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.