Chunnam Dragons vs. Melbourne Victory airs on Foxsports 1 at 8pm tonight (viewers choice).
Gamba Osaka have all but wrapped up Group G of the Asian Champions League with their commanding lead. It would take an incredible dip in form for the J-League side to relinquish its place in the quarterfinals now. A draw against Chonburi FC tonight would be enough.
Which suggests that the other match in Group G, the Melbourne Victory’s away match against the Chunnam Dragons, is little more than a friendly. The Dragons may have a slim mathematical prospect of overtaking Gamba - they must win twice and Gamba must lose twice - their position is little better than the Victory’s, who are out of contention.
All this will make tonight’s match a very different affair to the first time these two sides met. That night, Melbourne grasped their debut in the ACL and delivered an impressive 2-0 win over the Dragons. A promising start. But sadly, that’s all it was.
The Dragons have picked up four points against Chonburi FC, putting them in third place. In their domestic competition, they are languishing among the bottom half of the table, with just two wins from eight.
After our premature elimination from the ACL, Ernie Merrick has the luxury of two meaningless matches (in the ACL), a meaningless friendly (against Juventus) and a moderately meaningless competition (the Pre-Season Cup) in which to prepare his squad for the A-League season 2008-09. A bittersweet luxury, to be sure, but one that he ought to capitalise on by ensuring his team is a well-oiled unit come August 16.
Merrick has promised to throw young Nathan Elasi into the mix, suggesting that Adrian Caceres, already on his way out, will lose his place in the team. Tom Pondeljak made his debut for the Victory two weeks ago, and he is expected to be in the starting 11, as Leigh Broxham misses tonight’s clash due to suspension. Carlos Hernández has recovered from his injury and will come in off the bench to help him regain his fitness. Hopefully, Kaz Patafta and Evan Berger will be given solid game time - especially Berger, who has had little time to prove himself on the field.
My tip: I think we can sneak away with a narrow win: 2-1.
Your tip?
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3 responses so far ↓
1 Josh // May 7, 2008 at 10:35 am
If Merrick does indeed choose to play Elasi, Patafta and Berger, I don’t see us controlling much of the game.
If we play the youngsters, I expect a 1-1 or 1-0 (Chunnam) result. I will be glued to the TV though, at the prospect of watching our younger players get a run (and also seeing Zorro back in action)!
2 chris // May 7, 2008 at 12:11 pm
we will play the same old rubbish and i will continue to stick glued to the telly watching it….
Patafta was only on a one year loan was he not? so why play him, we haven’t all year so why now?
we are missing Archie, Pondeljak is not a striker so through Elasi in besides Allsopp we cant do any worse than what we are and sit Pondeljak behind them.
I doubt Nick ward is 100% so i would let him partner Panto in the midfeild…
To be honest all i want out of this game is for it to be CREATIVE on Merrcik’s behalf.. try something new Ernie
3 Sly // May 7, 2008 at 12:59 pm
It looks like from the report in the Herald Sun that Kaz will be not be starting.
I’m looking forward to seeing Elasi though.
Chris you most likely will be dissapointed if your looking for some creativety from Merrick.
Any recomendations on a decent pub to watch the game in the city?
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