Ten-man Melbourne Victory has resurrected its Asian Champions League hopes, beating Group E leaders Tianjin Teda 2-1 at Docklands on Wednesday night.
Two Victory goals in the minute prior to half-time turned the match entirely on its head after the home side trailed.
The win has lifted the Victory back into contention to qualify in the top two of their group and make the round of 16.
Tianjin grabbed an early lead when striker Chen Tao dispossessed Victory skipper Kevin Muscat mid-pitch, ran and finished sweetly in the 37th minute.
It was a deserved lead after the visitors had the better of the first period.
But the Victory stunned the Chinese side in the 44th minute, when Tianjin goalkeeper Zhao Yanming failed to deal with a curling Carlos Hernandez free-kick from 30 metres.
Then a minute later, China national team defender Cao Yang was adjudged to have fouled Robbie Kruse in the box.
Muscat made amends for his error by slotting home the penalty to give his side a half-time lead.
In a niggly match with several melees and nine yellow cards, Victory defender Surat Sukha was sent off for a second yellow card with eight minutes remaining.
The Victory now have a win and a draw from their four matches.
The other Group E match between Japan's Gamba Osaka and Jeju United of South Korea is being played later on Wednesday night.
Melbourne Victory: 2 (C Hernandez 43', K Muscat pen 45')
Tianjin Teda: 1 (T Chen 37')
- AAP
First posted April 20, 2011 21:34:00
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