The Melbourne Victory continue their Asian Cup campaign with a Matchday 5 clash against Ulsan Hyundai in Korea. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 8pm (AEST).
The carrot of qualification for the next stage of the ACL will be too much to see the visitors do anything other than throw the kitchen sink at the home side tonight.
In spite of some humbling domestic form, the Victory have found their mojo and are the hottest team in Australia right now, although Sydney might beg to differ after their demolition of Suwon last night.
The reality for Kevin Muscat’s team is that a win in this match will see them on the verge of moving into the next stage. This would be a wonderful achievement for Australia – Sydney are hoping to do the same, but still require a little luck and a few things to go their way.
Ulsan are struggling badly in the K-League, without a win, and the Victory have accumulated four wins and a draw from their last five A-League matches. The edge in confidence appears to be with the visitors.
The Matchday 1 clash between these two teams produced six goals and a thrilling draw, so Victory will need to be defensively tighter as they can’t rely on three away goals this time around.
Prediction
Ulsan will find the net tonight, yet the visitors are in such good form that they will undoubtedly do the same.
Victory to scrape home in a tight one.
Ulsan Hyundai 1-2 Melbourne Victory
Catch all the action on The Roar live from 8pm (AEST).
Lionheart
Guest
OK some time has passed since your comment Stevo, but yes I'd agree with the comment that we could build our brand overseas. I watched the Roar v Ulsan match in last years ACL in a sports bar in Malaysia, and a few other A League & other matches over a week. Quite a number of the locals cheered for the Ausy side in the ACL (although we failed badly). I spoke to several fans of the A League while there, not so close that they had a favourite side but certainly well aware of the teams and their standing. The basics are there, we could well build on that in countries like Malaysia, Singapore even Indonesia.
Nemesis
Guest
MVFC has already received over A$200,000 for the 5 Group matches in ACL 2018. Sydney FC will have received the same amount, thus far. For the Group Stage payments are received as follows: US Dollars Win = $50,000 Draw = $10,000 Travel = $30,000 (each match) So, if teams are good enough & win all 6 matches, they would receive a bit over 1/2 MILLION Aussie dollars for the Group Stage.
Grobbelaar
Roar Guru
In the past the clubs have complained that you are losing money (because of the travel costs) right up to around semi-final stage, where you might start breaking even (might).
Stevo
Roar Rookie
$100,000 would barely cover travel costs for the group stage. Sponsorship, maybe. Growing an Aussie club brand overseas - fanciful proposition at best.
shirtpants
Roar Guru
I'm sure there's good money for qualifying, too. It's $100,000 just for making it to the round of 16. Do they get a share of T.V rights and there's probably sponsorship tied, as well as growing the clubs brand overseas
Stuart Thomas
Expert
Normally I would write a match report at this stage but I need to jump over to the Opening Ceremony coverage as part of the team. Thanks for being on board and have a great night.
Stuart Thomas
Expert
Yep, that was awful. Talk about two opposing nights. Just wait till A-League Grand Final night when City play Brisbane....that will be a corker. I'm serious!
Stuart Thomas
Expert
Full Time 90' - Done here in Korea and Victory will lick their wounds after that one. After something of a tense and close opening to the game, an early goal from an error by Lawrence Thomas saw Ulsan take a lead they would never give up despite a pair of late goals from Victory.
Ulsan Hyundai: 6 Melbourne Victory: 2
That A-League Fan
Roar Guru
Brisbane lost to Ulsan 6-0 last year.
Stevo
Roar Rookie
Well done Stuart, again! How much does it cost Aussie clubs to play in the ACL? You wouldn't want to be doing a cost/benefit analysis.
Stuart Thomas
Expert
When does the second set start?
Stuart Thomas
Expert
It might be best that no one knows.
Stuart Thomas
Expert
Bingo! Got it. Sort of?
Stuart Thomas
Expert
Three minutes of added time.
Sam
Guest
If it wasn't for the Roar, you wouldn't know this game was on. Not one news feed is following the game. AFC is not on the radar is Australia's sports fans.
Grobbelaar
Roar Guru
Prediction Ulsan will find the net tonight, yet the visitors are in such good form that they will undoubtedly do the same. Pretty good prediction.
Stuart Thomas
Expert
90' - A chance for Ulsan to ice the cake yet the chip goes over the top with an open man on the left.
Ulsan Hyundai: 6 Melbourne Victory: 2
That A-League Fan
Roar Guru
Better than 6-0 at least.
Stuart Thomas
Expert
88' - Victory find the net but Athiu is off-side and it will not stand.
Ulsan Hyundai: 6 Melbourne Victory: 2
Stuart Thomas
Expert
88' - Looks like both teams want this one over.
Ulsan Hyundai: 6 Melbourne Victory: 2