Keisuke Honda scores but Melbourne Victory lose ACL clash to Sanfrecce Hiroshima

Keisuke Honda threatened to become a villain in his home country after scoring an impressive goal for Victory in their Asian Champions League clash but heroics soon turned to heartbreak.

Melbourne Victory’s Keisuke Honda shields the ball from Sanfrecce Hiroshima’s Hiroki Mizumoto on Tuesday night.

Keisuke Honda suffered homecoming heartbreak, as Melbourne Victory surrendered a late goal at Sanfrecce Hiroshima to lose their Asian Champions League clash.

Honda threatened to become a villain in his home country, scoring an impressive late equaliser after breaking from midfield to slide in and finish after a clever Storm Roux cutback.

But Daiki Watari’s late winner was a harsh end to an impressive Victory performance, which included a continental starting debut for Anthony Lesiotis, 18.

It’s Victory’s second loss in Group F, leaving Kevin Muscat’s side with a crucial clash away to Chinese giants Guangzhou Evergrande on April 10.

Melbourne Victory’s Keisuke Honda shields the ball from Sanfrecce Hiroshima’s Hiroki Mizumoto on Tuesday night.

HONDA HOMECOMING

Honda was handed the captain’s armband for his first club game in Japan for 12 years and he was highly charged.

He found himself in a dangerous goalscoring position within two minutes, with the ball pinballing free.

Thereafter Honda found it tougher finding space in dangerous positions, but worked ferociously defensively, putting his body on the line as he committed three fouls early, including an AFL-style bump.

The fiercely patriotic Sanfrecce supporters group even jeered Honda at one stage.

Honda broke free just after the restart and unleashed a fierce drive that rocketed just over the crossbar.

His equaliser sent a hush through the crowd, who seemed unsure whether to cheer or not. Once the ground announcer said his name, they broke out into applause.

Melbourne Victory’s James Troisi holds off the challenge of Sanfrecce Hiroshima’s Hiroya Matsumoto. Picture: Getty Images

ROOKIE RECOVERY

While Tuesday night may not have been the making of Lesiotis, he will certainly take confidence from his Champions League debut.

Lesiotis, in just his seventh senior appearance and second start, could have gone to water after he and the Victory defence was caught out to concede within three minutes.

He kept his composure, kept it simple, moved the ball swiftly and took up intelligent positions with and without the ball.

With added protection from the more advanced Raul Baena, who dropped deeper to support, Lesiotis played a key role in a chance they engineered just before half time, when he ventured forward and probed.

Victory’s full-backs Storm Roux and Corey Brown sat deep, which left the midfielders bereft of options.

A further reshuffle took place when Ola Toivonen came off midway through the second half with a stomach bug, as Carl Valeri made his first appearance in six weeks.

It seemed to give Victory more balance and the full-backs more license to bomb on.

Muscat gave Lesiotis a warm embrace when he came off for Kenny Athiu, delighted with the youngster’s display.

“I am very proud of my team to come to Sanfrecce and to dominate the play and possession and be the more aggressive team,” Muscat said.

“Unfortunately, sometimes you’re not rewarded with the result.”

Japanese comedian and Keisuke Honda impersonator Junichi Davidson in the crowd on Tuesday night. Picture: Getty Imges

JAPANESE SUPERIORITY

As is the case with most J.League clubs compared to A-League ones, Sanfrecce don’t rely anywhere near as heavily on visa players.

Brazilian striker Patric was the only visa starter, with Swede Emil Salomonsson coming on at the break and Besart Berisha and Douglas Vieira watching from the stands.

Even with wholesale changes from the weekend, the youthful Sanfrecce side looked technically strong, sharp and threatening, underlined by goalscorer Higashi.

Having made just three J.League appearances, Higashi was a threat, backing up his early goal with a dangerous striker from distance.

Victory keeper Lawrence Thomas saved superbly off Tsukasa Morishima midway through the seond half, with James Troisi drew an equally stunning save from Hirotsugu Nakabuyashi moments later.

But Watari’s late strike was a dagger blow after a brave Victory performance.

SANFRECCE HIROSHIMA 2 (Higashi 3, Watari 86) MELBOURNE VICTORY 1 (Honda 71)

Crowd: 8968 at Hiroshima Big Arch Stadium

Sanfrecce (3-2-4-1): Nakabayashi; Araki, Ibayashi, Mizumoto (Kashiwa 77); Morishima,

Shimizu; Watari, Matsumoto, Wada (Notsuda 83), Higashi (Salomonssen 46); Patric.

Victory (4-4-2): Thomas; Roux, Donachie, Broxham, Brown; Lesiotis (Athiu 77), Baena,

Honda, Troisi; Barbarouses, Toivonen (Valeri 63).

Referee: Al Sabah Adday Al-qaysi (IRAQ)

Red cards: Nil.

DAVUTOVIC’S MAN OF THE MATCH

DAIKI WATARI (SANFRECCE/VICTORY)

His impressive late winner – a reward for hard running – capped off a superb midfield dispay.