A win tonight for the Melbourne Victory against Yokohama F Marinos will go a long way to securing passage to the next round of the Asian Champions League. Join us for live scores and commentary from 9:30pm AEDT.
Melbourne are coming off a tough one-all draw against Sydney FC in the A-League, and face an even tougher task tonight in the ACL.
The Victory travel to Japan to take on a Yokohama outfit desperate to get back to winning ways following their defeat in the first-leg of the tie on March 18.
The J-League club needs a win at home to keep their chances of progressing past the group stages alive. Yokohama will look to dominate possession and create plenty of chances in front of an expectant home crowd.
The Victory will most likely play on the counterattack, given that tactic worked wonders against Yokohama in Melbourne.
Kosta Barbarouses will be a key figure for the Victory going forward tonight. The New Zealand international tormented Yokohama and could have easily finished with two goals had one effort not been ruled out for offside.
It will be interesting to see if former Japanese international Fujimoto starts tonight for Yokohama. Fujimoto caused a lot of havoc against Melbourne when he was introduced in the second half and looked the player most likely to score in their last meeting.
Given how well he played in Melbourne, expect Fujimoto to start tonight in a bid to provide Yokohama with some added spark in attack.
This should be a very entertaining contest. Yokohama will be going for the win, but the Victory are very capable of hurting them on the counter as they did in Melbourne.
Yokohama at home usually rise to the occasion and may do enough to seal a very important win.
Yokohama to win 2-1.
Alan
Roar Guru
Yokohama secure a vital victory that keeps them alive in the ACL. The Victory toiled very well though and despite going 3-1 down, managed to pull a goal back through Jeggo that ensured a tight finish. Good experience for the Victory tonight. They will be better in the long run after tonight's effort. Nakamura the star for Yokohama tonight. Everything that was good about Yokohama's attack came from him. Thanks for following tonight and join us tomorrow morning for UCL action on The Roar Yokohama 3 Victory 2
Alan
Roar Guru
Freekick struck low but the ball goes wide of the target FULLTIME Yokohama 3 Victory 2
Alan
Roar Guru
Freekick for Yokohama and that should be all she wrote here. Nakamura to take the shot Yokohama 3 Victory 2
Alan
Roar Guru
Entertaining past few minutes to say the least. Victory won't die wondering that's for sure! Tight few seconds coming up for Yokohama. Yokohama win the throw deep in Victory territory Yokohama 3 Victory 2
Alan
Roar Guru
Not over yet! Good play from the Victory here as they opened up Yokohama. Nabbout with a low cross into the area and Jeggo scores! Yokohama 3 Victory 2
Alan
Roar Guru
GOAL VICTORY Yokohama 3 Victory 2
Alan
Roar Guru
Hyodo finishes things off with a fine finish with his right foot. He finds the bottom left hand corner and that's all she wrote here for the Victory. Game over. Yokohama 3 Victory 1
Alan
Roar Guru
GOAL YOKOHAMA Yokohama 3 Victory 1
Alan
Roar Guru
89' - Fabio concedes the corner as the Victory press for an equaliser. They have toiled well Melbourne. Corner is cleared. Victory still press. Good cross in and Thompson nearly gets on the end of it! Yokohama living dangerously here! Yokohama 2 Victory 1
Alan
Roar Guru
87' - Troisi with a shot from distance but his effort well over the bar. Ball was always rising. Yokohama 2 Victory 1
Alan
Roar Guru
86' - Nakamura with another effort on goal but this time his shot is wide of the near post. Yokohama 2 Victory 1
Alan
Roar Guru
Nakamura with a shot and Thomas to the rescue as he tips the ball over the bar! Yokohama 2 Victory 1
Alan
Roar Guru
Freekick punched away and Yokohama go on the counter attack. Victory get numbers back though. Throw for Yokohama. Yokohama now build from the back Yokohama 2 Victory 1
Alan
Roar Guru
85' - Victory I have to say doing most of the attacking now. Good signs. Yokohama under a little pressure. Another freekick for the Victory in a dangerous area Yokohama 2 Victory 1
Alan
Roar Guru
83' - Time running out for the Victory. A loss tonight sees them drop down to third I think. Victory with the freekick now. Yokohama 2 Victory 1
Alan
Roar Guru
81' - Long ball to Nabbout here but he fails to control possession and Yokohama off the hook there. Had he controlled that pass, Nabbout was through on goal Yokohama 2 Victory 1
Alan
Roar Guru
80' - Good learning experience for the Victory outfit tonight. Very young side on the park. They still remain in this contest. Yokohama yet to put them away. Yokohama 2 Victory 1
Alan
Roar Guru
78' - Fujimoto off for Sato as Yokohama make their second change. Its been stop start over the past few minutes. Yokohama 2 Victory 1
Alan
Roar Guru
76' - Through ball to Nabbout but he is called offside and he was. Freekick for Yokohama Yokohama 2 Victory 1
Alan
Roar Guru
74' - Yokohama build nicely in attack. Victory get numbers back though. Fujimoto played in and his cross goes across the face of goal. Another let off for the Victory! Yokohama 2 Victory 1