Melbourne Victory striker Ney Fabiano has suffered an ankle injury during his side’s trial match against Chinese Super League outfit Guangzhou Pharmaceutical on Friday night.
The Brazilian rolled his ankle after just 11 minutes of the clash at Yuexiushan Stadium, which Melbourne lost 2-1, and had to be substituted by Danny Allsopp.
Fringe player Steven Pace was also a casualty after he sustained a dislocated shoulder and, along with Ney Fabiano, is expected to miss the Victory’s next engagement of their Chinese tour against Tianjin Teda on Sunday.
Guangzhou midfielders Li Yan and Lu Lin found the back of the net in the 33rd and 67th minute to ensure the win for the hosts.
Leigh Broxham salvaged some consolation for Melbourne with a cracking free-kick goal in stoppage time.
“We had a mixture of players in the first half and the second half to give everyone a run,” Melbourne coach Ernie Merrick said of the hit-out.
“To Guangzhou’s credit, they knocked the ball around well, they’re pretty quick and they deserved to win.”
“Our boys are pretty exhausted because it’s quite hot and humid here, but I wasn’t unhappy with the quality of the football.”
“I was very impressed again with Kevin Muscat, Matthew Kemp and Evan Berger, but Danny (Allsopp) and Archie (Thompson) just didn’t get enough service in the second half.”
