Melbourne: Besart Berisha and Archie Thompson scored quickfire first half goals as Australia’s Melbourne Victory qualified for the last 16 of the AFC Champions League for the first time after recording a 2-1 win over Japan’s Gamba Osaka on Tuesday to edge out Korea Republic's Suwon Samsung Bluewings in Group G.
Berisha opened the scoring from the penalty spot after 13 minutes at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium and Thompson added a second three minutes later before Gamba’s Brazilian Ademilson set up a nervous final few minutes after reducing the deficit with six minutes remaining.
But with Shanghai SIPG already assured of first place heading into this week’s final round of fixtures, Kevin Muscat’s Melbourne held on to claim the runner-up spot ahead of Suwon having crucially scored an away goal in the 1-1 draw between the pair earlier in the campaign despite the K-League side recording a 3-0 win at home to the Chinese Super League side on Tuesday.
“It is a big achievement [to progress to the Round of 16] considering we’ve had five attempts. On our fifth one we were successful and that joy right now is overriding trying to analyse the performance or anything like that,” said Melbourne coach Muscat.
“It’s great for the football club and we’ve managed to create some history for a couple of times this year in fact.”
“All be it I’m so elated for the group, the difficulties of not having a game or many games – it’s not a complaint or an excuse, it’s tough going – but what that has given me is an unbelievable thirst and hunger to go and win the next tie.”
Eyeing a first appearance in the last 16 from five attempts, Melbourne made the ideal start as Oliver Bozanic’s shot struck the hand of Gamba Osaka’s Shun Nagasawa inside the area and Berisha fired low past goalkeeper Yosuke Fujigaya.
And three minutes later Melbourne added a second as Kosta Barbarouses’ cross was turned home at the far post by Thompson.
Gamba’s first effort on goal finally arrived as Kotaro Omori was denied by Melbourne goalkeeper Lawrence Thomas before the home side struck the woodwork as Barbarouses’ shot was turned onto the post by Fujigaya.
Melbourne continued to dominate after the break as Berisha blazed his left footed attempt over the crossbar, although the home side were indebted to Thomas soon after as the goalkeeper raced off his line to deny Hiroto Goya.
Barbarouses, Berisha and Leigh Broxham then failed to convert opportunities for Melbourne as the half progressed before Gamba’s Takahiro Futagawa saw a shot deflected wide.
But after Berisha could only direct Thompson’s cut-back over the crossbar, Gamba pulled a goal back with six minutes remaining as Ademilson was on hand to convert after Thomas had saved well from Goya.
Melbourne, though, survived the final few minutes to seal their progress after recording a second win in Group G.
“The reason we couldn’t make it into the Round of 16 is because we couldn’t win at home in Osaka and that was the main problem. For next season, to come back to this competition, we have to focus on our home games,” said Gamba coach Kenta Hasegawa.
“The players I chose are at a very good level but having said that we couldn’t play with our regular players so it was difficult after we conceded the goal from the penalty.
“After that in the second half, we could come back again and we were getting better but we couldn’t win. However from this game we could achieve something for the next game in the future.”
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