Melbourne Victory and Adelaide United - Asian Champions League

A CONFIDENT Melbourne Victory side can beat Japan’s Gamba Osaka when they clash in tonight’s Asian Champions League (ACL) group match in Melbourne which kicks off at 8pm local time.

The Victory are currently in 3rd place in their group and nothing less than a win is required to keep their ACL hopes intact. Only the first team from each group will progress to the quarter-finals

Melbourne lost their last game to Thailand’s Chonburi FC while Gamba Osaka beat cellar dwellers Chunnam Dragons of Korea Republic.
The Victory lost their previous ACL match to Thailand’s Chonburi FC three weeks ago, while Gamba Osaka claimed an impressive 4-3 win against Chunnam Dragons in Korea.

Gamba Osaka have just come off a heavy domestic schedule where they have played 3 games in 6 days. Coupled with that, the Osaka players have had to make the 8 hour flight to Melbourne which puts the ball in Victory’s court.

Melbourne captain Kevin Muscat said, “We’ll be going out to take three points and I’m pretty sure that their attitude will be exactly the same although they might not say that.”In the other match, Adelaide United will come up against Vietnamese side Bin Duong who they are expected to beat.

Bin Duong are known as an aggressive side and have given away several fouls in their first two ACL matches but Adelaide coach Aurelio Vidmar says the boys will not be put off their game.

Bin Duong has given away several free kicks in its recent matches but Adelaide United coach Aurelio Vidmar says the Reds will not be put off their game.

“From what I’ve seen from Bing Duong this Asian Champions League is that they fight and they run and they chase and they do all the hard things very very well,” he said.

“They’re quick and fit players so we know that there’s going to be a very difficult game.”

Adelaide currently sit atop their table on 4 points and a win tonight will put them in good stead to become the first Aussie team in history to make it to the next round of the Asian Champions League.

Foxsports - Wednesday 9 April, 2008

Melbourne Victory v Gamba Osaka - Live AEST 8pm Kickoff - Foxsports 1

Bin Duong v Adelaide United - Delayed AEST 10pm - Foxsports 1