Following Melbourne Victory’s 2-1 with over Muangthong United, striker Archie Thompson was happy with the team’s result in Geelong, and was happy to have qualified into a group full of high quality opponents.
The hosts were dominant in large spells throughout the contest, and would’ve have gone into the break ahead had it not been for the heroics of Muangthong United goalkeeper Visanusak Kaewruang.
“He’s actually had a worldy today!” Thompson said.
“I probably think the best two players out there were the two goalkeepers. I think Troisi had about 20 shots and he saved like 19 of them. He was great tonight. Any other day it could’ve been like a 10-2 or 10-3.”
In the end the match was won thanks to a heavily deflected goal from vice-captain Leigh Broxham, and Thompson was happy enough for his teammate.
“Well it took about six deflections before it went in!” he said.
“He said actually it probably wasn’t one of his better games but then you turn up and then you score a goal like that and you end up winning the match and you’re a hero.
“And he just said to me in the changeroom, he goes: ‘I tell you what, it must feel good scoring every week!’.
“I’d love to do that even though you haven’t had the best of games you still score a goal and end up winning it. He grinded hard and got the result.”
Waiting for Victory in the Group Stage are defending champions Guangzhou Evergrande, 2006 winner and 2011 runner-up Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors, and Japanese Emperor’s Cup champions Yokohama F. Marinos, who also came within a whisker of winning the J. League last season.
Thompson was excited to be facing such high quality opposition, and thinks that there are plenty of benefits to come out of being challenged by the best in Asia.
“I think [Guangzhou Evergrande] ended up winning the competition last year so every team that we’re playing in the group phase, I think either won the championship or came second,” he said.
“We’re in for a tough, tough couple of months but that’s only going to build our experience with some of our younger guys and we’ll be looking to get through it.
“We’re not going to turn up and make the numbers we’re going to try and do the best we can. The quality they have in those teams, I think the money that they have to buy players is obviously a lot more than we do but we’ll turn up and do the best we can and that’s all we can do.”
The immediate focus for the club has turned to this Saturday night’s big clash against Adelaide United.
Despite the Reds coming into good form in recent weeks, Thompson is confident in Victory have what it takes to beat them and go back above them on the table.
“They had a great win last night and it’s so funny. People put a lot of pressure on teams that win one game two, three nil apparently now they’re going to win the league,” he said.
“They had a great performance yesterday but we’re looking forward to building on our last three performances.
“We’re starting to get some cohesion back, players are starting to get back into the team so Adelaide ain’t going to be in for an easy task I’ll tell you that now.”