Victory, Sky Blues face Asian Champions League do-or-die

The Asian Champions League hopes of our two biggest clubs could disappear at the hands of two Chinese heavyweights.

Guangzhou Evergrande’s Talisca, right, was a handful for Melbourne Victory. Picture: AFP

It’s the daunting task that could see the Asian Champions League hopes of Australia’s biggest clubs disappear within hours of each other at the hands of two Chinese heavyweights.

Melbourne Victory and Sydney will be up against it tonight as they look to make an impact in Asian football thousands of kilometres apart.

First up, and still looking for their first point in the group stage after three games, Victory face Guangzhou Evergrande at AAMI Park knowing a loss will eliminate them from the tournament.

The star-studded Guangzhou handed the Victory a 4-0 drubbing when they played just 11 days ago in China. That night exciting Brazilian striker Talisca tore them apart, scoring a brace inside the opening 12 minutes.

Back in Australia, Sydney FC at least put up a commendable fight, taking Shanghai SIPG all the way in a memorable 3-3 draw at Jubilee Stadium. The Sky Blues led three times only for the Chinese to fight back each time, including the equaliser in the dying minutes.

The return match will be played in Shanghai tonight and while SIPG will be more comfortable at home in front of their own fans, Sydney will be primed for another “red hot go”, according to coach Steve Corica.

Certainly the Sky Blues need to give this everything as they cannot afford to come away empty-handed. They are bottom of the group with two points from two draws, so they are not that far off the pace.

Importantly, the situation has worked out well for Sydney FC.

Having secured second spot on the A-League table, which ensures the team will have a bye in the first week of the finals, Corica will go into the game against Shanghai with his strongest starting XI as he has the luxury of resting some key players for the final match of the regular season against Newcastle Jets.

“We will throw everything at this game,” Corica, speaking from China, promised yesterday. “We are in a good position now in that we have options in which way to go selection wise. While we have left Alex Brosque and Michael Zullo back home because of injury, we will still field a very strong side and we can go into this game with a lot of confidence.”

Corica said his side will need to stop Shanghai’s trio of foreigners — Hulk, Elkeson and Oscar — if they are to have any chance of causing an upset. The Brazilians were superb against the Sky Blues last time out, with Elkeson coming up with the goal that rescued a point for the visitors.

“We just need to be a little more tactically aware tomorrow night,” Corica said. “Their foreigners can really hurt you so we have to be mindful of that. But we showed the other week that we can compete with them.”

Corica downplayed suggestions Iranian striker Reza Ghoochannejhad needs to do more. Signed in late January, the man they call Gucci has managed just the one goal so far.

“We are very happy with him because he has fitted in well to the team and the club culture,” he said. “He is playing well and I am sure the goals will come.”