2008–09 Melbourne Victory FC season
2008–2009 season | |||
---|---|---|---|
Manager | Ernie Merrick | ||
A-League Championship | 1st | ||
Pre-Season Challenge Cup | Champions | ||
A-League Premiership | 1st | ||
Top goalscorer | Daniel Allsopp (13) | ||
Highest home attendance | 53,273 vs Adelaide United (28 February 2009) | ||
Lowest home attendance | 18,036 vs Perth Glory (4 October 2008) | ||
Average home league attendance | 24,516 | ||
| |||
The 2008-09 Hyundai A-League season was Melbourne Victory's fourth season. They finished top of the table at the end of the regular season and defeated Adelaide United in the Grand Final to take their second A-League title.
Season summary[]
The 2008–09 season brought the start of the A-League Youth League and the introduction of the W-League with Melbourne fielding teams in both competitions. Melbourne actively recruited, bringing in Socceroo Michael Thwaite on a one-year loan,[1] Costa Rican World Cup player José Luis López,[2] as well as Ney Fabiano from Asian Champions League rivals Chonburi FC.[3]
Melbourne's season got off to an optimal start, winning the Pre-Season Challenge Cup. A 0–0 draw resulted in a penalty shoot-out, with Victory winning 8–7 on penalties against Wellington Phoenix.[4]
After winning the pre-season cup, the Victory were held to a 0–0 draw away against Sydney FC.[5] They reinforced their premiership favouritism by coasting to 4–2 and 5–0 victories against Wellington Phoenix and the Newcastle Jets respectively.[6][7] Despite this, they succumbed 0–2 to an undermanned Sydney side at the Telstra Dome in front of 31,564 fans.[8]
On 6 December 2008, Melbourne Victory became the first A-League club to amass total crowd figures of 1,000,000 after their away match against Perth Glory.
On 24 January 2009, Melbourne Victory won its final game of the season against Wellington Phoenix.[9] The 2–0 win in front of 28,905 fans placed Victory ahead of Adelaide United on goals scored for the premiership title, a margin United failed to achieve in its 1–0 win over the Central Coast Mariners.
The Victory kicked off their finals campaign on 7 February 2009 in the major semi-final first leg against bitter rival Adelaide United at Hindmarsh Stadium, a game which was won courtesy of goals from Carlos Hernández and Danny Allsopp.[10] In the second leg Melbourne defeated Adelaide United 4–0 with goals from Archie Thompson, Hernandez, Allsopp and Tom Pondeljak, granting Melbourne passage to the Grand Final on a 6–0 aggregate.[11]
Adelaide then defeated Queensland Roar to set up a rematch with Melbourne in the Grand Final,[12] which the Victory won 1–0 with Tom Pondeljak scoring in the 59th minute to regain the A-League Championship and becoming the first A-League team to win their second championship,[13] a feat since achieved by Sydney FC and Brisbane Roar.
Players[]
First team squad[]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Transfers[]
In
Player | From | League | Fee | Date |
---|---|---|---|---|
Billy Celeski | Perth Glory | A-League | – | February 2008 |
Tom Pondeljak | Central Coast Mariners | A-League | – | February 2008 |
Nathan Elasi | Marconi Stallions | New South Wales Premier League | – | February 2008 |
Steve Mautone* | Retired | None | – | February 2008 |
Ney Fabiano[14] | Chonburi FC | Thailand Premier League | US$13,500 | 1 July 2008 |
Michael Thwaite | SK Brann | Norwegian Premier League | Loan | 1 July 2008 |
José Luis López | Deportivo Saprissa | Primera División de Costa Rica | Loan | 14 July 2008 |
* Steve Mautone is the current Melbourne Victory Goalkeeping coach and was named as the third choice goalkeeper for the AFC Champions League
Out
Player | To | League | Fee | Date |
---|---|---|---|---|
Ljubo Milicevic | Released | – | – | February 2008 |
Steve Mautone | Retired | – | – | June 2008 |
Adrian Caceres | Central Coast Mariners | A-League | – | July 2008 |
Daniel Piorkowski | Released | – | – | July 2008 |
Leandro Love | Vissel Kobe (loan ended) | J.League | – | July 2008 |
Kaz Patafta[15] | Newcastle Jets | A-League | – | July 2008 |
Matches[]
2008 Pre-Season Cup fixtures[]
Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Melbourne Victory | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2 | +1 | 6 | Advances to final |
Adelaide United | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | +1 | 5 | |
Newcastle Jets | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | −1 | 2 | |
Perth Glory | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | −1 | 2 |
20 July 2008 Group Stage | Melbourne Victory | 1 : 2 | Adelaide United | showAurora Stadium, Launceston |
26 July 2008 Group Stage | Perth Glory | 0 : 1 | Melbourne Victory | showMembers Equity Stadium, Perth |
2 August 2008 Group Stage | Newcastle Jets | 0 : 1 | Melbourne Victory | showPort Macquarie Regional Stadium, Port Macquarie |
6 August 2008 Final | Wellington Phoenix | 0 : 0 | Melbourne Victory | showWestpac Stadium, Wellington |
2008-09 Hyundai A-League fixtures[]
16 August 2008 Round 1 | Sydney FC | 0 : 0 | Melbourne Victory | showSydney Football Stadium, Sydney |
24 August 2008 Round 2 | Wellington Phoenix | 2 : 4 | Melbourne Victory | showWestpac Stadium, Wellington |
29 August 2008 Round 3 | Melbourne Victory | 5 : 0 | Newcastle Jets | showTelstra Dome, Melbourne |
12 September 2008 Round 4 | Melbourne Victory | 1 : 0 | Adelaide United | showTelstra Dome, Melbourne |
20 September 2008 Round 5 | Central Coast Mariners | 2 : 2 | Melbourne Victory | showBluetongue Stadium, Gosford |
28 September 2008 Round 6 | Melbourne Victory | 0 : 2 | Queensland Roar | showTelstra Dome, Melbourne |
4 October 2008 Round 7 | Melbourne Victory | 4 : 0 | Perth Glory | showTelstra Dome, Melbourne |
18 October 2008 Round 8 | Newcastle Jets | 1 : 0 | Melbourne Victory | showEnergyAustralia Stadium, Newcastle |
25 October 2008 Round 9 | Melbourne Victory | 0 : 2 | Sydney FC | showTelstra Dome, Melbourne |
31 October 2008 Round 10 | Adelaide United | 2 : 3 | Melbourne Victory | showHindmarsh Stadium, Adelaide |
8 November 2008 Round 11 | Queensland Roar | 0 : 1 | Melbourne Victory | showSuncorp Stadium, Brisbane |
21 November 2008 Round 12 | Melbourne Victory | 2 : 1 | Central Coast Mariners | showTelstra Dome, Melbourne |
28 November 2008 Round 13 | Wellington Phoenix | 2 : 1 | Melbourne Victory | showWestpac Stadium, Wellington |
6 December 2008 Round 14 | Perth Glory | 3 : 1 | Melbourne Victory | showMembers Equity Stadium, Perth |
19 December 2008 Round 15 | Newcastle Jets | 4 : 2 | Melbourne Victory | showEnergyAustralia Stadium, Newcastle |
27 December 2008 Round 16 | Melbourne Victory | 3 : 2 | Sydney FC | showTelstra Dome, Melbourne |
2 January 2009 Round 17 | Melbourne Victory | 2 : 1 | Queensland Roar | showTelstra Dome, Melbourne |
6 January 2009[16] Round 18 | Melbourne Victory | 1 : 0 | Adelaide United | showTelstra Dome, Melbourne |
11 January 2009 Round 19 | Perth Glory | 3 : 2 | Melbourne Victory | showMembers Equity Stadium, Perth |
16 January 2009 Round 20 | Melbourne Victory | 3 : 0 | Central Coast Mariners | showTelstra Dome, Melbourne |
23 January 2009 Round 21 | Melbourne Victory | 2 : 0 | Wellington Phoenix | showTelstra Dome, Melbourne |
2008-09 finals series[]
7 February 2009 Major Semi Final Leg 1 | Adelaide United | 0 : 2 | Melbourne Victory, | showHindmarsh Stadium, Adelaide |
14 February 2009 Major Semi Final Leg 2 | Melbourne Victory | 4 : 0 | Adelaide United | showTelstra Dome, Melbourne |
28 February 2009 Grand Final | Melbourne Victory | 1 : 0 | Adelaide United | showTelstra Dome, Melbourne |
Statistics[]
Goals[]
Total | Player | Goals per Round | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | S1 | S2 | GF | |||
13 | Daniel Allsopp | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |||||||||||||||
9 | Archie Thompson | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||
5 | Ney Fabiano | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||
5 | Kevin Muscat | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||
4 | Carlos Hernández | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||
3 | Tom Pondeljak | 1 | 1 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
2 | Grant Brebner | 1 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
2 | Rodrigo Vargas | 1 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
2 | Nick Ward | 1 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
1 | Billy Celeski | 1 |
A-League[]
Ladder[]
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Melbourne Victory (C) | 21 | 12 | 2 | 7 | 39 | 27 | +12 | 38 | Finals Series and 2010 AFC Champions League Group stage |
2 | Adelaide United | 21 | 11 | 5 | 5 | 31 | 19 | +12 | 38 | |
3 | Queensland Roar | 21 | 10 | 6 | 5 | 36 | 25 | +11 | 36 | Finals Series |
4 | Central Coast Mariners | 21 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 35 | 32 | +3 | 28 | |
5 | Sydney FC | 21 | 7 | 5 | 9 | 33 | 32 | +1 | 26 | |
6 | Wellington Phoenix | 21 | 7 | 5 | 9 | 23 | 31 | −8 | 26 | |
7 | Perth Glory | 21 | 6 | 4 | 11 | 31 | 44 | −13 | 22 | |
8 | Newcastle Jets | 21 | 4 | 6 | 11 | 21 | 39 | −18 | 18 |
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
(C) Champion
Finals series[]
Semi Finals | Preliminary Final | Grand Final | ||||||||||||
L1 | L2 | |||||||||||||
1 | Melbourne Victory | 2 | 4 | |||||||||||
2 | Adelaide United | 0 | 0 | Melbourne Victory | 1 | |||||||||
Adelaide United | 1 | Adelaide United | 0 | |||||||||||
Queensland Roar | 0 | |||||||||||||
3 | Queensland Roar | 2 | 2 | |||||||||||
4 | Central Coast Mariners | 0 | 1 |
2008–09 Awards[]
- Victory Medal
- Players' Player of the Year
- Clubman of the Year
- Golden Boot
- Women's Player of the Year
- Brittany Timko
- Youth Team Player of the Year
W-League[]
2008–09 Westfield W-League fixtures[]
25 October 2008 | Melbourne Victory | 2 : 0 | Central Coast Mariners | showTelstra Dome |
1 November 2008 | Sydney FC | 2 : 1 | Melbourne Victory | showParramatta Stadium |
8 November 2008 | Melbourne Victory | 3 : 0 | Perth Glory | showBob Jane Stadium |
15 November 2008 | Melbourne Victory | 0 : 1 | Canberra United | showBob Jane Stadium |
22 November 2008 | Queensland Roar | 2 : 0 | Melbourne Victory | showBallymore Stadium |
29 November 2008 | Adelaide United | 0 : 3 | Melbourne Victory | showHindmarsh Stadium |
6 December 2008 | Melbourne Victory | 1 : 0 | Newcastle Jets | showEpping Stadium |
13 December 2008 | Melbourne Victory | 1 : 3 | Queensland Roar | showEpping Stadium |
20 December 2008 | Canberra United | 3 : 2 | Melbourne Victory | showMcKellar Park |
28 December 2008 | Central Coast Mariners | 2 : 0 | Melbourne Victory | showParramatta Stadium |
References[]
- ^ "Thwaite Signs For Victory". FourFourTwo Australia. Haymarket Group. 19 June 2008. Retrieved 28 June 2011.
- ^ "Pupy Lopez Signs For Victory (At Last)". FourFourTwo Australia. Haymarket Group. 14 July 2008. Archived from the original on 5 October 2012. Retrieved 28 June 2011.
- ^ Desira, Peter (24 May 2008). "Ney Fabiano signs two-year deal with Melbourne Victory". Herald Sun. Herald and Weekly Times. Retrieved 28 June 2011.
- ^ "Victory claim Pre-Season Cup". A-League Official Website. 6 August 2008. Archived from the original on 18 May 2011. Retrieved 28 June 2011.
- ^ "Sydney and Melbourne share honours". A-League Official Website. 16 August 2008. Archived from the original on 6 July 2007. Retrieved 28 June 2011.
- ^ "Clinical Victory blasts past Phoenix". A-League Official Website. 24 August 2008. Archived from the original on 5 March 2011. Retrieved 1 July 2011.
- ^ "Victory run riot". A-League Official Website. 29 August 2008. Archived from the original on 6 July 2007. Retrieved 1 July 2011.
- ^ "Sydney's double bonus". A-League Official Website. 25 October 2008. Archived from the original on 6 July 2007. Retrieved 28 June 2011.
- ^ "Victory get jump in premiers' race". A-League Official Website. 23 January 2009. Retrieved 28 June 2011.[permanent dead link]
- ^ Goraya, Raman (7 February 2009). "Victory head home with hefty advantage". ABC News.
- ^ Maasdorp, James (14 February 2009). "Victory maul Adelaide en route to home final". ABC News. Retrieved 28 June 2011.
- ^ "Adelaide earns shot at redemption". ABC News. 21 February 2009. Retrieved 28 June 2011.
- ^ "Victory prevail in epic". A-League Official Website. 28 February 2009. Archived from the original on 3 March 2011. Retrieved 28 June 2011.
- ^ FIFA.com Fabiano leaves Chonburi for Victory Accessed 31 May 2008
- ^ a-league.com.au Patafta moves north to join Newcastle Archived 18 May 2011 at the Wayback Machine Accessed 31 May 2008
- ^ Match re-scheduled due to Adelaide's participation in FIFA Club World Cup
External links[]
- Melbourne – Official Website
- Pictures of Melbourne supporters
- MVFC – Melbourne Victory Videos
- Melbourne Victory FC seasons
- 2008–09 A-League season by team