The veteran Melbourne Victory striker, who is to leave the club at the end of his contract, was on target with the decisive second goal in a 2-1 Asian Champions League win over Gamba Osaka on Tuesday night, a triumph that ensured Victory qualified for the knockout phase for the first time in five attempts.

The navy blues join Sydney FC in the round of 16.

Thompson will get at least two more games in the ACL before he finishes at Victory, and he was delighted to prolong his farewell tour for another fortnight. So were his teammates Matthieu Delpierre, who is retiring at the end of May, and striker Kosta Barbarouses, who is leaving Victory to join Wellington Phoenix.

"It was very sweet in the context of it, qualifying for the next round and I survive another guillotine and create some more history," Thompson said.

'It was very important to get an early goal because 2-0 is always a dodgy score because they get one and it gets a little bit nervous at the end.

"Its massive to qualify ...

the goal was just a relief, it was beautiful, I felt great."

Thompson's children are in Europe but he is hoping they may be back for the round of 16 home tie against a yet to be determined opponent.

He was buoyed by the presence of his mother and close family who offered support on Tuesday night.

"I had my mum, sisters and brothers here. They made me less emotional. They probably cried enough for me."

For coach Kevin Muscat reaching the last 16 is a major feather in his cap and gives Victory the chance to make their mark in a continental competition.

Muscat was ecstatic after the win, which allowed Victory to advance at the expense of Korean club Suwon Bluewings.

"Its a big achievement considering we have had five attempts [to qualify before]," he said. "That joy is overriding. Its great for the club, we have managed to create some history a couple of times this year, we had never won the FFA Cup either.

"I am so elated. This has given me an unbelievable thirst [for the competition]," Muscat said, as he looks forward to preparing his side for the home and away clashes of the round of 16 on May 17 and May 24.

"We spoke about removing emotion. I am not ready to say goodbye yet.

"I am sick of speaking of Archie," Muscat joked when asked about Thompson's performance.

"It was typical, you could have written your articles this afternoon. We always had a sense that he would play a part in some moment that will give us some memories.

"It was written in the stars that he would have a moment, I just hope he's got one or two more."

The biggest issue Muscat faces over the next fortnight is to keep his players match-ready.

Their A-League season ended in the first week of the finals, on April 15, and they will have only had one competitive game in a month before the round of 16 starts.

The coach is not going to use that as an excuse but he acknowledges it is an issue.

So did Thompson: "We won't be playing any games and that always puts us behind the eight ball."

The striker is hoping that of the three teams Victory might play in the last 16 – Jeonbuk Motors of South Korea, Jiangsu of China or FC Tokyo – it is the latter who get the nod.

"I hope its not Jeonbuk Motors, its a pretty desolate place to go. Tokyo might be a last little hurrah," Thompson said.