Melbourne Victory’s Asian Champions League (ACL) campaign has started horribly, with an early goal blitz from Japanese powerhouse Gamba Osaka setting up a 5-1 thrashing.
Melbourne’s retiring ex-captain Kevin Muscat scored from the penalty spot in his comeback from suspension, in the lone bright spot for the A-League club at Osaka’s Expo 70 Stadium on Tuesday night.
Looking to emerge from the ACL group stage for the first time in their third attempt, the early minutes of Victory’s opening group game could not have been more nightmarish, the skilful Gamba outfit scoring three times in the first 11 minutes.
Takuya Takei inflicted the first blow from the top of the box in the fourth minute, after star Japan international Yasuhito Endo’s corner was headed away.
Three minutes later, Muscat gave away a penalty, which was coolly slotted home by Gamba’s newly-signed Brazilian striker Adriano.
The home side’s Lee Keun-Ho, who had earned the penalty, scored himself in the 11th minute, set up by an excellent Adriano cross.
The Victory showed signs of creating a contest late in the first half.
Muscat, playing his first match in five weeks after being suspended for a terrible tackle in what turned out to be his final A-League contest, reduced the deficit from the spot in the 22nd minute, after Archie Thompson earned the penalty.
Melbourne’s attacking trio of Danny Allsopp, Robbie Kruse and Thompson began to cause some trouble, while a slightly more defensive formation, after a 15th minute substitution, also helped.
With a touch more luck, Victory could have been within striking distance at the break.
An Allsopp shot caught the wrong side of the left post, after a nice turn set-up from Thompson, in the 36th minute.
Minutes later, a Rodrigo Vargas headed goal was disallowed, when he was ruled off-side.
But the Japanese club again showed their class in the second half, sealing the win in the 63rd minute, when Adriano set up Takahiro Futagawa, before a stoppage-time goal completed the rout.
The good news for Victory is this loomed as the toughest of their six group matches, with Gamba having won the ACL three years ago and progressing from the group stage in the past two years.
Melbourne next plays South Korea’s Jeju United at Etihad Stadium on March 15.
Australia’s other ACL entrant, Sydney FC, play their first match on Wednesday night, against South Korea’s Suwon Bluewings.
Victory coach Ernie Merrick said there were no excuses for his side’s performance and nothing positive to take from the match, with the game effectively over after Gamba’s opening salvo.
“We were just a bit overwhelmed at the start, they came out all guns blazing, we took a backward step and they just buzzed around and took their chances when they came,” Merrick said.
“But to concede a goal that early from a corner kick and just behind it a penalty kick, that is just soul-destroying.”
He said the Japanese club was “deadly” in front of goal and had shown they were willing to spend big on strikers, such as Adriano, from Brazil, and Keun-Ho, from South Korea.
Merrick said while no ACL side would come to Osaka expecting to beat Gamba, Victory had to lift in their remaining matches.
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