Melbourne Victory defender Matthew Foschini says it’s results or bust after his side slipped to the outer-edge of the top six on the back of their punishing loss to Brisbane Roar on New Years Eve.
Melbourne Victory defender Matthew Foschini says it’s results or bust after his side slipped to the outer-edge of the top six on the back of their punishing loss to Brisbane Roar on New Years Eve.
Victory were hurting post match. Harry Kewell had scored his first goal in open play for the club with a cavalier strike in the second minute. They’d counter-attacked with aplomb. They were one-nil up until the stroke of half-time.
But Brisbane turned on the one-touch magic that won them the Hyundai A-League double in 2010-11.
Mehment Durakovic admitted the Roar onslaught in the middle third had been exceptional, but rued missing the chance to take the jugular after seizing the early lead.
Hard working back Foschini was more condemning, demanding his side lift and achieve on the ladder.
“It was an onslaught. they were coming through the midfield and it was very hard to contain,” he said
“They just got good momentum, the crowd was behind them… They looked more desperate than us.”
“We have to lift. It’s two on the trot we’ve lost… we’re getting to the desperate stakes now. We can’t keep saying next week, next week.”
“It’s over the half way mark and we need to start collecting points because the end of the year will come soon.”
Marquee recruit Harry Kewell had moments of sheer class. But looking beyod his exceptional second minute lash, Kewell was little more than a passenger in the late stages of the second 45.
He refused to back-tackle and even on the counter he was left in the wake of his hard-trying midfielders.
But coach Durakovic said that Kewell had merely been one of a number of Victory troopers feeling the squeeze of the Roar’s anaconda-like pressure.
“Harry had a great first half and i thought he took his goal really, really well. On another day he could have had a couple more, but I was happy with his performance,” said Durakovic.
“Everybody really worked their socks off in the second half.. everybody tried to run as much as they can, but we got tired towards the end, to be honest.”
