The Melbourne Victory saved their Asian Champions League last time out with a draw, but a second game against Kawasaki Frontale in as many weeks is must-win if they want to qualify for the Round of 16. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 7:30pm (AEDT).
When the sides met last Wednesday in Japan, it was all Kawasaki in what shaped as almost must-win for both sides.
Kawasaki went into that match on zero points from their first two group match outings and left it with just a single point to their name after the 2-all draw.
The Japanese league leaders will be extremely disappointed with the result, but not their effort. They dominated the game, but just lacked the punch to put Melbourne away, a stoppage-time penalty for Leroy George tying the game up.
Melbourne struggled to control possession throughout the game. Seemingly, every time they came in contact with the ball, they would find a way to hand it away moments later.
Still, their defence was rock solid. They might have let two goals in, but it could have been a lot more given the dominance of Kawasaki throughout the game.
If they can keep it to that level throughout this game, then there is no reason they won’t be able to not only win, but significantly improve their goal difference.
Goal difference might be a key area for the Victory, who sit on two points in Group F, already three behind second-placed Ulsan and another two behind Shanghai East Asia, who lead the group.
If the Victory can find a way to level on points before the end of the group stage, then being on a negative three difference isn’t going to help matters as they push for qualification. For that reason, being at home against what is seen as the weakest team in the group, they need to go for the kill from the word go.
Prediction
Back at home, Melbourne should have a better running on the game. So long as they are aggressive and play for the result they need, they should come away from this with their stuttering ACL campaign still alive.
Victory 2 – Kawasaki 1.
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j,binnie
Guest
Victory proved last night that they can match the Japanese in "one touch " football. They had shown signs of that ability in the first match, and last night they "extended" those "signs" into long spells where they dominated possession and actually had their opponents on the back foot.. The diminutive Kiwi proved to be the difference, not only did his pace and close control bother his opponents all night ,but he also applied the finishing touch that gave his team, Victory, victory, that counter, plus some excellent goalkeeping, proving to be the telling factors. Cheers jb.
Nemesis
Guest
From my calculations, Kawasaki can still qualify. MV on equal points with Ulsan. Must either win next match away to Ulsan to stay alive, or draw with 3 or more goals.
Kangajets
Guest
I’ll wash my mouth out with soap now
Stevo
Roar Rookie
Re Besart reaction to coming off, Musky said that last time he looked it was football team. Ouch, petulance not going down well with the MV gaffer. Tough times ahead for the Albanian me thinks.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Thanks for joining me this evening on The Roar for our live coverage of the 2018 Asian Champions League.as Melbourne Victory kept the dream of qualification alive. Hopefully you enjoyed the call. Be sure to join Stuart Thomas right now as Sydney FC try to keep their campaign alive against Kashima. Bye for now.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Thoughts Roarers?
Scott Pryde
Expert
So, Melbourne will still have their work cut out for them to make the round of 16. That can be made a lot easier this evening if Ulsan lose to Shanghai East Asia - as it stands it's 0-0 over there. The Victory play Ulsan on the next matchday away from home, so that'll be enormous. For Kawasaki, they can no longer make the Round of 16.
Stevo
Roar Rookie
I would find it hard to say that :)
Scott Pryde
Expert
FULLLTIME Free kick to the edge of the box, but it's not going to do anything. Deng rises up, heads it away and the whistle sounds! Melbourne have picked up the victory in stoppage time, after picking up the draw in stoppage time last week away from home. A late goal in each game and it keeps the Victory's campaign alive. A brilliant performance from them during the second half, having well over 75 per cent of the ball. They made some big calls taking Berisha off the park, but Melbourne will move to equal second with Ulsan Hyundai, pending the result of their match against Shanghai and keep the dream of qualification for the Round of 16 alive. Melbourne 1 Kawasaki 0
Scott Pryde
Expert
90 + 3' Now this is dangerous. Williams and Taniguchi have tangled and I think it's been called a free kick for the visitors. One final crack here. Melbourne 1 Kawasaki 0
Cousin Claudio
Roar Guru
That was coming. Well done Victory. Australia 1 Japan 0 so far tonight.
Kangajets
Guest
Just watching the end of this . Victory have played brilliantly the last 10 mins
Scott Pryde
Expert
90 + 3' Moriya fires the corner in at the low post, but a scrappy clearance gets it out of there, then over the sideline. From the throwin, it goes well up field and time is now running out for Kawasaki who may have time for one more raid. Melbourne 1 Kawasaki 0
Scott Pryde
Expert
90 + 2' Kawasaki now have to find a way to strike, but they have barely had their foot on the ball in the last half hour. They push onto the attack this time and will win a corner out of it. Great chase from Hope there after the Victory defence got burned. Melbourne 1 Kawasaki 0
Stevo
Roar Rookie
Ooooooooo, and the Albanian not on the pitch. Is that a sign?????
Scott Pryde
Expert
90 + 1' - GOAL MELBOURNE, KOSTA BARBAROUSES The Victory finally strike. They have been on the attack for most of the second half, and finally, find a way to strike, moving to the lead in stoppage time. Great work from Antonis to keep it alive at the edge of the box, finding Barbarouses who put it into the bottom right corner! Bang! Melbourne 1 Kawasaki 0
Scott Pryde
Expert
90' - Athiu to Barbarouses and he goes across the face of goal, but a defender gets in the way. It's cleared away. Three minutes of stoppage time. Melbourne 0 Kawasaki 0
Scott Pryde
Expert
90' - Now it'll be a free kick for Melbourne. Fair way out, but it's fired in by Troisi. Athiu gets there, but it's a free kick for Kawasaki. Melbourne 0 Kawasaki 0
Scott Pryde
Expert
88' - Another one! Lovely delivery to the far post, but Donachie can't steer it home aiming for the top left corner. Just went wide, but he had a clear path jumping above the pack there. Melbourne 0 Kawasaki 0
Scott Pryde
Expert
88' - Troisi whips a ball in his time. Another corner coming up after a half clearance didn't work for Kawasaki. Melbourne 0 Kawasaki 0