For the second time in three years, Melbourne Victory’s AFC Champions League (ACL) fate rests on a trip to Jeonbuk Motors and Kosta Barbarouses hopes his team have more luck this time around.
Victory will take on Jeonbuk on Tuesday night knowing they must score in their Round of 16 second leg if they are to have any hope of progression to the ACL’s quarter-finals after last week’s 1-1 draw in Melbourne.
Two years ago, Victory visited Jeonju in their final group match knowing a win would take them into the knockout stages but a scoreless draw saw the home side advance instead.
The Big V were unlucky, however, with Barbarouses denied what looked to be a clear penalty in stoppage time as the A-League club were denied ACL progression for the fourth consecutive time.
“I didn’t start that game and I remember I came on before half-time. I think I’d just got back from the national team,” Barbarouses told Goal Australia.
“I got played through in stoppage time, in behind the left-back and I ran in behind him and I was just inside the box and pretty much through to cross it across goal if I got to the ball, and from what I remember it felt like a rugby tackle into the ground and the ref just waved away any penalty calls, which was pretty harsh.
“I thought it was pretty clear-cut penalty shout as pretty much anyone did.”
Barbarouses is one of six Victory players likely to start on Tuesday who also made the trip to Jeonju World Cup Stadium in 2014, which he reckons will help Kevin Muscat’s side.
After last week’s draw at AAMI Park, Barbarouses has underlined the importance of a positive mentality in South Korea.
“We really need to start well and hopefully take a couple more chances than we did in the last game in the home leg,” he said.
This week’s ACL clash will be Barbarouses’ final game in Victory colours, as the New Zealand international will return home next season to play for Wellington Phoenix.
The 26-year-old will be joined by veterans Archie Thompson and Matthieu Delpierre in saying goodbye following the match in South Korea, and Barbarouses would love to give Victory a farewell gift.
Barbarouses joined Victory in 2013 after a disappointing European sojourn and has won three trophies during his time at AAMI Park.
“These last three years have been probably the best time of my career,” he said.
“I’ve really enjoyed myself. Melbourne’s become like a second home to me and I’ve got nothing but really good memories here.
“We’ve achieved so much, especially in the last 18 months, and I’ll remember it for the rest of my life.”
