Well that wasn’t expected.
Chonburi FC wreaked havoc on the Melbourne Victory last night, trumping the Aussies with a 3-1 victory that put them at the top of Group G.
While Melbourne’s performance against the Chunnam Dragons mirrored the type of football they were playing towards the end of the A-League season, last night regurgitated memories of the first half of the season: long balls, wasted chances, poor passes. It was painful to watch the Victory slip into its old ways.
The first half was a much more open affair than their match with Gamba Osaka had been, with the Thai champions pressing the Melbourne defence. Ney Fabiano, the Brazilian, was instrumental in the home side’s final third, cutting through Melbourne defenders with incisive runs and dangerous crosses. But it was poor marking that granted Chonburi its first goal: a pinpoint cross from Arthit Sunthornpit drifted across to Fabiano, who, unmarked, caught Michael Theoklitos on the back foot.
Melbourne emerged from the break renewed. Vasilevski and Ryall, on for Pantelidis and Caceres, provided fresh legs. After 15 minutes of sustained pressure, the Victory finally managed to get one back, Danny Allsopp getting a foot to Matthew Kemp’s excellent pass.
With the score leveled, Melbourne had momentum on its side. But the goal would not come. Chonburi stacked their defense, and just like Gamba Osaka the week before, the Victory couldn’t crack through. While most of the game was played in the Chonburi half, Melbourne struggled to be effective. Kemp posed the greatest threat to Chonburi, moving with speed down the left flank.
Chonburi FC coach Annop Singtotong played his cards well, bringing on Cameroonian Stephane Baga for Pipop On-Mo, a straight striker for striker swap. Ten minutes later, Gamba drifted into space and unleashed a shot from 30 metres out that left Theoklitos and Melbourne fans stunned.
What followed was fifteen minutes of frustration. Chonburi’s Arthit Sunthornpit was sent off for time wasting - a red card I don’t think the referee intended to give. But even against ten men, Melbourne just couldn’t break through. Five minutes of extra time wasn’t enough for Melbourne to get a goal back - but it was enough for Baga to put another past Theoklitos. Melbourne defeated.
Gamba Osaka’s 4-3 win over the Chunnam Dragons (in Korea) means that Chonburi FC are now at the top of Group G, edging the Japanese team out on goal difference. After starting the competition so promisingly last week, Melbourne trails by a point. With four games left to go, anything is possible - but the Victory’s upcoming home match against Gamba Osaka is critical.
Meanwhile, Adelaide United drew against Changchun Yatai, keeping them at the top of their group.
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6 responses so far ↓
1 Astri // Mar 20, 2008 at 2:26 pm
We looked in control until that cracker goal. It just knocked the wind out of the team. I couldn’t believe my eyes, it was a stunning goal. Shit happens. I’m sure we will beat them in Melbourne but now the focus must be on getting maximum points of Gamba Osaka because I doubt they will slip up again. Disappointing,
2 chris // Mar 20, 2008 at 4:36 pm
well i actually stayed up to watch that crap…
where did last weeks game plan go? lost in transit?
that was woeful, why do we go to the long ball game…they just picked us off and countered superbly!
why take caceres off for vasilevski? vasilevski’s crossing was shocking… and panto should not be in our starting 11 give me ryall anyday of the week!
one thing i have noticed compared to chonburi was…. our strikers do not STRIKE the ball… they just tap it in from crosses… we need danny and archie to back themselves and have a go run at the defences, they have the physical strengh and the foot skills..
i cant wait to get hernandez in the middle of them so they can get some creativity back!
aww well bring on gamba osaka, win,lose or draw just play better football than that.
3 new tactix // Mar 20, 2008 at 5:39 pm
Well, I have to agree with you Chris. Last night’s game has highlighted to me why in Rob Baan’s developmental strategy there is a focus for coaches. That is, how can we expect to seriously compete in asia when our coaches only take with them 1 page out of their coaching strategy booklet. Seriously, do we really think we can achieve any consistent form when our tactics include:
i) go the long ball over all our midfielders in hope that archie or danny can run onto something - it’s too predictable.
ii) basically play without any wingers - and if we do have one (Caceras) then play him on non-natural side
iii) when we are one goal down take off a defender for defender, followed by an attacking player for another defender. I mean what the…
iv) consistently playing danny when he has no confidence, no ability to hold up the ball or hold off a smaller framed asian player half his size.
Ernie you have to be realistic - MVFC is playing the most horrible style of football, which actually makes me wants remove my eyeballs so as to relieve the pain.
Why can’t we look for creative midfielders which a supported by a coaching tactic that is to play the play - here’s an idea - on the ground, use the width and create chances. We do not create chances - and another idea - any player with MVFC shirt within 5 yards of the penalty box do not be shy to shoot - who knows it may even be on target!!!!! Someone shoot the ball please - it is just straight out painful now!!!!
4 tippo // Mar 20, 2008 at 6:09 pm
With the score at 1-1 I thought Victory should have played to keep the score there especially given the fact that Chonburi were not as bad as mostly people thought.
But its only the second match and so there is time to recover from this setback.
5 Brenton // Mar 20, 2008 at 6:15 pm
no it wasnt expected, thats the beauty of the game i guess, although from where i was sitting it was quite ugly:(
to be honest melbourne never looked threatening, the standout was easily kemp and vargas was also solid at the back(bar one slip of the foot) as always.
your right, the guys need to back themselves more, but maybe they dont because THATS HOW THERE BEING COACHED! im sorry but my patience with merick is wearing incredibly thin, its like without a central playmaker, like fred or hernadez, he dosent know how he wants them to play or where he wants them to play? and why the hell would you sub caceres for vasa, i dont mind vasa but he had a poor poor game last night.
credit to baga, he suprised, everyone, even himself, with that amazing stike and it seemed to knock the wind out of melbournes sails, combined with fatigue and the humidity.
Look at all melbournes players, there all great players in there own right and can play as a fantastic team weve seen that, so whats your next step merrick? what will you do to change things without a player of hernandez or freds caliber? as far as im concerned if we dont make it out of the group at least you can walk away i want someone new. 4 more games should be plenty of time.
6 Astri // Mar 22, 2008 at 9:15 am
I think you guys are being a little harsh. Believe me, I am more upset than all of you put together but sometimes thats the way the game goes. Lets be honest, we were well in control until that wondergoal threw everything out. The long ball was played because of the conditions, I have no doubt. Its hard work in the humidity and lets not understate that. The socceroos stars could barely walk at the asian cup, they were made to look like pub players. With a bit of luck, we would have won that game against Chonburi but no coach in the world can plan around a goal that Buffon or any other keeper would not have saved in a million years. I dont blame the defence either, they are well within their rights to let a striker shoot from that distance, it was just a freak goal and then they scored again when we pushed everyone forward. Lets not over react, the big games are coming up and as long as we are only 2 points behind Chonburi going into the last game then we should get through. The key is to get at least 4 points off Gamba.
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