MELBOURNE SEARCHING FOR VICTORY
Merrick aiming for second place in Group G
By Julius Ross
Melbourne Victory is determined to bow out of the Asian Champions League on a high, by winning their two remaining group fixtures of the competition.
Effectively eliminated from the knockout stages by J-League club Gamba Osaka in match day four, Victory travel to Korea on Wednesday in an attempt to salvage some pride in their first foray into Asia.
Currently sitting in bottom place in Group G, Victory have managed just three points from a possible 12 in what has been a disappointing campaign for the A-League side.
Victory’s second last match comes against K-League’s Chunnam Dragons, whom they convincing defeated 2-0 on match day one, through goals from Rodrigo Vargas and Kevin Muscat.
Game week five may prove a much harder assignment for Victory than in their previous clash with Chunnam, which was played on home soil at the Telstra Dome.
This time around, Victory will play in Korea’s Gwangyang Football Stadium; a modern venue affectionately nicknamed by their fans as the ‘Dragon Dungeon’.
Although the smallest in the K-League, with a capacity of just over 14,000, Gwangyang is a modern stadium which provides an intimidating atmosphere for travelling sides.
The Dragons will prove stiff opposition in the ‘Dungeon’, highlighted by their respectable home record in the K-League competition last season, in which they achieved 14 wins, five draws and seven losses at home.
Chunnam are currently struggling to find the form that saw them clinch the Korean FA Cup last season, however, and they sit tenth in their domestic league with only eight points from a possible 24.
The Korean side have suffered one home defeat in this year’s ACL; a 3-4 loss against Group G favourites Gamba Osaka, proving that they can be both scored against, and beaten, on home soil.
Ernie Merrick’s side were clearly devastated at being eliminated from the knock-out stages of the competition in their last match, however they remain positive heading into their final group fixtures.
Victory will be looking to secure all three points against Chunnam and subsequently leap-frog the Korean FA Cup winners into a more respectable third place on the ladder.
Chunnam sit just one point ahead of Victory, and like Melbourne, the Korean outfit has suffered a disappointing campaign, recording only one victory and one draw.
Merrick intends to put out his best side in Korean in an ambitious attempt to finish in second spot in Group G.
Victory will have to focus on tightening up their defence, as they have conceded nine times in four matches in Asia, and will have to add to their tally of six goals, if they want to finish on a high.
Victory will have to watch out for Chunnam midfielder and captain Kim Taesu and Brazillian striker Victor Simoes De Oliveria who have a combined total of four goals.
It will be another make or break scenario for the Victory, as they look to secure maximum points in their final Group G matches.
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