Tue, 30 Nov, -0001
Geelong: A goal from Leigh Broxham secured Melbourne Victory a place in the group stage of the AFC Champions League after they defeated Thailand’s Muangthong United in the final round of play-offs with a 2-1 comeback win on Saturday at Kardinia Park.
Midfielder Broxham netted the winner just seven minutes from time to take his team into the continental competition where they will make their fourth appearance and first since 2011.
Macedonian Mario Durovski had opened the scoring for the Thai side after 22 minutes before James Troisi equalised on the 58th minute. The two goals bookended a missed penalty by Melbourne captain Mark Milligan at the end of the first half.
And Muangthong eventually finished the game with 10 men after captain Datsakorn Thonglao was sent-off in stoppage time following a clash with Broxham.
Melbourne will now join defending champions Guangzhou Evergrande, former winners Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors and Japan’s Yokohama F. Marinos in Group G of the competition.
“I was still confident at half time. The players still had the belief and that was evident,” said Melbourne Victory coach Kevin Muscat.
“We are finding new ways to concede. But we made many runs forward and could have no doubt scored more. In the end it was a just result. We want to compete on this stage in Asia.”
Melbourne began proceedings in lively fashion and after nine minutes Celtic loanee Tom Rogic went close to opening the scoring, but his header inside the penalty box was just wide of Visanusak Kaewruang’s goal.
As the home team continued to press, their next clear opening came 10 minutes later as forward Kosta Barbarouses forced the visitors to cede possession and then played in Troisi but the wideman’s low shot was pushed wide by Visanusak.
Halfway through the first period, though, it was the Thai side who broke the deadlock with the game’s opener via the left boot of midfielder Durovski direct from a corner.
The Macedonia international whipped in an inswinger from the left-hand side that crept inside Nathan Coe’s near post, the Melbourne custodian partially unsighted as Muanthong fullback Piyathon Buntao jumped across him in an attempt to reach the ball.
A frenetic finish to the first half saw first Troisi go close to levelling the tie with a shot deflected narrowly over on 39 minutes and just two minutes later Muangthong striker Teerasil Dangda’s placed shot was well saved by Coe.
Virtually on the stroke of half-time Melbourne were given a golden chance to equalize when Archie Thompson was fouled in the box by Piyathon.
However, Milligan could not beat Visanusak from the resulting spot-kick as the Thai goalkeeper went the right way, diving low to his left.
Just three minutes into the second half, Muangthong went close to doubling their lead as captain Datsakorn released Teerasil who raced into the box, but the striker was brilliantly denied by Coe.
The Melbourne goalkeeper was called into action again on 55 minutes with another fine save, pushing wide a low bouncing volley struck into the ground from goal scorer Durovski.
Coe’s heroics came at a crucial time, as just three minutes later a penetrating cross from the right by fullback Scott Galloway found Troisi who levelled the tie with an emphatic diving header.
On the 74th minute Troisi nearly doubled his and Melbourne’s tally, but after being teed up by Broxham he could only steer the ball across the face of goal.
As the game entered its final 10 minutes, Melbourne began to tighten the screw, going close through first a curling shot from Thompson that Visanusak palmed wide and from the resulting corner a firm header from Milligan was also kept out by the alert Muangthong goalkeeper.
But the Australian side finally made the breakthrough on the 83rd minute. A corner found its way to Broxham lurking on the edge of the area, and the midfielder let fly on the half-volley where a deflection deceived Visanusak, taking the ball over his despairing dive and into the net.
Broxham was involved once more before the final whistle as a coming together in stoppage time between him and Datsakorn led to a straight red for the Muangthong skipper.
“I think today was a good game. In the second half we have many chances to score the second goal but we couldn’t make it,” said Muangthong United assistant coach Phon Chomchearn.
“Melbourne are very strong and played very well. We were fighting against a very good team.
“It was disappointing to be knocked out of the AFC Champions League and we wanted to go to the group stages, but that’s football now we’ll concentrate on the league.”
Photo: WSG