Melbourne Victory has secured qualification to the Asian Champions League round of 16 for the first time in five attempts, defeating an understrength Gamba Osaka side 2-1 in front of 10,147 fans at AAMI Park on Tuesday night.
The travelling Gamba side bore a totally new look to the one that fronted up in the J-League on the weekend with their ACL hopes mathematically dead, and Victory were quick to exploit the young team, going 2-0 up within 16 minutes.
Nick Ansell should have opened the scoring prior to that with a looping header inside the six-yard box, but will have breathed a sigh of relief four minutes later when Besart Berisha coolly dispatched a pently into the bottom corner. An Olly Bozanic shot struck the arm of Gamba attacker Nagasawa Shun, leaving referee Ravshan Irmatov little choice but to point to the spot.
As if scripted, departing icon Archie Thompson doubled Victory’s advantage in the 16th minute. Kosta Barbarouses pounced as Hatsuse Ryo dwelled on possession in midfield, and the Kiwi made him pay, teeing up an unmarked Thompson at the back post for the simplest of finishes.
The tempo of the match slowed thereafter and clearcut chances became hard to come by. It was not until the 65th minute that Victory keeper Lawrence Thomas was forced into action, racing to the top of his penalty area to negate the threat substitute Goya Hiroto.
But in the 84th minute, Gamba gave themselves a lifeline. Victory failed to clear a wicked ball into the penalty box after a short corner, and it was bundled home Ademilson.
Victory endured a nervy ending but clung onto the lead, ensuring a berth in the round of 16.
Archie not done in Melbourne yet
Was Archie ever going to let this match be his swan song?
After announcing he would part ways with Melbourne Victory ahead of the new A-League season, it seemed only fitting that Thompson would have a say in keeping Victory’s Asian dream alive, giving them a two-goal advantage after 16 minutes.
A case could be made for Thompson being Victory’s best on the night, somewhat reminiscent of the striker in his heyday. The end of a decorated era is not over just yet.
Indeed Matthieu Delpierre and Kosta Barbarouses’ Victory careers are not over just yet either. Clubs can only make squad changes beyond the round of 16, so the Kiwi and the Frenchman will be on hand to try and progress Victory further.
A stronger side may have made Victory pay
With ACL aspirations all but dead, there was little for Gamba Osaka to play for, and it showed on the team sheet and the pitch – early on, at least. The Japanese club brought a young side to Melbourne, including just two that lined up against Kawasaki Frontale in the J-League at the weekend: captain Niwa Daiki and defender Ryo.
The move made sense given Gamba are ninth in the J-League after nine matchdays, trailing pacesetters Urawa Reds by as many points. Their inexperience on the field was palpable as the blue and blacks struggled for an early toehold on the game, misplacing simple passes.
They eventually grew into the game and concurrently, Victory’s level dropped off as sloppiness crept in. Fortunately for the Australians the 2-0 advantage was there, but had a stronger Gamba side travelled, they may have been made to pay for their errors – a potential catastrophe with three points needed to clinch qualification.
Gamba eventually got the goal they probably deserved coming home with a wet sail, and Kevin Muscat will hardly have been pleased. His team was anything but assured in the dying stages and a similar effort will see Victory blown away in the knockout stages.
So what’s next?
Victory have secured second spot in Group G and will now face the winner of Group E – their opponent is still very much a mystery with that group still open. FC Tokyo, Jiangsu Suning and Jeonbuk Hyundai are all a chance of claiming top spot.
The first leg of the tie will be played in Melbourne.
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