Victory bow out

Melbourne Victory last night bowed out of the Asian Champions League group stage for the second time in the clubs history. A 0-0 draw with Joel Griffith's Beijing Guoan eliminated the Victory who needed no less than a win to keep their slim hopes of continuing on to the final 16 in tact.

The match failed to reach any great heights with the home side in particular putting in a lackluster display which lacked cohesion for much of the evening. Beijing looked the most dangerous of the two sides and should have put the result beyond doubt in the first half however strikers Grifftihs and Brazilian Valdo squandered their opportunities. Melbourne's young goalkeeper Mitch Langerak, subject to interest from Bundesliga club Borissa Dortmund during the week, put in another solid shift between the posts for Ernie Merrick's side.

In the abscence of their marquee and fringe Socceroo Archie Thompson, Melbourne struggled to find a cutting edge up front with Nik Mrdja and Robbie Kruse working hard for no reward. An underdone Carlos Hernandez who had stuggled throughout the week with a virus had his output severley compromised and was only able to play just over a half of the match.

Hernandez's replacement, Costa Rican compatriot Marvin Angulo provided some spark for the Victory firing a shot from outside the box which stung the palms of Beijing's number one, however like the Victory's attempts on the night, it was to no avail.