Reds wait on Galekovic decision
Goalkeeper Eugene Galekovic will have until kick-off to prove his fitness for Adelaide United’s Asian Champions League (ACL) semi-final second leg in Tashkent on Wednesday.
The Reds’ goalkeeper missed Adelaide’s weekend A-League game with a groin strain, but arrived with his teammates in Tashkent for the match against Bunyodkor.
Galekovic did not train at a session during the squad’s Singapore stopover, however it is hoped that intensive treatment from United’s medical staff will see the goalkeeper ready to start the match.
Adelaide will hold a familiarisation and training session at the MHSK Stadium in Tashkent tomorrow ahead of Wednesday night’s match.
United go into the game with a 3-0 home leg lead and need a win on aggregate to progress to the ACL final against either Gamba Osaka and Urawa Red Diamonds.
Bunyodkor/Kuruvchi vs Adelaide United
Wednesday, October 22
Kick off 5.30pm local Tashkent time (11pm ACDT, 11.30pm AEDT)
MHSK Stadium, Tashkent
Controversial goal gives Reds victory over Roar
VS 
A controversial goal from defender Robert Cornthwaite has given Adelaide United all three points against Queensland Roar at Suncorp Stadium last night.
Neither goalkeeper was seriously troubled during the opening 45 minutes, with so few chances being created that a kookaburra perched on the crossbar of Adelaide’s goal for much of the half.
On the hour mark, poor defending by Queensland allowed Cornthwaite to nod home the winner, with Andrew Packer failing to clear a Cristiano header from a Paul Reid cross, the Reds defender held off a Josh McCloughan challenge to head over Roar goalkeeper Liam Reddy.
But replays clearly showed Cristiano was well off-side.
Matters were made worse for the Roar when they found the back of the net themselves a minute later, only for Matt McKay to be ruled off-side after an excellent finish to Michael Zullo’s cross.
The loss was the Queenslanders’ third in four home games at Suncorp Stadium this season, continuing the Roar’s history of poor home form. In 37 home matches during four A-League seasons, the Roar have tasted victory only 10 times.
United departed for Singapore on a high this morning, where it will hold a training session on Sunday before heading to Tashkent for Wednesday’s historic 2nd leg in the AFC Champions League Semi Final.
Match details
Queensland Roar 0
Adelaide United 1 (Cornthwaite 60’)
Crowd: 11,117 @ Suncorp Stadium
Referee: Mark Shield
Adelaide United: 30.Mark BIRIGHITTI (gk), 2.Robert CORNTHWAITE, 4.Angelo COSTANZO, 6.CASSIO, 10.CRISTIANO (9.Paul AGOSTINO 69’), 13.Travis DODD (capt.) (21.Jason SPAGNUOLO 76’), 14.Scott JAMIESON, 15.Jonas SALLEY, 18.Fabian BARBIERO (3.ALEMAO 62’), 19.Sasa OGNENOVSKI, 24.Paul REID.
Substitutes Not Used: 40.Lucas ANDREUCCI (gk)
Yellow Cards: Birighitti 90’
Red Cards: Nil
Queensland Roar: 1.Liam REDDY, 2.Andrew PACKER, 4.Craig MOORE, 5.Josh McCLOUGHAN, 7.Michael ZULLO, 8.Massimo MURDOCCA, 10.Charlie MILLER (23.Tim SMITS 79’), 11.REINALDO (12.Tahj MINNIECON 69’), 15.Matt McKAY, 16.Hyuk-Su SEO (14.Ben GRIFFIN 55’), 18.Danny TIATTO.
Substitutes Not Used: 20.Griffin McMASTER
Yellow Cards: McKay 15’, Miller 33’
Red Cards: Nil
Adelaide goalkeeper Galekovic ruled out with groin strain
Adelaide United goalkeeper Eugene Galekovic has been ruled out of tonight’s A-League match against Queensland Roar with a groin injury.
Galekovic injured his groin yesterday during a personalised training session with National Goalkeeping Coach Tony Franken in Brisbane.
“The injury doesn’t feel too bad, I just felt a strain when kicking the ball during the session with Tony,” Galekovic said.
“I will know more after the scan this afternoon but hopefully I will be ready to go on Wednesday.”
The 27 year old will have an MRI scan this afternoon but early indications are that the injury is not serious.
Adelaide Coach Aurelio Vidmar will now look to 17 year old Mark Birighitti to fill the void between the posts.
United’s medical staff will closely monitor Galekovic’s recovery over the next few days ahead of The Reds’ decisive AFC Champions League match against Bunyodkor/Kuruvchi.
Cassio commits to Adelaide
Adelaide United’s left-sided Brazilian player Cassio has committed to the club by re-signing with The Reds for the next two seasons.
The 28 year old ended speculation about his immediate future, by putting pen to paper to keep him in Adelaide until 2010.
“I’m very happy because I feel comfortable here, this is my second home and the fans like me and I like the fans,” Cassio said.
“Everything here for me is fantastic and I always try to do my best on the pitch and I think this is an important decision for me to stay here.”
Cassio admitted it was a tough condition with the offers he received from elsewhere, but said his commitment was to Adelaide.
“It’s hard for us because we are professional and we have to look out for our futures. I had some offers from other clubs here and overseas, some of them with better money but I want to stay here, I am clear with this decision and I feel happy with this decision,” Cassio said.
“The A-League clubs I spoke to here were very professional with their intention to want to sign me, and I just want to say they are very good people, but it was my decision to stay here.”
Adelaide demolish Kuruvchi 3-0 in second half blitz ACL match
Adelaide Utd have smashed Uzbekistan club side Bunyodkor Kuruvchi 3-0 in the first leg of the ACL semi-final match played at Hindmarsh Stadium tonight in front of 16,998 fans.
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AFC Champions League Final beckons for Adelaide United
AFC Champions League Semi Finals - 1st Leg
Adelaide United FC vs Bunyodkor/Kuruvchi
Wednesday, October 8 2008. Kick off 7.30 ACDT
Hindmarsh Stadium, Adelaide
Referee: Sun Baojie (China)
The first semi final sees Adelaide United host Bunyodkor/Kuruvchi of Uzbekistan, a team that includes former World and European player of the Year, Rivaldo and is coached by Brazilian and world football legend Zico.
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Crunch time for Adelaide in Asian Champions League
Adelaide United host J-League Champions Kashima Antlers in the second leg of their AFC Champions League Quarter Final at Hindmarsh Stadium.
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Reds making history in ACL quarter finals
Adelaide United will make history tonight when they take on Japan’s most successful J-League side Kashima Antlers in the first leg of the AFC Champions League quarter finals.
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Adelaide cruise past the phoenix
Cristiano put away two second-half goals to help Adelaide Utd to an easy 3-0 win against the Wellington Phoenix at Hindmarsh Stadium.
Lucas Pantelis gave the reds an early lead in just the 15th-minute when he slotted away from just inside the penalty area thanks to cross from Brazilian Alemao.
Cristiano made the points safe for Adelaide when he scored in the 48th and 60th minutes which now puts Adelaide at the top of the league table alongside Melbourne.
Adelaide announce squad for AFC Champions League quarter finals
Adelaide United coach Aurelio Vidmar has named his squad for the knockout stage of the AFC Champions League, with Alemao being the unlucky player to miss out because only three foreign players are allowed by the Asian Football Confederation.
““We made the decision to take Alemao out unfortunately. It was a tough decision but we just thought that with Cassio and Diego, they’ve already been there and know what to expect, and Cristiano has got a fair bit of experience,” Vidmar said.
“We have also got cover if we have to on that side but it wasn’t an easy decision because I would have liked to have all of them in there.”
“All four of them want to play but unfortunately I can’t have all of them in there so that was the decision we made. You have to play within the rules and that’s the way we decided to go.”
Alemao’s only chance of playing in the AFC Champions League is if one of the other foreigners gets injured more than three days before the game.
Vidmar also announced that Adelaide United’s first four Youth League signings have been added to the AFC Champions League squad.
The first leg of Adelaide United’s Quarter Final against the Kashima Antlers is on Wednesday, September 17 in Japan before the return leg on Wednesday, September 24 at Hindmarsh Stadium.
Adelaide United FC AFC Champions League Knockout Stage Squad: Paul Agostino, Joel Allwright*, Fabian Barbiero, Mark Birighitti, Cassio, Robert Cornthwaite, Angelo Costanzo, Cristiano, Diego, Travis Dodd, Eugene Galekovic, Scott Jamieson, Michael Marrone*, Daniel Mullen, Matthew Mullen*, Sasa Ognenovski, Lucas Pantelis, Paul Reid, Jonas Salley, Kristian Sarkies, Jason Spagnuolo, Alex Sunasky*, Michael Valkanis, Robert Younis.
* denotes AUFC Youth League Player
