Central Coast Mariner's disappointing ACL campaign ended in defeat as they lost to Tianjin Teda at Bluetongue Stadium.

The Chinese team snatched all three points courtesy of a goal from Mao Biao after 65 minutes when the striker beat goalkeeper Danny Vukovic with a shot low inside the near post.

The loss leaves Central Coast without a victory in any competition since New Year's Eve and means Lawrie McKinna's side go out of the tournament bottom of Group H with just two draws from six matches.

Tianjin Teda used the match as an opportunity to field a number of players from outside their first team and fluency was understandably lacking early on.

But they did give the Mariners a scare after 10 minutes when Biao broke into the box only for Alex Wilkinson to make a timely intervention to block his shot.

In the 30th minute Ahmad Elrich found himself in space but could not get the ball from under his feet, sending a poor shot straight to Zhao Yanming.

Adam Kwasnik headed wide after 40 minutes before John Hutchinson wasted a free header right on the interval, leaving the hosts empty-handed after a half high on endeavour but low on quality.

The Mariners almost pinched the led after 57 minutes when Caceres turned his back on the goalkeeper's clearance and the ball ballooned up in the air and back towards the goal. However, He Yan spotted the danger and raced back to head ball to safety from under his bar.

Biao's goal came against the run of play eight minutes later but it proved enough to see off the Mariners, who lacked confidence and a real belief they could find an equaliser.

Matthew Osman had the best of the late chances, his header skidding off the greasy surface and just wide of the far post after 78 minutes.