Mathematics is the only thing keeping Melbourne Victory alive in the Asian Champions League.
So coach Mehmet Durakovic will send numbers into attack in the crucial Group E match next week which will decide the A-League club’s fate.
Durakovic, whose team drew 1-1 with Gamba Osaka in Melbourne on Wednesday night, signalled the message he would give his team going into their away clash with Korea’s Jeju United was “go for goal”.
The Victory must win that game next Wednesday to have any hope of progressing to the competition’s second stage.
Even then, they will need China’s Tianjin Teda – who lead the group – to beat Gamba Osaka in Japan in the other match for their magic equation to balance.
“It’s up to us – we freshen up, go to South Korea and attack again,” Durakovic said.
“We’ve got to go there and get the three points. Whatever happens (in the other game) is out of our hands. We’ll go over there, attack and do what we need to do.”
In Australia’s five seasons of ACL participation, only two A-League teams have qualified for the second stage.
Sydney FC became the latest to bow out on Tuesday.
The Victory are more likely than not to join them, particularly as Gamba Osaka must win to guarantee their passage to the round of 16 and have a sparkling home record.
But the Victory are unbeaten in their past three matches under Durakovic.
Their 1-1 draw with Gamba Osaka at Etihad Stadium on Wednesday night to keep their ACL hopes alive was their third successive unbeaten match.
It was also further proof they are coming to grips with Durakovic’s tactical demands.
Those appear to involve more width, ebb and flow in the effort they extend at strategic times and an ability to run out matches more strongly than their rivals.
The Victory will also regain suspended trio Robbie Kruse, Grant Brebner and Surat Sukha, returning them to near full-strength.
Jeju United could also qualify top two in the group by beating the Victory and with a Tianjin win.
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