It took them five attempts, but Melbourne Victory have finally secured qualification into Asian Champions League round of 16.
All Victory needed against Japanese side Gamba Osaka was three points, and the three-time A-League champions secured the feat courtesy of a 2-1 win.
Besart Berisha opened the scoring via an 11th-minute penalty before departing talisman Archie Thompson doubled Melbourne’s money with a simple tap-in after some neat work by another soon headed for the exit door, Kosta Barbarouses.
Gamba applied plenty of pressure late-on, adding a goal of their own, but Victory hung onto the lead to secure a moments win.
It was hardly Victory’s best performance but it was the last thing from boss Kevin Muscat’s mind, instead revelling in his side’s achievement as they clinched second place in Group G.
“It is a big achievement considering we’ve had five attempts,” Muscat said after the game.
ACL – What We Learned – Melbourne Victory 2 Gamba Osaka 1
“That joy at the moment is overriding trying to analyse the performance … it’s great for the football club.
“We’ve managed to create some history a couple of times this year. We’d never won the FFA Cup before either, so we’ve created some history, won a trophy and we’re through to the next round.
“I’m so elated for the group … the difficulties of not having a game, or not having many games, it’s not a complaint or an excuse, it’s tough going.
“But what that has given me now is an unbelievable thirst and hunger to go and win the next tie.
“We’ll enjoy this one, we’ve got a bit of time, but we’ll immediately focused and will turn our attention to our opponents for the next game.”
In that next game, Victory will face the winner of Group E, which will be any one of Jeonbuk Hyundai, FC Tokyo or Jiangsu Suning, and will host the home leg first in a fortnight’s time.
Victory will retain the services of Matthieu Delpierre (retiring), Barbarouses (Wellington Phoenix) and Thompson (leaving – TBA) for the tie.
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