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Adelaide United clinched a precious home final in the knockout stage of the AFC Champions League despite a shock 1-0 loss to Chinese Super League club Shandong Luneng at Hindmarsh Stadium.
United were able to hold onto the coveted top spot in Group H only after Japanese side Sanfrecce Hiroshima beat Adelaide’s rivals, Pohang Steelers, 4-3 in the group’s dramatic climax tonight.
The results mean Adelaide United get to host the knockout match in the round of 16 stage on May 12, against Korean champion Joenbuk Hyundai Motors or Japanese powerhouse Kashima Antlers.
Shandong proved hard to break down in the first half despite making six changes to their last Group match and having lost their past four ACL games.
It frustrated Adelaide in front of 10,313 fans and then midfielder Li Wei delivered the telling blow on a rare breakaway from the halfway line in the 53rd minute.
He accepted a through ball and burst into the penalty area on the right, cut inside defender Robert Cornthwaite and drilled a left foot shot into the far corner to hand Shandong their second win of the tournament but couldn’t save them from finishing bottom in the group.
Adelaide pressed hard from the start but couldn’t find the right finish nor space in the penalty area to make things less tense.
Coach Aurelio Vidmar included Paul Reid and Adam Griffiths in midfield and Iain Fyfe back in defence for a posse of suspended players but will now have to do without young strike sensation Matthew Leckie in the May 12 match after he was cautioned for the second time in the tournament in the 38th minute.
Striker Sergio Van Dijk had a running battle with a defenders around him virtually the whole game but fired just wide in the sixth and 15th minutes.
But it was a sign of things to come as United failed to set up clear cut chances in the penalty area despite loads of possession.
Li Wei was foiled by Adelaide keeper Eugene Galekovic in the 25th minute from close range as a forerunner of what was to come after half time.
Reid volleyed just wide in the 60th minute from 20m out but then captain Travis Dodd and Van Dijk messed each other when Cassio crossed from the left in the 70th minute.
Adelaide United’s ACL coach Joe Mullen said despite the club’s disappointing first home loss of the tournament, the goal of finishing top of Group H had been achieved.
“I think quite deservedly, we won the group over Pohang,” he said.
“We’ve lost a game we’ve dominated. We had the momentum in the first half but they scored on the break just after halftime,” said Mullen.
“They did slow the game down and their sportsmanship probably wasn’t the best.
“But they probably didn’t need to do it because they played very well tonight and defended superbly.”
He praised Brazilian full back Cassio for his constant raids down the left flank which resulted in most of the headaches for the Shandong defence.
“It was a shame we couldn’t capitalise on his fine deliveries,” he said.
Shandong’s Croatian coach Branko Ivankovic was ecstatic with his inexperienced side’s victory, especially the sterling effort in defence.
“My players put their heart on the field tonight,” he said.
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