Robbie Kruse’s season seems over after he suffered a serious knee injury in Victory’s loss to Vissel Kobe

Losing an AFC Champions League playoff has been made worse for Melbourne Victory by Robbie Kruse’s suspected ACL tear.

Melbourne Victory coach Tony Popovic addresses his players before the second half of extra time on Tuesday night in Japan. Picture: Masashi Hara/Getty Images

The pain of failing to reach the AFC Champions League group stage has been amplified for Melbourne Victory by a serious knee injury to veteran attacker Robbie Kruse.

In what Victory coach Tony Popovic described as a “wonderful performance”, the brave Melbourne club was beaten 4-3 in extra-time by cashed-up Japanese outfit Vissel Kobe in Tuesday night’s playoff in Hyogo.

But while failing to reach the Champions League hurt the Victory, a suspected ruptured anterior cruciate ligament suffered by former Socceroo Kruse was the club’s immediate concern.

Kruse, 33, will have scans on Thursday after the Victory squad arrives home, with his long-time agent John Grimaud fearing the worst.

“The news isn’t great for Robbie. Suspected ACL which will end his season. Devastating for Robbie and Melbourne Victory,” Grimaud tweeted.

“Find out more next 24-48 hours but tests done so far indicate damage to his ACL.

“I sincerely hope he wants to keep going. He still has so much to offer Melbourne Victory and the A-League.”

🎥 @Benfolami9’s strike to send it into extra-time!! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/p1gLFvayBp

— Melbourne Victory (@gomvfc) March 15, 2022

Another key Victory attacker, Chris Ikonomidis, will also have scans this week after injuring his hamstring.

“We’ll go home disappointed but very proud of the performance we put on,” Popovic said.

“It was a wonderful performance. I couldn’t be more proud for what did for our football club, for Melbourne Victory (and) for our league in Australia.”

Nick D’Agostino’s second goal of the night gave the Victory a 2-1 lead in the 71st minute, before the hosts responded with a Yuya Osako brace to put them 3-2 ahead in the 87th minute.

However, the Victory didn’t drop their heads, with substitute Ben Folami scoring a cracker in the 90th minute to send the match to extra-time.

Kobe again went ahead five minutes into extra-time via Brazilian striker Lincoln, and this time Popovic’s men couldn’t find a way back.

“We don’t have the squad depth or the resources that Vissel has, but what we have is players that give everything,” the Victory coach said.

“They did everything they could to win the match. In the end it could have went either way.

“The quality of players they have to bring on made the difference in the end.

“The players from Vissel were physically better. This is expected.”

Originally published as Robbie Kruse’s season seems over after he suffered a serious knee injury in Victory’s loss to Vissel Kobe