Saturday 27th April. There is also the full on mental/planning distraction of planning for 2 big games in 5 days.This time CCM may get a charter plane to Oman or Lebanon/Iraq having pocketed min $USD750K for making the final!
Option 2. CCM lose to Abdysh-Ata, so no AFC Final, then the APL can probably give them a few more days rest post the Jets game, and they can play the Adelaide catch up game any time that week before the Elimination Finals that weekend, which CCM like the Nix won't be part of. That's of course assuming by then that Adelaide's season is officially over (highly likely), and Reds have no chance of making Elimination finals (top 6).
Obviously from Nix perspective we want Option 1. to pan out not 2.
"Due to the Central Coast Mariners’ flight cancellations from Dubai Airport en route back from Kyrgyzstan, and re-routing of flights due to the adverse weather conditions in the region, the Round 25 A-League Men fixture scheduled for this Sunday needs to be postponed," the league's statement said.
"We will share more information in the coming days on the rescheduled date following further consultation with clubs, FA and based on AFC Cup fixturing.
I imagine after next Wednesday's AFC Cup tie, the APL will be able to confirm the date of the rescheduled CCM v Adelaide game.
Option 1. CCM beat Abdysh-Ata then they have to be in the Middle East for a May 5th AFC Final in 2 weeks. So as I think RR suggested they will have to play the Reds about Tuesday 30th April, only a few days after playing Jets Saturday 27th April. There is also the full on mental/planning distraction of planning for 2 big games in 5 days.This time CCM may get a charter plane to Oman or Lebanon/Iraq having pocketed min $USD750K for making the final!
Option 2. CCM lose to Abdysh-Ata, so no AFC Final, then the APL can probably give them a few more days rest post the Jets game, and they can play the Adelaide catch up game any time that week before the Elimination Finals that weekend, which CCM like the Nix won't be part of. That's of course assuming by then that Adelaide's season is officially over (highly likely), and Reds have no chance of making Elimination finals (top 6).
Obviously from Nix perspective we want Option 1. to pan out not 2.
"Due to the Central Coast Mariners’ flight cancellations from Dubai Airport en route back from Kyrgyzstan, and re-routing of flights due to the adverse weather conditions in the region, the Round 25 A-League Men fixture scheduled for this Sunday needs to be postponed," the league's statement said.
"We will share more information in the coming days on the rescheduled date following further consultation with clubs, FA and based on AFC Cup fixturing.
A positive coming from the rescheduled game is that if CCM do make the final which I reckon they will. They'll now have played 3 games in a short time with a long plane ride heading into the semi final so the chances of them making it to the grand final may not be great. So if we do end up finishing second theres still hope we can host a grand final presuming we win our semi.
You’re all being remarkably level headed here and I for one am extremely disappointed by it. I wanted outrage, I wanted claims of corruption, I wanted insane conspiracies. I came here for “maybe Bill Foley caused the Dubai floods” and all I got was “that’s a sensible decision.”