AFC Champions League is football’s next big thing

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By Mike Tuckerman, 14 May 2010 Mike Tuckerman is a Roar Expert

Tagged:: Adelaide United, AFC Champions League, Jeonbuk, World Football

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It was one of the most gripping games of football ever seen in Australia. Following 120 minutes of pulsating action, K-League side Jeonbuk Motors finally stood triumphant after substitute Lee Dong-Guk’s header broke 12,000 hearts inside a raucous Hindmarsh Stadium.

Those who ever doubted the drama of the AFC Champions League can step aside – Jeonbuk’s gripping 3-2 win over Adelaide United in an exhilarating Round of 16 encounter proved that Asian football has all the ingredients to keep fans glued to the edge of their seats.

It was a match that had everything: a partisan home crowd, some Brazilian magic, moments of shoddy defending and a couple of flying wingers who brought back memories of the attacking football of yore.

A-League clubs should be willing to break the bank to sign a player like Jeonbuk’s winger Choi Tae-Uk, after the former South Korean international thrilled the crowd with a mesmerising display full of penetrative runs and wonderful close control.

But it was Eninho who did the early damage to the Reds, scoring once with a skewed volley, before conjuring an altogether more convincing goal with a rasping drive from the edge of the penalty area.

Twice Adelaide returned fire – first through Robert Cornthwaite’s glancing header, then through Sergio van Dijk’s incredible stoppage-time equaliser, as the burly striker took advantage of a helter-skelter moment inside the Jeonbuk penalty area to score with virtually the last kick of normal time.

“The fans were fired up early, but sunk into a hole as the game appeared to slip away from the Reds late in the second half. But Hindmarsh exploded with that late equaliser,” Channel 9 sports reporter Andrew Montesi told me after witnessing all the drama.

That an exhausted Adelaide eventually fell to Lee’s precise far post header deep into the second half of extra-time is no great shame, the out-of-season Reds should hold their heads high for going the distance against a ferociously committed Jeonbuk side.

I expect that the reigning South Korean champions will be incredibly tough to beat from here on in, although Saudi sides Al-Shabab and Al-Hilal may just have something to say about that – not to mention the three other K-League sides who also advanced to the quarter-finals.

Some schoolboy defending aside, the quality of football on display at Hindmarsh Stadium on Wednesday night mirrors that which we’ve seen in several Champions League games this season.

Adelaide raised their game to be competitive in this year’s tournament, and far from their Champions League exit marking an end to a disappointing campaign, it could be the precursor to an exciting A-League season ahead.

Some of the credit for Wednesday night’s enthralling clash must go to Qatari referee Abdulrahman Mohammed Hussein, who controlled the game with a minimum of fuss, letting the tempo flow and keeping a close eye on play-acting.

I hope Hussein’s excellent officiating did not go unnoticed by the AFC, whose referees have had a tendency to ignore play-acting and overlook unnecessarily physical challenges in certain Champions League games thus far.

I watched Atletico Madrid’s narrow 2-1 win over Fulham in the inaugural Europa League final the following morning, and while it too was an absorbing contest, I found myself far more involved in Adelaide’s travails against the tricky South Koreans.

Perhaps it was watching an Australian team go around that managed to reel me in emotionally, but like so many A-League fans who now find themselves watching less European football, I too find myself more interested in what is going on in the AFC Champions League than what is happening on the other side of the world.

We all know that it will take time to build a respectable Asian club tournament across such a sprawling, multicultural continent.

But if the sheer drama of Adelaide’s Round of 16 defeat is anything to go, I hope I’m not premature in suggesting that the AFC Champions League has the potential to be football’s “next big thing.”

Follow Mike on twitter @Mike_Tuckerman

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The Crowd Says (37) | Page 1 of Comments

MV Dave said | May 14th 2010 @ 8:02am | Report comment

Agreed Mike…it was a cracker. If only Leckie hadnt been suspended (i know the Koreans were missing some players also) as he gives them some spark. The Korean team were excellent and what a refreshing change to see an away team willing to attack. Eninho was superb…wonder how much he would cost an A League team? Terrific crowd, dramatic game, midweek fixture…yep l reckon the ACL will just continue to get better.

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Eamonn Flanagan said | May 14th 2010 @ 8:16am | Report comment

Absolute belter, Mike.

Couldn’t be bothered watching Athletico Madrid v Fulham. Why would you turn the TV on for Fulham if you live in Australia…ever?

But one of the best sights in Aussie sport is Adelaide United at home, and particularly in midweek games in Asia. This was a fantastic game, full of twists and turns and despite what anyone says budgets do count in football, and United have over-achieved once more.

Imagine what they could do if they could afford just one of the Korean forwards to add to their team! And won’t it be fantastic to see Flores and Leckie in the A-League this season.

Hmmn Flores..what he could do in Asia against top class sides…gets me all excited what he maybe able to show against…well The Mariners for example!

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- Bob said | May 14th 2010 @ 9:16am | Report comment
  
  Why does anyone watch the Europa League… ever?
  
  The competition to decide the title of “Europe’s best Second rate team”. Why does it exist?
  
  While we are at it why not create a “FIFA World Cup 2″ where mediocre national sides can compete for the “honour” of being the Worlds 33rd best team.
  
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  - Ricky J said | May 14th 2010 @ 12:32pm | Report comment
    
    NZ would be a shoe-in if FIFA World Cup Division 2 was held.
    
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- AndyRoo said | May 14th 2010 @ 9:19am | Report comment
  
  Well Fulham did come to Australia last season and apparently their Goal keeper has some connection to Australia
  
  Edit: Bob, I would watch it if Australia was in it…. might win
  
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David said | May 14th 2010 @ 9:00am | Report comment

Cracker of a match sad AUFC didnt win but it was a quality game!

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StrikerX said | May 14th 2010 @ 9:17am | Report comment

These mid-week Asian nights are a joy for football followers and a real football education. The ACL is an epic and exotic competition which opens up so many new frontiers and brings us the best players in Asian leagues who we might not otherwise see. The spectacle of big matches across the metropolises of Asia into the future could be something to behold. Muscat was so wrong.

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mahony said | May 14th 2010 @ 9:20am | Report comment

As a Melbourne person it pains me to admit it – but the game was great – not becasue Adeliade lost (that is just a bonus) but because Adelaide performced so well and took it to their highly fancied opponents in an open style. Congratulations to both teams on an absolute cracker. I hope your predictions about future success for the AFC Champions League proove true – I am more engrossed byu it every year – despite Melbournes problems and subsiquent performances!

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Joe FC said | May 14th 2010 @ 9:42am | Report comment

Agreed Mike great game & compulsive viewing. Looking forward to SFC competing next season.

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AndyRoo said | May 14th 2010 @ 9:47am | Report comment

I have been burnt before by watching ACL matches. Pretty much anything involving the CSL (Beijing Guon aside) has been anti entertainment. Turned this game on around the 20th minute just to check the score was riveting from that moment on. Was a fantastic match and one of the most amazing I have seen (in ANY competition).
Adelaide and Jeonbuki both played their part and the crowd was amazing (they really lifted right before each of Adelaides goals) and credit to the ultras from Korea. It looked like they might have only ahd a few make the journey and the other Koreans were living localy?

Also the goal keeper refusing to get the ball out of the back of the net after Adelaides second was great as I didn’t see anything thrown on the pitch. Must have been the crazies who took their shirts off in such cold weather that scared him.
Credit to Jeonbuk for the fact they kept playing until the last minute and you were right to give kudos to the ref. Their were 50 plus fouls but was still a great game to watch. He’s probably disadvantaged in being from Qatar in that any appointment would look like favoritism but he deserves a promotion on merit.

Off the field I don’t know what too take from it other than hoping the AFC give us more spots or transfer a group from West to East to make more room for us. Any FFA cup competition that comes in should be played in Winter I feel to help the teams in the ACL keep up their match fitness.

Perhaps Crazy but given we don’t have a pure home and away set up and finals would it be wrong to give bonus points in the A league for qualifying for the knockout stage in the ACL. Say 5 points for 1st and 3 points for second. Give the teams an incentive for doing well in the ACL and make sure it doesn’t hurt their domestic campaign.

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Phutbol said | May 14th 2010 @ 9:53am | Report comment

I was upstairs watching the game on ‘my’ TV at home while the family was downstairs watching other stuff…

There were 2 moments in the game – Dodd’s miscue in front of goal from the cross in the first half, and Sergio’s header that went wide in the dying minutes of overtime. On both occassions I let out an audible “ohhhhh” as they happened, to which the family called up and asked if everything was ok? I smiled to myself because It reminded me that this is what football has that makes it special – those instances of such intensity that you cant help but express yourself.

And I dont even support Adelaide.

I also have become less interested in the Euro product. it may be technically better, but as Aussies, we have some ‘ownership’ of the local product.

Great game and great advertisment for Asian football.

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whiskeymac said | May 14th 2010 @ 10:21am | Report comment

knock out stages are cruel but Adelaide did us all a favour by getting there and restoring some pride after a few miserable and or uninspiring ACL campaigns by the other HAL clubs. Hopefully, SFC can continue where the Reds left off because, as the thread indicates, the ACL can be a great source of entertainment and pride. and in our long off season its great to cheer on a HAL team still competing.

am curious, will anyone still watch the ACL now there’s no Aussie teams in it?

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- Joe FC said | May 14th 2010 @ 11:44am | Report comment
  
  Might watch the final if telecast at a resonable hour.
  
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Australian Football said | May 14th 2010 @ 10:35am | Report comment

“Perhaps it was watching an Australian team go around that managed to reel me in emotionally, but like so many A-League fans who now find themselves watching less European football, I too find myself more interested in what is going on in the AFC Champions League than what is happening on the other side of the world.”

Mike,
I’m one of those who doesn’t subscribe to Fox (I can’t afford it) and rely on SBS to give me my Football Fix and was up in the early ours of the morning to watch Fulham trying to create club football history. However, like you I have become more enthralled with the Australian Football scene since the birth of the HAL. I get so frustrated when I can’t see any important live Australian Football on TV like this––unless I make the trip down to my local social club.

I can’t wait for the day when the FFA tell Fox that games like these are of Australian National Football importance and should be shown on FTA TV and thus given to SBS to be transmitted nationally if only for those disadvantaged kids whose parents can’t afford Fox..
_____
AF

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