You'd think that 4th goal (Barcellos) kills off the 2 legged tie. So now it's getting interesting for the Mariners. Provided Krishna & Odisha can't perform a miracle in India, seems CCM to next have a 2 legged AFC playoff against the Kyrgyz team in April.
Get past that and it's into the AFC Cup final.
Prizemoney $USD750K for losing finalist & $USD1.5M the winners. But zero prize for winning ALM Championship or Grand Final!!
Given the Mariners won the ALM GF very recently last season, it wouldn't surprise in Gosford if they behind closed doors, decide the AFC Cup is now the priority.
Presumably CCM would get Australia's sole spot in the next edition of AFC Champions League (ACL - which is due to start in Sept 2024) - if they were 2nd behind the not eligible Nix. So Mariners main ALM driver may now be finish at least 2nd, rather than 1st, ie making sure no Aussie club like SFC overtakes them.
The revamped ACL comp (AFC Champions League Elite) for Sept 2024, has had the winning prize money increased by factor 3x. The winners will now get a whopping $USD12M!! So the Aussie clubs will be desperate for a slice, and getting the sole Australian spot. More watching each other maybe than the Nix in first!
https://www.reuters.com/sports/soccer/asian-confederation-boosts-prize-fund-revamped-club-competition-2024-2023-08-14/
Get past that and it's into the AFC Cup final.
Prizemoney $USD750K for losing finalist & $USD1.5M the winners. But zero prize for winning ALM Championship or Grand Final!!
Given the Mariners won the ALM GF very recently last season, it wouldn't surprise in Gosford if they behind closed doors, decide the AFC Cup is now the priority.
Presumably CCM would get Australia's sole spot in the next edition of AFC Champions League (ACL - which is due to start in Sept 2024) - if they were 2nd behind the not eligible Nix. So Mariners main ALM driver may now be finish at least 2nd, rather than 1st, ie making sure no Aussie club like SFC overtakes them.
The revamped ACL comp (AFC Champions League Elite) for Sept 2024, has had the winning prize money increased by factor 3x. The winners will now get a whopping $USD12M!! So the Aussie clubs will be desperate for a slice, and getting the sole Australian spot. More watching each other maybe than the Nix in first!
https://www.reuters.com/sports/soccer/asian-confederation-boosts-prize-fund-revamped-club-competition-2024-2023-08-14/