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Adelaide United’s history-making 2008 run to the Asian Champions League final began with an unexpected victory over the Pohang Steelers.
For the sake of the club’s 2010 campaign, and perhaps his own job, Reds coach Aurelio Vidmar is earnestly hoping for a repeat result against the Steelers, who are the reigning ACL champions, at Hindmarsh Stadium on Wednesday night.
It has been a troubled close-season for Pohang, with long-time Brazilian boss Sergio Farias leaving them for a lucrative job with Saudi Arabia’s Al Ahli, while their Brazilian top scorer Denilson moved to Uzbekistan’s Bunyodkor.
Meanwhile, Vidmar says he believes United have turned the corner after a dire A-League season that saw them slump to the bottom of the table, boosted by a handful of new signings plus better cohesion on the pitch.
But he knows how pivotal the first game could be to determining the mood and by extension the output of his players over the course of the competition’s pool phase.
“We need to start well, that’s going to be really important. We have to get back to winning ways especially at home, but the first game is always important,” Vidmar said.
“If you can get off to a very good start and get a win, it does shape the rest of your competition.
“We had that when we went over there last time when we beat Pohang 2-0 away from home and that really gave everyone the confidence and belief that they could go on with it and they certainly did.”
United have been setback by two serious injuries, with Kristian Sarkies’ broken leg likely to rule him out until next A-league season, by which time he will be playing for Melbourne Heart.
Senior defender Mark Rudan, meanwhile, has a calf tear serious enough to rule him out of the first match at least.
All this will place a little more pressure on fleet-footed young forward Matthew Leckie, the standout player of United’s dreadful A-League campaign.
Vidmar said Leckie would learn much in the ACL, as he continues to develop as a player of infinite promise.
“He’s got natural ability in terms of speed and power, the ability to just shift the ball and get past people, so from where he’s come from he’s done an extremely good job,” Vidmar said.
“But he’s still got a fair way to go and it’s not going to be easy in the ACL either.
“He’s got a fair few deficiencies he needs to work at to make sure that he’s stronger and he’s aware of those things, so if he can get that down in the next 12 months, he certainly has a bright future.”
For Pohang, much will depend on former Reading and Fulham winger Seol Ki-Hyeon as the Steelers chase the requisite edge in front of goal.
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