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Aurelio Vidmar is concentrating more on Adelaide United’s continental form than its weekend A-League loss as he prepares for the Australian club’s first shot at the Asian Champions League title against Gamba Osaka.
Gamba hosts the first leg of the ACL final on Wednesday night at the 21,000-seat Expo ’70 Stadium, having advanced with a comeback win over defending champions Urawa Red Diamonds in the semifinals. The return leg will be at Hindmarsh Stadium in Adelaide the following week.
A weekend loss to Melbourne Victory ended Adelaide’s 13-match unbeaten streak and also cost the South Australians first spot on the domestic league standings – which Melbourne took on goal difference.
“We have to stay positive,” Vidmar said. “We have two of the biggest games in the club’s history coming up, so we have to get it right for both matches by fixing some small details.”
Captain Travis Dodd thinks the A-League loss could even help his lineup focus more intently on Asian club football’s biggest prize.
“Things have been going pretty well for us recently so maybe the result will serve a good purpose as it’ll wake the boys up,” he said.
“We’ll have to work hard to get a result on Wednesday. The AFC Champions League is a massive competition and it’s a big game, so I’m sure the (players) will pick themselves up and look forward to it in a positive frame of mind.”
Dodd scored in Adelaide’s last trip to Japan, where they held J-League leaders Kashima Antlers 1-1 in the ACL quarterfinals and then won 1-0 at home.
That was after beating the champions of South Korea and China in the group stage and before upending aspirational Uzbekistan club Bunyodkor – managed by Zico and including 2002 World Cup winner Rivaldo in midfield – in the semis.
Vidmar will likely have three Brazilians in his starting lineup, with striker Cristiano, Cassio and playmaker Diego expected to return from a hamstring strain.
Gamba, the 2005 J-League champions, had the weekend off ahead of their first ACL final.
Adelaide will be included next month’s Club World Cup of continental champions regardless of the final result because as hosts, Japan automatically have a team in the tournament.
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