SEPTEMBER 10 2008, in Zurich - With four minutes remaining of the World Cup Qualifier between host country Switzerland and lowly Luxembourg, Alphonse Leweck scores to give the visitors a shock 2-1 win.
Switzerland at the time were ranked 43rd in the world. Luxembourg were ranked 152nd, a whopping 109 places lower.
Don't mind me. I just needed some assurance that a win this weekend might be possible. Upsets do happen.
The last time the Reds visited the Telstra Dome it was an unmitigated failure. The ingredients for the performance never even got close to gelling and post match, the mix hit the fan. It was a recipe for disaster.
Only a fool would throw the same ingredients back into the bowl and expect a different cake. For the Reds to get over the line, some things need to change.
On-field, they need to close down space, especially in the midfield, much better. Give Hernandez and Celeski time on the ball and room to be creative and it's good night Aurelio. Jonas Salley will help in this regard. He plays like a terrier on heat. He also has an intimidation factor about him, so make that a pit bull on heat.
Another crucial ingredient is patience and plenty of it. They need to not be scared of playing dour, defensive football. At the moment the Reds simply can't match Melbourne in terms of attacking flair and so to win, they need to concentrate on their strengths. All season they've been able to defend mightily and it has served them well. The longer the game goes, the more the pressure will build on Melbourne if they're not able to score. Defend at all costs and hit the Victory on the counter.
The most important ingredient of all though, indeed the magic ingredient, is between the ears. The challenge for the Reds' coaching team is how to restore five cups of lost confidence relating to defeats this season at the hand of Melbourne.
Can a determination to win and an ability to stand up to a foe with a distinct psychological edge be instilled at this late point in the season? If it can, then the Reds are a chance.
Personally, I'm hoping for a hero. In the same way that Archie Thompson etched him name into history in the grand final a couple of years back, the opportunity is there for one of the Reds to do the same. One goal might be all it takes, as Fabian Barbiero showed last week. If I could choose, Paul Agostino would be the man.
All in all, I can't wait for the match to begin. I'm just hoping that the after-taste isn't going to be sour.
