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Adelaide United set themselves up for another fruitful Asian Champions League adventure with a model away performance and a 2-0 victory over Shandong Luneng in China on Wednesday.
Former Brisbane Roar striker Sergio Van Dijk headed home in the first half for United before young speedster Matthew Leckie netted his second in as many matches on 70 minutes to surge the Reds to the top of their ACL group after two matches.
United’s choice of tactics and defensive composure were excellent throughout, again benefiting from the creativity and pressure of Argentine midfielder Marcos Flores.
It was only the second time an Australian side had won an ACL fixture in China – Sydney FC had been victorious against Shanghai Shenhua in 2007.
United named a team unchanged from the 11 that beat the Pohang Steelers 1-0 at Hindmarsh Stadium, Van Dijk recovering from a quad problem to take his starting place.
The early sparring on a brilliantly sunny but cold afternoon favoured Shandong, as the Reds allowed their opponents plenty of possession.
‘Keeper Eugene Galekovic was forced into a close-range save as early as the ninth minute, moments after a weak clearance by Scott Jamieson.
Adelaide tightened up from that point, but not really threatening in attack until they scored with lethal efficiency in the 27th minute.
Centre-half Robert Cornthwaite won the ball in a tackle, and it was fed swiftly through to Lucas Pantelis, who beat a high line to find himself pushing into the penalty box and delivering a curling cross with his non-preferred foot that was nodded in off the post by the on-rushing Van Dijk.
A goal clear at the break, United weathered something of a storm after the resumption as Shandong attacked with greater physicality.
But again it would be Adelaide who made the most of their less frequent attacking thrusts, Travis Dodd making a run into the box then squaring for Flores, whose hurried shot was parried away by Li Leilei.
Scott Jamieson’s resultant corner was floated deep and precisely to the late run of an unmarked Leckie, and his diving header ricocheted in off the underside of the bar to spark unrestrained joy among the visitors.
From there United rested a little easier, negotiating a handful of awkward balls across goal without ever looking in mortal danger of losing their advantage.
Reds coach Aurelio Vidmar offered fittingly strong praise to his team.
“It was a fantastic performance on the road,” he said.
“We kept our shape throughout, we didn’t want to concede a goal and we were really stubborn about that.”
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