Victory big names won’t play in ACL clash as club eyes semi-final against Sydney FC

Eight of Melbourne Victory’s winning first XI will be spared the Asian Champions League trip to South Korea, setting up an intriguing travel subplot to Sunday week’s semi-final against Sydney FC.

Forwards Ola Toivonen (left) and Kosta Barbarouses are among eight Melbourne Victory stars who will be rested from Wednesday night’s Asian Champions League clash in South Korea. Picture: Getty Images

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Eight of Melbourne Victory’s winning first XI will be spared the Asian Champions League trip to South Korea, setting up an intriguing travel subplot to Sunday week’s semi-final against Sydney FC.

Elimination final man-of-the-match Ola Toivonen, Keisuke Honda, Terry Antonis, Lawrence Thomas, Leigh Broxham, Raul Baena, Kosta Barbarouses and Georg Niedermeier — who was left off the initial Asian Champions League list — will all remain in Melbourne to prepare for next Sunday’s clash at Jubilee Stadium. Ditto captain Carl Valeri, who started on the bench against Wellington.

In a replay of last season’s dramatic semi-final, and the grand final of the previous season, the winner will advance to the A-League grand final in a fortnight.

Forwards Ola Toivonen (left) and Kosta Barbarouses are among eight Melbourne Victory stars who will be rested from Wednesday night’s Asian Champions League clash in South Korea. Picture: Getty Images

In contrast to Victory, Sydney FC will take a near full-strength squad to South Korea as they seek to keep their Asian Champions League hopes alive, with only Alex Brosque and Rhyan Grant staying back, with the latter fighting to be fit after straining his hamstring.

Steve Corica’s Sky Blues face Ulsan Hyundai on Tuesday, while Victory plays Daegu on Wednesday meaning they will not return to Australia until Friday.

With Victory’s Asian campaign over, coach Kevin Muscat is diverting focus to the semi-final blockbuster with Sydney FC.

Victory’s squad arrived at AAMI Park for a 10am recovery session on Saturday, where Muscat, high performance coach Anthony Crea and assistant Carlos Perez Salvachua assessed the players.

Victory will send a youthful squad to South Korea on Sunday.

Japanese superstar Keisuke Honda will also be rested. Picture: Getty Images

“We assessed the players. (Football chief) Paul Trimboli’s got the hardest job from here on in with the flight cancellations, re-bookings and bookings. He’ll earn his keep over the next 24 hours,” Muscat said.

“I don’t know what Sydney are doing. I don’t know if it’ll be an advantage. I’m not concerned about taking an advantage based on what Sydney’s doing. I’ll use my energy and focus based on what’s best for us.”

While the Sky Blues are bottom of their Champions League group with three points from four games, they are just two points off second.

Left-back Michael Zullo, who returns to the squad after missing four games with a hamstring, said it was a huge week for the club.

“The whole season has really been leading up to this week, so for me personally this is probably the most important week of the season so far,” Zullo said.

Meanwhile, Wellington Phoenix announced Sydney FC assistant coach Ufuk Talay as their new boss on Saturday.

The former Australian youth team coach replaces Mark Rudan, who leaves after a season in New Zealand.