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MELBOURNE Victory coach Kevin Muscat on Tuesday night hailed the 2-0 win over reigning Asian Champions League winners Guangzhou Evergrande as a momentous night in the club's nine-year history.
But Victory faces a nervous wait with Adrian Leijer injuring his left foot. The defender will have scans on Wednesday he was on crutches after hobbling off after 30 minutes, but officials were confident he hadn't suffered a break.
Mark Milligan and James Troisi's goals at the start and end of the match erased the bad memories of the loss in China and gives Victory a huge confidence boost going into Friday's A-League elimination final, also at Etihad Stadium.
Muscat labelled Group G the toughest in the ACL, but said Troisi's stoppage time sealer, which sparked wild celebrations, will boost the team ahead of the Sydney FC clash.
"It will help,'' Muscat said.
"They (the players) didn't let this club down, that's a very big night in this football club's history.
Melbourne Victory forward James Troisi celebrates his late sealer. Source: AFP
"We go to Jeonbuk (Korea) now for our final home game with our destiny in our own hands, but Friday night is very important for us now.
"I'm already thinking about Friday. I'll have to reflect on this but I said from the start we want to qualify (for the knockout phase).
"Right now I'm so proud of the group, it was an immense performance against a very good team that played well. But they were beaten by a better team.
"Not just winning a game but through some very good football against a very good team, current Asian champions who are expected to win the tournament.''
Melbourne Victory players Mark Milligan and Rashid Mahazi embrace after the final whistle. Source: AFP
Victory, who made six changes from the team that beat Wellington 4-1 last Saturday, will regain Gui Finkler for the Good Friday final and Archie Thompson, who missed after the passing of his brother-in-law.
Nick Ansell should come in for Leijer, so too unused sub Adama Traore while stars Milligan and Troisi should back up despite playing 90 minutes.
Evergrande coach Marcello Lippi lamented his side's host of missed chances but said Milligan's early goal was a crushing blow.
They now host Yokohama F Marinos in their final game and Lippi said if they lose the reigning champions don't deserve to advance past the group.
"For Melbourne it was good to get the goal after two minutes, this was important,'' Lippi said.
"We were very disappointed we didn't score, and we made too many mistakes.
"The last match we have a chance to continue to the knockout stage, but if we lose at home we can't go through.''
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