Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Adelaide: Centre-back duo Nigel Boogaard and Evgeniy Levchenko scored as Australia's Adelaide United secured a place in the Group Stage of the 2012 AFC Champions League after beating Indonesia's Persipura Jayapura 3-0 at Hindmarsh Stadium on Thursday.
Boogaard opened the scoring after 12 minutes and, after Ukrainian Levchenko doubled the advantage three minutes before the hour mark, striker Sergio van Dijk sealed the win with six minutes remaining.
With the win, Adelaide take their place in Group E alongside former champions Gamba Osaka of Japan - who beat Adelaide in the 2008 final - Uzbekistan champions Bunyodkor and the winner of Saturday's play-off between 2009 winners Pohang Steelers of Korea Republic and Thai Premier League runners-up Chonburi.
"In the end it was pretty comfortable, but in the first half we had a couple of opportunities to make some of those openings count, but unfortunately we either took a wrong option or wasted too much time setting up a strike on goal," said Adelaide assistant coach Luciano Trani.
"They had a couple of good opportunities so we couldn't underestimate them at any stage."
Boogaard handed the home side the ideal start in the 12th minute after capitalising on Persipura's failure to clear Dario Vidosic's corner.
And the home side almost doubled their advantage two minutes later, but Iain Ramsay hit the Persipura post following good work from Van Dijk.
The visitors came close with their first real chance through Tinus Pae after 29 minutes before Vidosic, Van Dijk and Bruce Djite threatened for Adelaide at the end of the first half.
But midfielder Levchenko, who has been deployed as a make-shift centre-back in recent weeks, finally doubled Adelaide's lead after 57 minutes from another Vidosic corner.
And Van Dijk sealed Adelaide's passage into the Group Stage for a fourth time in six seasons with six minutes remaining after converting Zenon Caravella's cross.
"The boys fought as much as they could. In the first half we were organised and conceded one goal from a dead ball. In the second half the boys were very tired and they started to make some silly mistakes and at this level you cannot do that," said Persipura coach Jacksen Tiago.
"But I am proud of the boys as they tried to do their best. They are now in pain, but that is because they fought. That was the best we could have done.
"Adelaide have some very good players. They didn't play their best and I'm sure they can do better, but they did enough to win."