Looking nothing like the side that battered Bali United from pillar to post in their last home ACL fixture, the four-time A-League champions were poor in both defence and attack against the Thai champions – perhaps fortunate that, for all their struggles, Chiangrai was worse.

Nonetheless, in a silver lining for Victory, coach Carlos Salvachúa remains undefeated in Asia with the three points, they have scored seven goals against none conceded in the ACL, have definite room for improvement and, in the end, the most important thing when it comes to continental football is the result.

In a sign of things to come, a Kamsoba cutback to Migjen Basha at the top of the penalty area saw the Albanian sky a shot over the bar in the fourth minute of play, before a turnover by Adama Traore allowed Sivakorn Tiatrakul to set up a shot for Chaiyawat Buran – which he promptly shanked wide – two minutes later.  

It was one of a number of sloppy turnovers early doors from Victory, who were fortunate that their unsettled Thai opponents lacked the quality to punish them for their errors.

The sloppiness was combined with physicality; James Donachie bowling over Bill in defence, Tanasak Srisai cleaning up Brandon Lauton and a sloppy challenge from Basha on Chotipat Poomkaew – which earned him a yellow – among the early highlights.

Taking matters into his own hands, Victory captain Ola Toivonen almost produced the game's opener in the 22nd minute when, after some sharp build-up play from Andrew Nabbout and Kamsoba, he cut inside and drove in a shot that forced a supreme save from Apirak Worawong.

Worawong, though, could do little a minute later when Srisai dragged down Victory’s towering Swede as he attempted to defend a cross from Nabbout.

And while the 24-year-old custodian did guess right when he dove to his left on the resulting spot-kick, he wasn’t able to deny Toivonen as Victory took the lead.

Some tricky work from Kamsoba teed Nabbout up with a chance to make it 2-0 from the top of the box in the 31st minute only for the Victory attacker, in an area he really needs to be hitting the target from, to blast high and wide.

Up the other end, Brazilian attacker Bill was brought down by Lauton in the 33rd minute to allow Sivakorn Tiatrakul, one of the Thai side’s best, to try his luck with a free-kick that went wide.

A second free-kick in first-half injury time from the seven-time Thai international went straight into Lawrence Thomas’s breadbasket.

Victory had another golden chance to extend their lead in the 58th minute when a Basha corner found Nabbout in a yard of space at the top of the six-yard box, only for the Socceroo attacker's header to clatter off the frame of the goals and back into play.  

Disappointingly for the 4156 fans at AAMI Park, the next real chance of note took until the 80th minute to arrive; delivered when Kamsoba was played in on goal after some sublime build-up play from Marco Rojas.

Hesitating to pull the trigger, the Burundi international eventually put the ball over the bar with an effort that was perhaps a perfect encapsulation of the maddening haphazardness that dominated Tuesday night.

Capping off a frustrating night for the visitors, substitute Thirayu Banhan received a straight red card in the 90th minute when he leapt in with a horror, two-footed potential leg-breaker on Jay Barnett.  

Toivonen had one final chance to add a second with almost the last kick of the game, but his casual attempted flick on toward goal from close-range was saved by Warawong.

"I think in the second half [we were nervous]," Toivonen said post-game.

"I think in the first we controlled the game quite well. They were throwing long balls at us and we controlled the second balls quite well.

"I think we were a little bit scared of not winning the game."

Sloppy Play

Victory may have got the win on Tuesday night, but they by no means put in a good performance.

Despite ostensibly fielding what was close to his team’s strongest line-up, Carlos Salvachúa’s side was sloppy in their attempts to transition the ball from defence to attack against a Chiangrai side that was, without a doubt, inferior opposition.

On numerous occasions, potentially promising attacks broke down as a result of passes that were either behind and/or away from their teammates or, even worse, straight to a man wearing orange.

When they were forced to be slower with their build-up play, Chiangrai’s press only served to magnify the errors as the Victory’s midfield struggled to serve as a release valve for pressure.

When they didn’t have the ball, Victory’s attempts to win it back often left much to be desired – the physical nature of their play not indicative of a deliberate attempt to outmuscle their foes but, instead, haphazardness.

"[We are] satisfied with the points, of course," Salvachua said post-game.

"I want to be honest, the best performance was the 4000 people here today. We needed the win, but I think we were a little bit scared thinking we needed to win.

"We were sometimes nervous with the ball and we didn’t finish the chances that we had."

Though Chiangrai ultimately failed to capitalise on the chances gifted to them, the Thais were clearly a level below Victory despite their poor showing. They did have opportunities on the break that better sides – such as FC Seoul and Beijing Guoan – will punish.

"We thought we could get some goals from the counterattack," Chiangrai coach Sek-san Siripong said post-game.

"For the first 15 minutes we weren't in our game but after that, we adapted. We had hoped to get some goals from the counter, we think we will do a lot better when we play at home against Victory. 

"It was the first time in the ACL group stage. They have a lot of experience here. Melbourne Victory has played in Asia before, this is our first time. We will improve."

2020 has been widely tipped as Victory’s best chance, despite their poor A-League form, of advancing out of the ACL Group Stages for just the second time in their history.

But based on Tuesday night’s performance, such circumstances are incredibly unlikely to occur unless Victory’s performance was a case of them playing down to their opposition.

Whenever Rojas is not on screen, all the other characters should be asking, "Where's Rojas?"

He’s got to start at some point, right?

Once again, Victory’s ‘Kiwi Messi’ was absent from the starting XI when team sheets were distributed an hour before kick-off, with the 28-year-old having to wait until the 73rd minute to finally get a chance to impact proceedings when he was brought on for a visibly frustrated Nabbout.

The former Johnny Warren Medallist showed his class when he did eventually get a chance to strut his stuff, his fantastic build-up play in the 80th minute deserving of a much better finish than the one provided by Kamsoba.

"Of course, we saw today he was a different player," Salvachua said.

"[But] he’s not fit and we can’t afford to lose another player."

With the run of soft tissue injuries that Victory have had so far in 2019/20, arguments can perhaps be made in favour of easing their returning star but at some point  - especially with Robbie Kruse out injured for possibly the rest of the season – he’s got to be let off the chain.

Preferably before his side’s entire season goes down the drain.

Grab the Asia

On a bye in round 19, Victory’s thoughts can now zero in on their next Asian opponent – Korea powers FC Seoul.

Third-placed finishers in the K-League a season ago, coach Choi Yong-soo’s side won their way into the group stages of the ACL with a comfortable 4-1 win over Malaysian side Kedah FC.

Featuring the likes of Park Chu-young, Go Yo-han, Ju Se-jong, Spaniard Osmar, and Uzbek international Ikromjon Alibaev, they are certain to present a stiffer test than Chiangrai when the two sides meet in the South Korean capital next Tuesday.

Their first games cancelled as a precautionary measure thanks to the spread of Coronavirus, Perth Glory will commence their first-ever ACL campaign away to FC Tokyo while Sydney, in a must-see fixture, will take on Ange Postecoglou’s Yokohama F. Marinos on Wednesday evening.