Adelaide coach Aurelio Vidmar felt his team’s progress to the AFC Champions League final was a ‘magnificent achievement’, ranking it alongside Australia’s appearance at the 2006 World Cup finals.
United lost to Bunyodkor 1-0 on the night, but progressed through to the final 3-1 on aggregate thanks to the 3-0 win at Hindmarsh Stadium in the first leg.
Vidmar is already relishing the prospect of a final clash against Gamba Osaka, who overcame J-League rivals Urawa Reds in the other semi-final.
“This certainly is as big as the national team getting to the World Cup,” he said.
“It is the biggest competition in club football in Asia and it is a magnificent achievement to get to the final, a real magnificent achievement.”
“We have done it in the hardest possible way in terms of the resources of the other clubs so for us to get this far is unbelievable.”
It was a courageous effort from the Reds, underlined by goalkeeper Eugene Galekovic, who played despite carrying a groin injury and performed admirably, producing a quality save at the start of the second half to keep the score locked at 0-0.
After the match Vidmar was understandably very proud of his side.
“We knew Bunyodkor would come at us in this match but our boys were magnificent tonight and they ran their socks off,” Vidmar said.
“I’m so proud of this team of players, to come to Tashkent and get the result is just unbelievable for our club.”
“When you consider that Eugene wasn’t 100 per cent, Paul Reid had an injury problem during the game and a couple of the guys weren’t feeling the best, these guys were magnificent.”
The result also gives Adelaide qualification into the prestigious and financially beneficial 2008 FIFA Club World Cup to be held in Japan in December.
Defender Sasa Ognenovski, who missed the first leg due to suspension, summed up the achievement.
“It’s insane, an unbelievable achievement for the club and the boys,” he said.
“I think before the game we knew what was on the line, so I think it has sunk in for most of the boys that we will get to face a giant Japanese club like Gamba Osaka and then possibly come up against the likes of Manchester United in the Club World Cup. It’s amazing.”
The first leg of the final will be played in Japan on November 5, before the second leg at Hindmarsh Stadium on November 12.
