AFC Champions League preview: Melbourne Victory v Jeju United

Jeju United coach Park Hyung-Moon is backing his captain Kim Eun-Jung to impress in Tuesday’s AFC Champions League showdown against Melbourne Victory.

The 31-year-old South Korean international fired blanks when Jeju made their ACL debut with a 1-0 home loss to Chinese outfit Tianjin Teda on March 1.

But with his side needing to get at least a point, if not three from their visit to Australia, coach Park has backed the Jeju talisman to stand tall at Etihad Stadium.

“The main point will be who is going to score first and Kim will try his best. He is important for us to score that first goal,” Park said.

“We started this competition slowly, I know we should have won that game, but now we are here in Australia and will try to make the most of this match.”

Kim, who fired 13 goals as Jeju finished second in the 2010 K-League season and boasts a distinguished pedigree highlighted by 15 internationals for South Korea, spoke of his desire to prove a trumpcard.

“I’m in my best condition for this match, Melbourne will play attacking football unlike our last match where the opposition were defensively orientated,” Kim said.

Jeju meets a Melbourne Victory team beaten 5-1 by Gamba Osaka in their opening match and with a new coach in former Socceroos defender Mehmet Durakovic.

Durakovic, who enjoyed three successful seasons in Malaysia with Selangor as a player and featured in 64 internationals for the Socceroos, replaces the dumped Ernie Merrick for the remainer of Victory’s ACL group campaign.

“It’s exciting to be given such a great role, coaching one of the best clubs, not just in Australia, but in Asia,” Durakovic said.

“It is a big responsibility for myself, but I’ve got the full support of the players and coaching staff. We’ll just give it all we have got, keep positive and do our best.”

Jeju coach Park, who like Durakovic was a defensive mainstay for his country, admitted the change at the Australian-club’s helm had factored into his thinking.

“A new coach means Melbourne will have a new strategy,” Park said.

“We will pursue what we planned in the first place, but we may have to find new ways to deal with their team.”

Durakovic was hesitant when quizzed on what team Victory would field, but explained his coaching philosophy differed from his predecessor.

“I’ve got my own brand of the way we play, there will be a few changes, some new faces come into the side and some structural changes,” Durakovic said.

Victory is expected to welcome back one-time Manchester United junior Grant Brebner in a 4-4-2 formation, but Socceroo striker Robbie Kruse is battling a hamstring complaint.

Mon 14 March, 2011

AFC Champions League preview: Melbourne Victory v Jeju United

Jeju United coach Park Hyung-Moon is backing his captain Kim Eun-Jung to impress in Tuesday’s AFC Champions League showdown against Melbourne Victory.

The 31-year-old South Korean international fired blanks when Jeju made their ACL debut with a 1-0 home loss to Chinese outfit Tianjin Teda on March 1.

But with his side needing to get at least a point, if not three from their visit to Australia, coach Park has backed the Jeju talisman to stand tall at Etihad Stadium.

“The main point will be who is going to score first and Kim will try his best. He is important for us to score that first goal,” Park said.

“We started this competition slowly, I know we should have won that game, but now we are here in Australia and will try to make the most of this match.”

Kim, who fired 13 goals as Jeju finished second in the 2010 K-League season and boasts a distinguished pedigree highlighted by 15 internationals for South Korea, spoke of his desire to prove a trumpcard.

“I’m in my best condition for this match, Melbourne will play attacking football unlike our last match where the opposition were defensively orientated,” Kim said.

Jeju meets a Melbourne Victory team beaten 5-1 by Gamba Osaka in their opening match and with a new coach in former Socceroos defender Mehmet Durakovic.

Durakovic, who enjoyed three successful seasons in Malaysia with Selangor as a player and featured in 64 internationals for the Socceroos, replaces the dumped Ernie Merrick for the remainer of Victory’s ACL group campaign.

“It’s exciting to be given such a great role, coaching one of the best clubs, not just in Australia, but in Asia,” Durakovic said.

“It is a big responsibility for myself, but I’ve got the full support of the players and coaching staff. We’ll just give it all we have got, keep positive and do our best.”

Jeju coach Park, who like Durakovic was a defensive mainstay for his country, admitted the change at the Australian-club’s helm had factored into his thinking.

“A new coach means Melbourne will have a new strategy,” Park said.

“We will pursue what we planned in the first place, but we may have to find new ways to deal with their team.”

Durakovic was hesitant when quizzed on what team Victory would field, but explained his coaching philosophy differed from his predecessor.

“I’ve got my own brand of the way we play, there will be a few changes, some new faces come into the side and some structural changes,” Durakovic said.

Victory is expected to welcome back one-time Manchester United junior Grant Brebner in a 4-4-2 formation, but Socceroo striker Robbie Kruse is battling a hamstring complaint.

Mon 14 March, 2011

A-League: Gold Coast United 1 Melbourne Victory 0

Gold Coast United exorcised their demons of last season with a last-gasp Dino Djulbic header bundling Melbourne Victory out of the A-League finals.

With a tense affair between the two sides looking destined for extra time, defensive lynchpin Djulbic rose to meet a perfect corner from German import Peter Perchtold and tucked his header away brilliantly into the top left-hand corner of the net to seal a 1-0 triumph in sweltering conditions at Skilled Park on Sunday.

The win gave Miron Bleiberg’s men their first ever finals win and erased the memories of last season’s penalty loss at home to the Newcastle Jets in the opening week of knockout action – but it could have been an entirely different story had the visitors made the most of their chances.

Victory looked dangerous in a tense first half and by just the sixth minute, Victory had already demanded two top-class saves from Glen Moss – the first from Danny Allsopp, then Socceroo Robbie Kruse.

As the match settled, Melbourne looked more inventive in attack but United went closest to taking the lead in the 29th minute after a typically mazy run through the heart of the Victory defence from Adama Traore.

The Ivorian unleashed Tahj Minniecon, who wheeled onto his right foot but his shot from the top of the box whizzed just inches high of the target.

In the second half, substitute Joel Porter almost broke the deadlock at 55 minutes, latching onto a cross from Perchtold with a first-time volley on his non-preferred right foot that rattled the crossbar.

United continued to assert control on the game, with a Zenon Caravella shot five minutes later stinging the palms of Michael Petkovic, and in the 78th minute a goalmouth scramble nearly gave them the edge – but Victory captain Adrian Leijer saved the day with a backheel clearance on the line.

With just five minutes left, some Carlos Hernandez magic split the United rearguard open for Allsopp but the burly striker spurned what was, until then, the best chance of the game from close range – and it came back to burn him.

Just as extra time looked a certainty, Djulbic rose for that match-winning header to send the small but vocal home crowd into raptures and United through to a match-up with Adelaide at Hindmarsh Stadium next Sunday.

Sun 20 February, 2011

A-League: Gold Coast United 1 Melbourne Victory 0

Gold Coast United exorcised their demons of last season with a last-gasp Dino Djulbic header bundling Melbourne Victory out of the A-League finals.

With a tense affair between the two sides looking destined for extra time, defensive lynchpin Djulbic rose to meet a perfect corner from German import Peter Perchtold and tucked his header away brilliantly into the top left-hand corner of the net to seal a 1-0 triumph in sweltering conditions at Skilled Park on Sunday.

The win gave Miron Bleiberg’s men their first ever finals win and erased the memories of last season’s penalty loss at home to the Newcastle Jets in the opening week of knockout action – but it could have been an entirely different story had the visitors made the most of their chances.

Victory looked dangerous in a tense first half and by just the sixth minute, Victory had already demanded two top-class saves from Glen Moss – the first from Danny Allsopp, then Socceroo Robbie Kruse.

As the match settled, Melbourne looked more inventive in attack but United went closest to taking the lead in the 29th minute after a typically mazy run through the heart of the Victory defence from Adama Traore.

The Ivorian unleashed Tahj Minniecon, who wheeled onto his right foot but his shot from the top of the box whizzed just inches high of the target.

In the second half, substitute Joel Porter almost broke the deadlock at 55 minutes, latching onto a cross from Perchtold with a first-time volley on his non-preferred right foot that rattled the crossbar.

United continued to assert control on the game, with a Zenon Caravella shot five minutes later stinging the palms of Michael Petkovic, and in the 78th minute a goalmouth scramble nearly gave them the edge – but Victory captain Adrian Leijer saved the day with a backheel clearance on the line.

With just five minutes left, some Carlos Hernandez magic split the United rearguard open for Allsopp but the burly striker spurned what was, until then, the best chance of the game from close range – and it came back to burn him.

Just as extra time looked a certainty, Djulbic rose for that match-winning header to send the small but vocal home crowd into raptures and United through to a match-up with Adelaide at Hindmarsh Stadium next Sunday.

Sun 20 February, 2011

A-League: Adelaide United 2 Melbourne Victory 1

Adelaide United secured third place on the A-League ladder after defeating Melbourne Victory 2-1 at Adelaide Oval on Friday.

The win over their long-time rivals broke a minor form slump for the Reds that saw them collect just one point from their previous three matches following a record-breaking 8-1 belting of North Queensland Fury three weeks ago.

Paul Reid gave the home fans something to cheer about early when he scored in the fifth minute to open proceedings before substitute Archie Thompson leveled on 65 minutes when he curled the ball into the back of the net from close range.

But Adelaide captain Travis Dodd proved the hero when his header with 12 minutes to go flew over Michael Petkovic’s left shoulder.

Carlos Hernandez and Thompson both had chances to score late for Victory but Adelaide held on for maximum points.

Fri 11 February, 2011

A-League: Adelaide United 2 Melbourne Victory 1

Adelaide United secured third place on the A-League ladder after defeating Melbourne Victory 2-1 at Adelaide Oval on Friday.

The win over their long-time rivals broke a minor form slump for the Reds that saw them collect just one point from their previous three matches following a record-breaking 8-1 belting of North Queensland Fury three weeks ago.

Paul Reid gave the home fans something to cheer about early when he scored in the fifth minute to open proceedings before substitute Archie Thompson leveled on 65 minutes when he curled the ball into the back of the net from close range.

But Adelaide captain Travis Dodd proved the hero when his header with 12 minutes to go flew over Michael Petkovic’s left shoulder.

Carlos Hernandez and Thompson both had chances to score late for Victory but Adelaide held on for maximum points.

Fri 11 February, 2011

A-League: Central Coast 1 Melbourne Victory 2

Late goals from Diogo Ferreira and Grant Brebner gave Melbourne Victory a 2-1 win over Central Coast in a New Year’s Eve thriller at Gosford.

The third-placed Mariners went ahead in the 48th minute after an own goal from Melbourne defender Adrian Leijer, before second-half replacement Ferreira equalised with five minutes to play.

A shocking mistake from young Mariners goalkeeper Mathew Ryan in the 87th minute saw Brebner presented with an easy tap-in to win the match.

Ryan should have easily held Ferreira’s long-range shot but the shot-stopper fumbled the ball and Brebner had the easiest of tasks to score what turned out to be the winner in front of 12,409 fans at Bluetongue Stadium.

It was a heartbreaking end to the match for the Mariners who looked on course for a third win in succession.

”They got two soft goals from fatigue,” Central Coast coach Graham Arnold lamented.

”The game changed completely with the sending off (of in-form Mariners striker Adam Kwasnik). I’m proud of the boys, for me there was only one team on the field in the first half.”

Melbourne remain in fifth place on the A-League table after their fourth straight win.

Fri 31 December, 2010

A-League: Central Coast 1 Melbourne Victory 2

Late goals from Diogo Ferreira and Grant Brebner gave Melbourne Victory a 2-1 win over Central Coast in a New Year’s Eve thriller at Gosford.

The third-placed Mariners went ahead in the 48th minute after an own goal from Melbourne defender Adrian Leijer, before second-half replacement Ferreira equalised with five minutes to play.

A shocking mistake from young Mariners goalkeeper Mathew Ryan in the 87th minute saw Brebner presented with an easy tap-in to win the match.

Ryan should have easily held Ferreira’s long-range shot but the shot-stopper fumbled the ball and Brebner had the easiest of tasks to score what turned out to be the winner in front of 12,409 fans at Bluetongue Stadium.

It was a heartbreaking end to the match for the Mariners who looked on course for a third win in succession.

”They got two soft goals from fatigue,” Central Coast coach Graham Arnold lamented.

”The game changed completely with the sending off (of in-form Mariners striker Adam Kwasnik). I’m proud of the boys, for me there was only one team on the field in the first half.”

Melbourne remain in fifth place on the A-League table after their fourth straight win.

Fri 31 December, 2010