Big Night For Adelaide United

Tomorrow marks the biggest night in the short history of the Adelaide United Football Club when they meet FC Bunyodkor at home in the AFC Champions League semi final. With not only a place in the final of the Champions League on the line but potentially a spot in the FIFA Club World Cup up for grabs as well, a good performance at home is mandatory.

Bunyodkor currently sit at the top of the Uzbekistan League ladder after regaining the top position, winning their first game under new manager, Zico, and then increasing that lead on Friday. They boast some very exciting talent within their ranks including former FIFA player of the year, Rivaldo, and will not be easy to beat. And if anybody thinks they are not taking the game seriously that was quickly quashed yesterday. Flying in on a private charter they have brought a total of 70 personnel to ensure that no stone has been left unturned to take away the best possible result tomorrow evening.

Adelaide must take advantage of this home game to gain a significant lead to take into the return away leg to have a chance of surviving. They have shown they can defend well and they need to ensure they keep a clean sheet tomorrow night. If Adelaide can contain both Rivaldo and the Chilean striker Villanueva they will get opportunities to score but must take them when they arise.

By all accounts Hindmarsh stadium is a complete sell out and has been so for over a week. It must have been tempting to move the game to the bigger AAMI stadium to accommodate the several thousand of interested fans that are sure to miss out. However I am sure Adelaide have made the right move to retain the game at Hindmarsh. Every advantage that Adelaide can garner at this stage should be taken. Which is why it is a little strange that the FFA has dismissed their request for postponement of some A-League games to help their campaign.

Now I am not saying that the FFA should rubber stamped the Adelaide request to postpone all three matches around this time but there does seem some logical changes could have been made to make Adelaide’s task a little easier.

Below is the schedule that Adelaide face over the next two and half weeks

03/10...vs Central Coast......Home
08/10...vs Bunyodkor..........Home
17/10...vs Queensland.........Away
22/10...vs Bunyodkor..........Away
26/10...vs Perth..................Home

Now, I don’t see any reason for Adelaide needing to move the just completed game against Central Coast. They have a five day break until the Bunyodkor match with absolutely no travel involved. Nor is their any valid reason to delay the Perth match on the 26/10 as the Champions League campaign for this stage will be completed by then.

The Queensland match is another matter. With Adelaide playing away against Queensland and then having to travel to Uzbekistan it would have seemed logical to swap the round 16 fixture and allow Adelaide to play at Home on the 17/10. This would have had little impact but would have allowed Adelaide an easier run into the away trip to Bunyodkor. Further it should have also been possible to bring the Queensland match forward one day to Thursday Night and allow Adelaide a further day to recover.

It seems pig headed by the FFA to not do this. The changes would not have had a significant impact on the Adelaide opponents, Queensland, and the chances of Adelaide succeeding in the away leg of the Champions League would have been greatly improved.

Aurelio Vidmar and the rest of the lads at Adelaide have a mountain to climb tomorrow night but it is not an impossible one. As they proved in the previous round they should not be dismissed lightly.

Best of luck to them

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