Victory were outclassed all over the park against Gamba Osaka, slumping to a horror 5-1 thrashing.

Boss Ernie Merrick was making no excuses post-game as his team let three goals slip inside 11 minutes.

But with five games to go and Gamba the favourites to top the group, Victory’s campaign is far from over.

Improvement on their first-up performance will need to be drastic, particularly through midfield and in defence.

The initial selection of Adrian Leijer in the holding midfield role was costly and a 16th-minute substitution proved that.

Although the form of Billy Celeski has been below par, Leijer was never going to be agile enough to deal with the likes of Yasuhito Endo, Keun-Ho Lee and Takashi Usami.

It was an attacking formation away from home featuring four very attack-minded players in Archie Thompson, Danny Allsopp, Robbie Kruse and Marvin Angulo.

It reverted to a much more organized 5-3-2 afterwards but defensive lapses again cost Melbourne.

An improved defensive performance will be important when Jeju United visit Docklands Stadium in a fortnight.

With the firepower Victory have in attack, home wins are a must if they are to bounce back from a poor start.

Meanwhile, Sydney FC fared much better to fight out a scoreless draw after being forced to play an hour with 10 men.

Captain Terry McFlynn was sent off for stomping but the Sky Blues still managed to create chances and keep a clean sheet.

There were no goals in Group H, leaving everyone on level terms heading into match day two where the Sky Blues have a tough trip to face Kashima Antlers in Japan. 


Group E

Jeju United 0
Tianjin Teda 1 (Yu Dabao 52’)
Venue: Jeju Stadium  

CHINA'S Tianjin Teda made a tremendous start with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Korea Republic outfit Jeju United.

The home side dominated much of the contest but were caught out just after the interval as Yu Dabao scored the only goal of the game.

Zhang Xiaobin found space on the right hand side and his whipping ball found the powerful forward who got his foot to a ball keeper Kim Ho-Jun had come to collect.

The hosts should have been ahead in the first half after a passage of brilliant interplay led to Natanael Santos finding himself free in the area, but his shot was directly at Yang Qipeng in the Tianjin goal.

The Korea Republic outfit failed to create any clear cut chances after the opener, giving their Chinese Super League opponents what could be a crucial three points.


Jeju United: 1. KIM Ho-Jun (gk), 3. KANG Min-Hyuk, 5. PARK Hyun-Beom, 7. KIM Young-Sin, 13. MA Chul-Jun (25. KANG Joon-Woo 68’), 14. KIM Tae-Min, 15. HONG Jeong Ho, 16. BAE Ki Jong (29. LEE Sang Hyup 75’), 18. KIM Eun-Jung (c), 22. LEE Hyun-Ho (10. SHIN Young-Rok 86’), 39. SANTOS
Yellow cards: None
Red cards: None

Tianjin Teda: 25. YANG Qipeng (gk), 5. LI Weifeng, 6. Marko ZORIC (c), 7. LI Benjian, 9. Obiora ODITA (30. Luciano OLGUIN 46’), 10. WANG Xinxin, 14. BAI Yuefeng, 16. ZHANG Xiaobin (3. KWON Jip 86’), 21. CHEN Tao (8. HU Rentian 90’), 22. YU Dabao, 26. CAO Yang
Yellow cards: Yu (7’), Wang (67’), Li (90’)
Red cards: None

Gamba Osaka 5 (Takuya Takei 4’, Adriano 7’(pen), Keun-Ho Lee 11’, Takahiro Futagawa 63’, Seung-Yong Kim 90’)
Melbourne Victory 1 (Kevin Muscat 22’(pen))
Venue: Expo70 Commemorative Stadium 

  MELBOURNE Victory made a horror start to their campaign after crashing to a 5-1 loss to Gamba Osaka in Japan.

The visitors conceded three goals in the opening 11 minutes to all but end the contest and despite an improved performance after that, defensive lapses cost them.

The Japanese outfit made the perfect start as Victory’s troubles at set pieces were again exposed, failing to clear a corner that was drilled home by midfielder Takuya Takei.

It was two soon after as a dazzling run down the left from Lee Keun-Ho, in which he outpaced Victory captain Adrian Leijer, led to a foul by Kevin Muscat in the area.

New Gamba signing Adriano stepped up and was forced to convert twice from the penalty spot.

Adriano turned provider as the hosts went three up inside 11 minutes after a lovely through ball from Takashi Usami freed him on the right and he cut back for Lee to poke into an empty net.

Victory stepped up after Billy Celeski was brought on in place of Diogo Ferreira, allowing Leijer to return to his customary position in defence after starting in the role of a holding midfielder.

As they settled, a blistering counter attack freed Archie Thompson and he elected to go alone before cutting in front of Takumi Shimohira to draw a penalty and a yellow card for the defender.

The returning Muscat again made no mistake from the spot as the visitors showed signs of life and moments later Danny Allsopp shot inches wide of the post after a lovely pass from Thompson.

Rodrigo Vargas then found the net with a looping header over Yosuke Fujigaya but it was rightly ruled out for offside and Victory went into the break 3-1 down.

But despite looking more organized in the second half, Victory struggled to break down the home side, who scored their fourth just after the hour mark.

Adriano was again the provider, outdoing Vargas down the right before squaring for an unmarked Takahiro Futagawa, who had time to take a touch and slot into the top corner from six yards.

The rout was complete in stoppage time as a beautifully constructed move led to Lee crossing for substitute Kim Seung-Yong to head home.

It was a dreadful start for Victory, who now face a vital clash at home to Jeju United in a fortnight.


Gamba Osaka: 1. Yosuke FUJIGAYA (gk), 3. KIM Jong-Ya, 5. Satoshi YAMAGUCHI (c) (15. Hiroki FUJIHARU 64’), 6. Takumi SHIMOHIRA, 7. Yasuhito ENDO (13. KIM Seung-Yong 71’), 9. ADRIANO (25. Shigeru YOKOTANI 81’), 10. Takahiro FUTAGAWA, 11. Takashi USAMI, 21. Akira KAJI, 22. LEE Keun-Ho, 23. Takuya TAKEI
Yellow cards: Shimohira (21’), Adriano (32’)
Red cards: None

Melbourne Victory: 1. Michael PETKOVIC (gk), 2. Kevin MUSCAT, 7. Matthew KEMP (5. Surat SUKHA 65’), 10. Archie THOMPSON, 11. Marvin ANGULO, 12. Rodrigo VARGAS, 13. Diogo FERREIRA (14. Billy CELESKI 16’ (6. Leigh BROXHAM 77’)), 15. Tom PONDELJAK, 18. Danny ALLSOPP, 21. Robbie KRUSE, 23. Adrian LEIJER (c)
Yellow card: Kruse (73’)
Red cards: None


AFC Champions League Group E Standings

Team

P

W

D

L

F

A

GD

Pts

1

Gamba Osaka (Japan)

1

1

0

0

5

1

4

3

2

Tianjin Teda (China)

1

1

0

0

1

0

1

3

3

Jeju United (Korea)

1

0

0

1

0

1

-1

0

4

Melbourne Victory

1

0

0

1

1

5

-4

0

 

Group H

Shanghai Shenhua 0
Kashima Antlers 0
Venue: Hongkou Stadium

SHANGHAI Shenhua held off Kashima Antlers to leave Group H level after a dull scoreless draw at Hongkou Stadium.

The Japanese side dominated for the most part but failed to create anything clear cut and were forced to settle for a point.

Some smart keeping from Wang Dalei helped deny the Antlers and along with a stringent and organized defence that did the job.

The best chance came courtesy of a spectacular bicycle kick from Fellype Gabriel, but it too flew inches over the bar midway through the second half.

Shanghai were pleased to come away with a draw while Kashima rued missed opportunities to go home with a first-up away win.


Shanghai Shenhua: 23. WANG Dalei (gk), 5. DAI Lin, 6. YU Tao (c), 7. FENG Renliang, 8. Duvier RIASCOS, 9. Luis SALMERON (16. WEN Huyi 77’), 10. JIANG Kun (28. CAO Yunding 75’), 18. JIANG Jiajun, 20. WU Xi, 21. Facundo Perez CASTRO, 31. Abdulkader DAKKA
Yellow cards: Castro (6’), Yu (47’), Jiang (60’)
Red cards: None

Kashima Antlers: 21. Hitoshi SOGAHATA (gk), 3. Daiki IWAMASA, 5. ALEX, 6. Koji NAKATA, 7. Toru ARAIBA, 8. Takuya NOZAWA, 11. Fellype GABRIEL, 13. Shinzo KOROKI (9. Yuya OSAKO 88’), 14. Chikashi MASUDA (16. Takuya HONDA 79’), 15. Takeshi AOKI, 30. Yuzo TASHIRO (18. CARLAO 82’)
Yellow cards: Aoki (57’), Honda (85’)
Red cards: None

Sydney FC 0
Suwon Bluewings 0
Venue: Sydney Football Stadium

A 10-man Sydney FC held on for a scoreless home draw with Suwon Bluewings after captain Terry McFlynn was sent off after half an hour.

The skipper was given his marching orders after stomping on Bluewings midfielder Lee Sang-Ho.

In a tight affair, the visitors should have taken the lead inside 10 minutes when captain Choi Sung-Kuk was played behind but he shot well over with only Liam Reddy to beat.

The Sky Blues created chances of their own and Hirofumi Moriyasu tested Jung Sung-Ryong with a long range strike just before the break.

Sydney had chances to win it late on but Stephan Keller’s header went inches wide and a strike from Mark Bridge was palmed away.

It was a respectable performance from a Sydney team forced to play an hour with a man less.


Sydney FC: 1. Liam REDDY (gk), 2. Sebastian RYALL (5. Andrew DURANTE 80’), 3. Stephan KELLER, 6. Hirofumi MORIYASU (19. Mark BRIDGE 76’), 8. Stuart MUSIALIK, 9. Bruno CAZARINE, 10. Nick CARLE, 14. David WILLIAMS (24. Dimitri PETRATOS 69’), 15. Terry MCFLYNN (c), 17. Matthew JURMAN, 21. Scott JAMIESON
Yellow card: Jurman (84’)
Red card: McFlynn (33’)

Suwon Bluewings: 1. JUNG Sung-Ryong (gk), 2. Mato NERETLJAK, 3. YANG Sang Min, 6. LEE Yong-Raw, 8. LEE Sang-Ho, 9. OH Jang-Eun, 10. CHOI Sung-Kuk (c), 14. OH Beom-Seok, 18. PARK Jong-Jin (12. LEE Hyun Jin 46’), 24. HWANG Jae-Wong, 26. YEOM Ki-Hun
Yellow cards: Lee Sang-Ho (33’), Neretljak (38’)
Red cards: None


AFC Champions League Group H Standings

Team

P

W

D

L

F

A

GD

Pts

1

Kashima Antlers (Japan)

1

0

1

0

0

0

0

1

2

Shanghai Shenhua (China)

1

0

1

0

0

0

0

1

3

Suwon Bluewings (Korea)

1

0

1

0

0

0

0

1

4

Sydney FC

1

0

1

0

0

0

0

1

 

AFC Champions League Other Results and Standings

Group A

P

W

D

L

F

A

GD

Pts

1

Sepahan (Iran)

1

1

0

0

2

1

1

3

2

Al Gharafa (Qatar)

1

0

1

0

0

0

0

1

3

Al Jazira (UAE)

1

0

1

0

0

0

0

1

4

Al Hilal (Saudi Arabia)

1

0

0

1

1

2

-1

 

Al Jazira 0-0 Al Gharafa
Al Hilal 1-2 Sepahan

Group B

P

W

D

L

F

A

GD

Pts

1

Al Nassr (Saudi Arabia)

1

0

1

0

2

2

0

1

2

Pakhtakor (Uzbekistan)

1

0

1

0

2

2

0

1

3

Al Sadd (Qatar)

1

0

1

0

1

1

0

1

4

Esteghlal (Iran)

1

0

1

0

1

1

0

1

Pakhtakor 2-2 Al Nassr
Esteghlal 1-1 Al Sadd

Group C

P

W

D

L

F

A

GD

Pts

1

Al Ittihad (Saudi Arabia)

1

1

0

0

3

1

2

3

2

Al Wahda (UAE)

1

0

1

0

1

1

0

1

3

Bunyodkor (Uzbekistan)

1

0

1

0

1

1

0

1

4

Piroozi Athletic (Iran)

1

0

0

1

1

3

-2

0

Al Wahda 1-1 Bunyodkor
Al Ittihad 3-1 Piroozi Athletic

Group D

P

W

D

L

F

A

GD

Pts

1

Zobahan (Iran)

1

1

0

0

2

1

1

3

2

Al Rayyan (Qatar)

1

0

1

0

1

1

0

1

3

Al Shabab (Saudi Arabia)

1

0

1

0

1

1

0

1

4

Emirates (UAE)

1

0

0

1

1

2

-1

0

Al Rayyan 1-1 Al Shabab
Zobahan 2-1 Emirates

Group F

P

W

D

L

F

A

GD

Pts

1

Hangzhou Greentown (China)

1

1

0

0

2

0

2

3

2

FC Seoul (Korea)

1

1

0

0

1

0

1

3

3

Al Ain (UAE)

1

0

0

1

0

1

-1

0

4

Nagoya Grampus (Japan)

1

0

0

1

0

2

-2

0

Hangzhou Greentown 2-0 Nagoya Grampus
Al Ain 0-1 FC Seoul

Group G

P

W

D

L

F

A

GD

Pts

1

Cerezo Osaka (Japan)

1

1

0

0

2

1

1

3

2

Jeonbuk Motors (Korea)

1

1

0

0

1

0

1

3

3

Arema Indonesia (Indonesia)

1

0

0

1

1

2

-1

0

4

Shandong Luneng (China)

1

0

0

1

0

1

-1

0

Jeonbuk Motors 1-0 Shandong Luneng
Cerezo Osaka 2-1 Arema Indonesia