HONOUR was restored, pride regained and Melbourne Victory's interim coaching staff, headed by Mehmet Durakovic, made a compelling statement to be given the job full-time after Victory drew 1-1 with Gamba Osaka at Etihad Stadium last night.

In all probability it will not be enough, but mathematically Victory is still just alive and can travel to Korea next week knowing that a win against Jeju United might be enough for it to scrape through to the knockout stage of the Asian Champions League, depending on other results overnight and next week.

Relief: Kevin Muscat congratulates Adrian Leijer on his goal. Credit:AFP

Whatever happens, Victory can take succour from a measurably better performance against a team that humbled it in Osaka two months ago. On that occasion Victory was 3-0 down after just 11 minutes, its campaign looking over before it had begun.

But last night Victory got off to the sort of flyer that surely the retiring Kevin Muscat and caretaker coach Durakovic could only have dreamed of. Not only did it look sharper and quicker, it played with more precision and vigour than at any other time in Durakovic's short tenure.