Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League 2008
Background Information: Melbourne Victory
Melbourne
Victory Football Club plays in the Hyundai A-League, and is
the sole representative club in Victoria. This one city,
one town concept has seen Melbourne Victory average crowds
of 30,000 at home games, which are played at Telstra Dome.
Season 2006/07 was extremely successful for Melbourne
Victory, who were not only crowned Minor Premiers (finished
first at the conclusion of the home and away season), but
also crowned Champions following the thrashing of rival city
and team, Adelaide United, 6 goals to nil. The Grand Final
attracted a record crowd of 55,436 fans – the highest crowd
attendance for a football match in Australia, and also meant
that Melbourne Victory had qualified for it’s first AFC
Champions League campaign.
The AFC Champions League is Asia’s premier club
competition, involving 29 club sides from 14 countries.
Melbourne Victory has been drawn in Group G and will play
against Chonburi FC (Thailand), Gamba Osaka (Japan) and the
Chunnam Dragons (Korea Republic).
Background Information: Chonburi FC
Chonburi FC was founded in 2002 and, along with Melbourne
Victory, is competing in the AFC Champions League for the
first time after convincingly winning the Thailand Premier
League in its second season.
Known as ‘the Shark’, Chonburi produced a remarkable effort
to win 19 of its 30 matches last year, becoming the first
team from outside Bangkok to claim the Thailand Premier
League title in its 11 season history.
Chonburi is park of a worldwide alliance with Manchester
City and recently had two of its star defenders, Suree Sukha
and Kiatprawut Saiwaeo, move to the English Premier League
outfit as part of the agreement.
Based in eastern Thailand, the Shark will be buoyed by
strong support from its fans, which were recently dubbed
“the most famous in the Thailand Premier League” by their
goalkeeper, Kosin Hathairattanakool.
Game Details:
Melbourne Victory versus Chonburi FC (Thailand)
Wednesday 21 May, 2008
Kick off 7.30pm, Telstra Dome
Ticket Details:
Tickets are on sale and can be purchased at Ticketmaster
through Ticketmaster outlets, online at ticketmaster.com.au
or by calling 136 100
Background information on Players attending the Thai
Festival on Sunday 2nd March 2008:
Grant Brebner –
was signed by Melbourne Victory to add strength and
knowledge to the midfield. He boats a weight of experience,
having started his career alongside David Beckham at
Manchester United as a junior.
Nathan Elasi – a
Qantas Young Socceroo recruited from Marconi Stallions in
the NSW Premier League, Nathan has been signed specifically
for the Champions League. As a striker, Nathan will be keen
to get his name of the scoring sheet.
Mitchell Langerak –
Qantas Young Socceroo recruited from Bundaberg Waves in
Queensland. Mitchell made his debut for the Qantas Young
Socceroos against Argentina in 2006, before going on to
represent Australia at the AFC Youth Championships in
India. He came to Melbourne Victory highly recommended.
Daniel Piorkowski –
Former Qantas Young Socceroo recruited from Melbourne
Knights in the National Soccer League. Daniel is a gifted
defender whose international career and time at Victory has
been interrupted due to injury.
Go to Melbourne Victory's
website
