Asian Champions League 2010
Victory winless in Asia
by Peter Humffray

Group E - Match Day 2 - 1st Leg
7:30pm, Tuesday 9 March, 2010
at Docklands Stadium, Melbourne


Melbourne Victory FC 0
lost to
Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma FC 2
(Sasa Ognenivksi 40', Yun Young-Sun 85')

Melbourne Victory's AFC Champions League campaign already looks fraught after its second defeat in as many games. Korea's Seongnam Ilhwan left Docklands Stadium on Tuesday evening with all three points after a 2-0 win. Both goals came from set-pieces, a matter known to be the bane of the Victory coaching staff.

Sasa Ognenovski returned to his Melbourne home-town to score the opener. Kim Young-Sun's header, crashed in from a corner five minutes from time, confirmed the win which had been under threat from a plucky, but undermanned and tiring Melbourne side.

Melbourne was without several members of the team who had travelled to Sydney for the Finals game two days beforehand and which had gone to extra time. Kevin Muscat, Grant Brebner, and Tom Pondeljak all failed to make the team-sheet, and playmaker Carlos Hernandez was listed only as a substitute.

The fact that the early AFC CL group games coincide with a domestic Finals series means that Australian sides participating in both are under severe resource strains. Melbourne was clearly hampered by this and critical of FFA and AFC scheduling in comments reportedly made by coach Ernie Merrick in the lead-up.

To help fill gaps in the Victory squad, five youth team members, including Luke Pilkington, less than a year ago the winner of a reality television series where the prize was this very youth contract, were named. One - Matthew Foscini - started, and another - Mate Dugandzic - came on as late cover for a tiring Evan Berger when the game was still in the balance after the Koreans had failed to extend the lead gained after Ognenovski's bundled goal five minutes from the interval.

The big central defender had previously visited the venue in Brisbane Roar orange and Adelaide United red with little joy. This time, in the canary yellow of Group E heavyweights Sheongnam, his exultation was obvious to all, pointing to his name on the back of his shirt, ensuring anyone who missed the event at least knew who was responsible.

The sides had been well-matched to that point, Melbourne even exerting sustained periods of pressure despite it missing key players. But genuine chances were few and it seemed the greater prospect would be that set-pieces would provide the key.

And so it proved. Five minutes from the interval, Nick Ward fouled Fabricio and was cautioned as a consequence. Mauricio Molina swung in the free-kick which diminutive midfielder Leigh Broxham sought to deflect it over the bar as it came into the penalty-area, but gave it insufficient height. The ball cannoned back into play off the underside of the crossbar, bouncing inside the six-yard area. Goalkeeper Mitch Langerak and Foschini both sought to clear the danger, but were not as forceful in their endeavours as the powerful Ognenovski, who battered it into the net from point-blank range.

Kim Sung-Hwan had provided Seongnam's brightest moment to that point with a long-range shot half-way through the first half, but Langerak was happy enough to watch as it carried the crossbar, rising all the while.

Seeking to avoid being blanked in both his first games of the tournament, Victory coach brought on Carlos Hernandez as a replacement for the anonymous Surat Sukha at the start of the second-half. Sukha had been hampered by a hamstring injury he carried from Sydney, and was withdrawn to ensure it didn't worsen.

But before the Victory favourite had got himself into the game, Sheongnam almost extended its lead. After a strong cross-field run by Radoncic, he cleverly set up room for Molina. Molina's shot was a thunderbolt which flashed by the post with Langerak unable to intervene were it a little better aimed.

Marvin Angulo brought the pitifully small number of home fans to their feet ten minutes into the second half after being set up by Hernandez, already showing his influence. Angulo's shot from distance flashed just wide of the post.

Merrick again went to his bench as Victory pressed for the equaliser, bringing on Archie Thompson as a straight swap for Nick Mrdja. Mrdja had been well-covered by Ognenovski, and Merrick likely thought Thompson's speed against Sheongnam's giant centre-back might tip the balance Melbourne's way.

But things so nearly slipped completely away from Melbourne just after the hour when Broxham failed in his attempt to clear the ball, missing it completely, and giving a surprised Molina a clear run in on goal. Incredibly, Molina spurned the chance, blasting over the bar when a placed shot might have been the more productive option.

Ognenovski then made a critical stop of Kruse with a tackle inside his own penalty-area which prevented Kruse from breaking through. Bahranian referee Abdulla Nawaf waved away Melbourne's claims for a penalty and replays showed Ognenovski was fortunate to escape the sanction.

With Victory players now visibly wilting, Seongnam pressed home for the second goal and to confirm the three points coach Shin Tae Yong said he was there to obtain.

It arose after Fabricio sent a long forward ball from the left seeking to find Molina at the front edge of the Victory penalty-area. Broxham stretched to head away but succeeded only in directing it to Song Ho-Young who lined up a shot from distance. Dugandzic saw the danger and rushed to close, getting a foot to the ball at the same time it left the Korean's boot, causing it to divert wide of goal.

From the corner, Young Sun was allowed a free header from eight yards as he escaped Hernandez to power high into the net and seal the Koreans' win.

Two more chances fell Seongnam's way before the full-time whistle but neither were taken, much to the relief of a battered and exhausted Melbourne.

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