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Adelaide United’s progress in the Asian Champions League has
stuttered after a 2-2 draw in their first leg encounter with FC
Bunyodkor at Hindmarsh Stadium.
The Reds looked to have the match sewn up after going two goals up and dominating the run of play for much of the first half. Adelaide went a man down at the end of the first 45 and let the visitors back into the game, relying on veteran ‘keeper Eugene Galekovic to save United on a number of occasions at the death.
Adelaide’s assistant coach Michael Valkanis was left to lament what could’ve been after Nigel Boogaard’s sending off in the 42nd minute changed the game, putting the Reds on the back foot for the rest of the contest.
“We had played extremely good football, good attacking football and possibly could’ve had four or five goals and it would’ve been a completely different game,” Valkanis said.
“Being a man down doesn’t help and that changed our whole game plan.
“It did feel a bit like [a loss]. The boys knew how well they did for the first 40 minutes and they know they probably could’ve finished it off and had one foot in the semi-finals,” he said.
Captain Galekovic made a string of saves to deny Bunyodkor from stealing a precious away win and admitted United tried all they could to contain their opposition after the red card.
“We knew they were going to come at us obviously playing with 10 men we had to try and stop them and it was always going to be hard to score ourselves,” Galekovic said.
“They got through a few times and scored a couple, equalised and made it tough for us,” he said.
Valkanis had nothing but praise for his #1 as the Adelaide stalwart produced another solid performance to deny the opposition on a number of occasions.
“I thought [Eugene] was extremely good,” Valkanis said.
“Eugene’s for a long time now been one of the best ‘keepers in the country,” he said.
The match was United’s first competitive hitout since their 1-0 group stage win over Nagoya Grampus at the end of May and Valkanis conceded the extended break in play could’ve played a part in the end result.
“We’re remaining positive because it was a good first half and for us it’s been a long time since we’ve had a competitive game that really means something,” he said.
“You play five A-League friendlies and they were very good hit outs but they’re not the same as an Asian Champions League quarter final”.
“With 11 players on the field we outplayed them so we’ll go over there with the positives and look to score and get a result,” Galekovic said.
Adelaide opened the scoring in the seventh minute as winger Iain Ramsay reacted quickest to an off-target Dario Vidosic strike. A high ball into the box was headed down by Djite for a first-time Vidosic shot which drifted across the face of goal. Ramsay beat the defenders to the ball and slid the ball home with a minimum fuss.
The Reds doubled their lead in the 18th minute from a set play as ‘keeper Ignatiy Nesterov flapped at Vidosic’s delivery, allowing youngster Evan Kostopolous two bites at the cherry before passing the ball off the post into the net.
Chances to Fabian Barbiero in his 100th United appearance and playmaker Vidosic were denied by Nesterov as Adelaide failed to extend their two goal advantage.
United were reduced to 10 men after Nigel Boogaard was shown a straight red card for bringing down Murzoevas in the 42nd minute. As the striker raced into a one-on-one with Galekovic, the centre-back pulled Murzoevas down, giving the official no choice but to expel the 26-year-old.
From the resulting free-kick Khasanov produced a world-class finish to leave Galekovic rooted to the spot. Khasanov’s strike flew into the top corner and galvanised the visitors who had all the momentum heading into the break.
United’s ‘keeper came out in red-hot form for much of the second half as he denied midfielder Turaev on three separate occasions. The Reds gifted their opposition the equaliser in the 75th minute with substitute striker Salomov benefiting from a mixture of good fortune and a lack of concentration at the back.
A cross from the left-wing managed to evade both Daniel Bowles and Iain Fyfe’s outstretched leg as Salomov was allowed to prod the ball past Galekovic who could only watch in horror as it dribbled over the goal-line.
United face a two week break before their return leg in Tashkent at JAR Stadium on October 3. The Reds will endure a baptism of fire as they return for season 2012/13 as they play their ACL return leg on Wednesday night in Uzbekistan before returning to Australia for the opening Hyundai A-League round against the Newcastle Jets.
The Reds looked to have the match sewn up after going two goals up and dominating the run of play for much of the first half. Adelaide went a man down at the end of the first 45 and let the visitors back into the game, relying on veteran ‘keeper Eugene Galekovic to save United on a number of occasions at the death.
Adelaide’s assistant coach Michael Valkanis was left to lament what could’ve been after Nigel Boogaard’s sending off in the 42nd minute changed the game, putting the Reds on the back foot for the rest of the contest.
“We had played extremely good football, good attacking football and possibly could’ve had four or five goals and it would’ve been a completely different game,” Valkanis said.
“Being a man down doesn’t help and that changed our whole game plan.
“It did feel a bit like [a loss]. The boys knew how well they did for the first 40 minutes and they know they probably could’ve finished it off and had one foot in the semi-finals,” he said.
Captain Galekovic made a string of saves to deny Bunyodkor from stealing a precious away win and admitted United tried all they could to contain their opposition after the red card.
“We knew they were going to come at us obviously playing with 10 men we had to try and stop them and it was always going to be hard to score ourselves,” Galekovic said.
“They got through a few times and scored a couple, equalised and made it tough for us,” he said.
Valkanis had nothing but praise for his #1 as the Adelaide stalwart produced another solid performance to deny the opposition on a number of occasions.
“I thought [Eugene] was extremely good,” Valkanis said.
“Eugene’s for a long time now been one of the best ‘keepers in the country,” he said.
The match was United’s first competitive hitout since their 1-0 group stage win over Nagoya Grampus at the end of May and Valkanis conceded the extended break in play could’ve played a part in the end result.
“We’re remaining positive because it was a good first half and for us it’s been a long time since we’ve had a competitive game that really means something,” he said.
“You play five A-League friendlies and they were very good hit outs but they’re not the same as an Asian Champions League quarter final”.
“With 11 players on the field we outplayed them so we’ll go over there with the positives and look to score and get a result,” Galekovic said.
Adelaide opened the scoring in the seventh minute as winger Iain Ramsay reacted quickest to an off-target Dario Vidosic strike. A high ball into the box was headed down by Djite for a first-time Vidosic shot which drifted across the face of goal. Ramsay beat the defenders to the ball and slid the ball home with a minimum fuss.
The Reds doubled their lead in the 18th minute from a set play as ‘keeper Ignatiy Nesterov flapped at Vidosic’s delivery, allowing youngster Evan Kostopolous two bites at the cherry before passing the ball off the post into the net.
Chances to Fabian Barbiero in his 100th United appearance and playmaker Vidosic were denied by Nesterov as Adelaide failed to extend their two goal advantage.
United were reduced to 10 men after Nigel Boogaard was shown a straight red card for bringing down Murzoevas in the 42nd minute. As the striker raced into a one-on-one with Galekovic, the centre-back pulled Murzoevas down, giving the official no choice but to expel the 26-year-old.
From the resulting free-kick Khasanov produced a world-class finish to leave Galekovic rooted to the spot. Khasanov’s strike flew into the top corner and galvanised the visitors who had all the momentum heading into the break.
United’s ‘keeper came out in red-hot form for much of the second half as he denied midfielder Turaev on three separate occasions. The Reds gifted their opposition the equaliser in the 75th minute with substitute striker Salomov benefiting from a mixture of good fortune and a lack of concentration at the back.
A cross from the left-wing managed to evade both Daniel Bowles and Iain Fyfe’s outstretched leg as Salomov was allowed to prod the ball past Galekovic who could only watch in horror as it dribbled over the goal-line.
United face a two week break before their return leg in Tashkent at JAR Stadium on October 3. The Reds will endure a baptism of fire as they return for season 2012/13 as they play their ACL return leg on Wednesday night in Uzbekistan before returning to Australia for the opening Hyundai A-League round against the Newcastle Jets.