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.”
Midfielder
Guest
Fooking brilliant ... go Inbreds
jimbo
Guest
Brilliant win by AU in far away NE China. The wooden spooners of the A-League showing the current champions how to conduct an ACL campaign
Joe FC
Guest
Well done Adelaide. At the risk of sounding unpatriotic I’m quite happy to see Melb bomb out.
Football Person 2
Roar Pro
good show from Adelaide :)
Ryan Steele
Roar Pro
How is that fair to say, Gibbo? Adelaide face the reigning champions of the tournament, one of the most successful Chinese teams (especially in recent years), and a team with a striker like Hisato Sato is always a cause for concern. Melbourne face the runners up of the K-League, runners up of the J. League who have an injured captain/playmaker for the rest of the group stage, and the current Chinese champions, who have yet to start their season. If anything, it's evenly matched.
Sam
Guest
Rubbish. Adelaide has a crazy schedule last time they were in the AFC, and managed to make the final. Melbourne had two games in one week, big deal. They have a week off now, and were playing in Australia both games.
Rob
Guest
Don't know how I forgot him, actually. Thanks for that, AndyRoo.
AndyRoo
Roar Guru
You could have even added Luke Devere to your list as well Rob.
Rob
Guest
"If the rumours are true and SvD is about to sign a three-year deal with us, then I will jump for joy as we have finally signed a striker capable of scoring regularly." ...and I will bemoan the Roar's lack of money meaning we couldn't hang on to him. He's a fantastic player and the Roar should have been bending over backwards to keep him. I have heard of Luke Brattan but haven't seen him play. If he is what you say he is, then the Roar will have unearthed yet another gem!
Kazama
Roar Guru
Off the topic, but we are definitely producing players. There will be a few that graduate from the youth league this year. One guy who really impressed me was Luke Brattan of the Roar. He killed us in a 4-4 draw down here at Hindmarsh earlier this year. He has a very good right foot, and I think he has signed with the Roar's senior team, so he is another one to watch. Great win for Adelaide. The Roarers who say van Dijk and Flores were what was missing are correct. We lacked a lot of movement in the final third and they are giving us plenty of that, and both are able to create opportunites which our other forwards and midfielders couldn't. If the rumours are true and SvD is about to sign a three-year deal with us, then I will jump for joy as we have finally signed a striker capable of scoring regularly.
Rob
Guest
This is true, Ben, but Melbourne have also been in Asia before, so what's their excuse? (Oh, scheduling...)
Rob
Guest
I read about no players coming through the system all the time too, mate, but that's usually from News Limited hacks with little to no knowledge of the A-League. Leckie is one excellent example, and Marrone too, if I'm not mistaken. Then we can look at Brisbane and Sarota, Oar, Zullo, Kruse, Minniecon (who has gone well and truly off the boil), Kantarosky (if that's how you spell it), the young keeper for Melbourne, and the Sydney bunch, Danning, Gan, and the others whose names escape me. That's forgetting about the kids that have already gone overseas, such as Vidosic, Djite, Burns, among others. So Tadpohl, yeah, we ARE producing players, as you know, so just ignore the ignorant fools who would seek to tell you otherwise. I'm impressed. I did not resort to furious swearing to describe those who seek to discredit the A-League's ability to produce players. I normally get so riled up by this sort of thing that even the worst demons in hell would be blushing from my tirade...
markwakefield
Guest
" I usually like Fox’s commentators"... like robbie slater? the guy has the iq of a tadpohle...
Gibbo
Guest
fair to say MV have a tougher group. and some repetition here, but van dijk and flores really seem to be just who AU were missing all year.
Tadpohle
Roar Rookie
Adelaide, apart from a lapse of discipline that yielded a number of yellow cards, to my mind looked the goods tonight. I thought that the camera work of the coverage was good, ie they panned back far enough to see the tactics and defensive lines, but the commentary was worse than ordinary, I usually like Fox's commentators. I continually read about no players coming through the system, Leckie showed outstanding ability in the "Hangtime" header, the run in, the timing, the placement and even managed to make the cross look a good one. I would seriously consider that the "game" put on by Adelaide would probably solve a lot of the FFA's ALeague problems if some of the other teams would lift to that standard. Congratulations to Vidmar and his team on an excellent presentation.
markwakefield
Guest
disagree... vidmar has proved himself tactically in the afc and in truth is a better coach then merrick although the latter has better players... so yes vidmar has a better game plan for the afc... merricks crash and bash style is more suited to the a-league but it also is a result of the evenness of the teams in the aleague due to the salary cap...
Ben of Phnom Penh
Guest
There is also the matter of the way the club manages the players and staff in Asia. Adelaide learned a lot from their first outing in Asia and have applied the lessons. It helps.
Rob
Guest
It's definitely a tactics issue. Adelaide know how to play a tight game where what possession they gain they make the most of, against difficult, often superior opposition (not that last night's opponent was particularly superior), whereas Melbourne have looked bereft of ideas in both of their ACL games this season. They were outclassed by Beijing, and, very Melbourne-like, hoofed the ball down the park, and the game against the Koreans was also very ordinary in terms of ball retention. Sure, the pitch was horrible, and Hernandez was on the bench, but both teams had to deal with it. The only time I can remember where Melbourne really looked like a classy team was in the game against Sydney on Sunday. They were simply superb. Now, if only they could play that ball into feet, slick passing game all the time, rather than the "long ball to Archie" (I know, I'm over-simplifying here, and expect to be shot down by MV fans) behind the defence tactic that they mostly play. But most importanly, Melbourne need to VALUE possession more. Melbourne annoys me because the team has a bunch of truly gifted ball players but more often than not relies on Muscat to Archie, second ball Hernandez, who THEN looks to create, when they really could be playing a much better style of football and still tearing teams a new one. Because they don't play ball retention football, they come unstuck in Asia, where the teams are better technically, more astute tactically, and just as fast as the Archie Thompsons of this world. But enough on Melbourne. Great Game Adelaide. Adelaide had less possession than their Chinese opponents, but when they had possession, used it very well to create opportunities, and looked dangerous. Flores and van Dijk (much as I hate seeing him anywhere other than at my beloved but frustrating Roar) are great additions to the squad and really give Adelaide a pointy end that was lacking in the A-League. And Leckie is really starting to light up. Marrone was great last night, keeping possession in tight areas and finding a good pass into feet. I am warming up to Adelaide now that they've gotten rid of Jonas Salley and stopped kicking the crap out of the opposition. They play good football, well, at least in Asia.
Australian Football
Roar Guru
Eamonn, Could this be the new look side for the 2010/11 season? If so, they will be up there knocking on the door for the Prem-Plate. ------- AF
Eamonn Flanagan
Guest
Scheduling doesn't help...but tactical battle clearly won by Vidmar over Merrick...last time the to played in Asia and looks about the same again. Adelaide's league performance would have been a tad better if they had a striker, see Van Dijk and of course a playmaker, in Flores. In truth these two players would have changed United's A-League season.