Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Adelaide: Australia’s Adelaide United qualified for the last 16 of the AFC Champions League for a third time in five years after sharing a goalless draw with Uzbekistan champions Bunyodkor in Group E on Wednesday.
The 2008 finalists, who also qualified for the Round of 16 in 2010, enjoyed the better chances and dominated possession at Hindmarsh Stadium but failed to find a breakthrough against a Bunyodkor side who could easily have snatched all three points in the closing stages.
But with Korea Republic’s Pohang Steelers beating Japan’s Gamba Osaka 2-0, Adelaide maintained their three-point lead over third-placed Bunyodkor to advance due to a better head-to-head record against the Uzbek side after posting a 2-1 win in Tashkent at the start of the campaign.
The Reds still need to beat already eliminated Gamba in Japan in a fortnight’s time to top the group and ensure home advantage in the last 16, while Bunyodkor must claim all three points against Pohang in Tashkent later this month to qualify ahead of the K-League side.
“That confirms our position in the second round of the AFC Champions League and the objective was pretty much achieved,” said Adelaide coach Luciano Trani.
“We find ourselves in the top 16 in Asia and that’s a huge benefit to the club, the branding of Adelaide United continues in Asia and that’s a reputation that we hold so much for years to come.
“Bunyodkor made it very difficult. When you have a number of players who are comfortable on the ball and are able to maintain good position they are always going to give you a challenge and they definitely gave us a challenge.
“We were disciplined at the back and also in midfield and there is a credit of keeping a clean sheet which is very important.”
Neither side were able to impose themselves on a scrappy first half with Adelaide coming the closest to breaking the deadlock after 22 minutes as Iain Ramsay beat Bunyodkor goalkeeper Ignatiy Nestervov only to see his effort from Daniel Mullen’s chipped back post cross cleared off the line.
Adelaide dominated possession at the start of the second half but the Reds struggled to create a clear-cut chance until substitute Iain Fyfe headed straight at Nestervov six minutes after the hour mark.
Fyfe drew another save from Nestervov after 78 minutes as his dipping half volley from outside the area sent the Uzbekistan international sprawling across his goal.
Bunyodkor, though, could have snatched all three points inside the final two minutes but substitutes Alibobo Rakhmatullaev and Shavkat Salomov both failed to find the target from promising positions.
“The players did well in the first half and then did better in the second half. They had chances to score but couldn’t score. Adelaide also had chances so a draw is a fair result,” said Bunyodkor coach Mirdjalal Kasimov.
“We made a lot of mistakes in the first game against Adelaide as it was our first official match of the season, but now we have played some games and it was easy for us. But the flight was 40 hours which made it difficult, but they played well and this is a good result for us.
“Everything is now in our hands as we have the last match at home in our city against Pohang Steelers and if we beat them we will be in the next stage. It will be difficult, but it is possible to win and go through to the next stage.”
Photo: WSG