Adelaide United FC will face Vietnamese champions Becamex Binh Duong at Hindmarsh Stadium in Match Day 4 of the AFC Champions League 2008 knowing a win will put the club in an ominous position to progress to the next round.

With two wins and a draw from the first three games, The Reds are in reach of becoming the first Australian club to play in the knockout phase of the prestigious competition.

The Reds have been top of Group E since the opening game of the competition by playing disciplined, well organised and intelligent football against highly fancied opponents, and Coach Aurelio Vidmar knows it will be vital for United to continue this against Binh Duong.

“We’ve taken a pretty big step over the past three games and we need to continue to do that, which means getting total points tomorrow night,” Vidmar said.

“Our goal is to reach the second round and we’re really pleased with where we are at this point of time but we can’t underestimate anyone. That will be the big key because if you are just going to pull your handbrake up then you’re going to have all sorts of problems.”

Adelaide United will be strengthened with the return of marquee signing Paul Agostino and midfielder Kristian Sarkies for tomorrow night’s game, the duo both in the squad after recovering from injury. Although he has missed nearly four months with DVT, Sarkies is set to start the match due to the late withdrawal of Jason Spagnuolo, who has a knee problem.

Paul Agostino returns for the first time since December, but will start on the bench and will be hoping to be used later in the match as an impact player. Agostino has played only 20 minutes (against Melbourne Victory) since injury his quad four months ago.

Defender Robert Cornthwaite is also available after suspension, but the tall defender will have to make do with a place on the bench after the successful debut of Sasa Ognenovski a fortnight ago.

United’s defence has held firm so far, with the only blemish a Philani (Binh Duong) free kick in The Reds’ last match, and Vidmar believes his team will need to approach the game with the same aggressive mentality and intensity it has shown in the previous three.

“Our approach will be exactly the same, to go out there and be really aggressive and that’s the way you’ve got to play the football,” Vidmar said.

“We’ve got to go out there and work extremely hard to get the points and we found that out a fortnight ago. There are no easy games, it doesn’t matter where you’re sitting on the table, they’re all extremely difficult.”

When Adelaide United hosted Dong Tam Long An (the Vietnamese champions in last year’s competition), Travis Dodd scored a hat trick playing as a centre forward and with The Reds captain set to lead United’s line again, Adelaide United fans will be hoping he can repeat the dose.

“I’m looking forward to playing my part for the team and it would be great to get amongst the goals but as long as we get the three points, that’s all that matters,” Dodd said.

“I think a lot of people expect us, because it is a lower team, to put four or five goals past them but at the end of the day we need to get three points and that’s what we’re focusing on.”

Languishing at the bottom of the table, Binh Duong will have nothing to lose in its remaining matches of the Group Stage and the V-League champions will be out to cause problems for the other three sides in the run in to the race for top spot. South African forward Philani Kubheka was a constant threat to United when the sides met a fortnight ago in Binh Duong and he looms as a player The Reds will need to keep a close check on tomorrow night.

If Adelaide United can take the three points against Becamex Binh Duong and the Pohang Steelers can defeat or draw with Changchun Yatai in the other Group E match, The Reds will be another step closer to booking their place in the next round.

Tickets for the match are available through Venue*Tix (Ph: 8225 8888, Online: www.venuetix.com.au) and can also be purchased from Adelaide United’s official Club Store at 4A Manton Street, Hindmarsh from 9am-5pm.

AFC Champions League 2008 – Group E
Match Day 4
ADELAIDE UNITED FC (Australia) vs BECAMEX BINH DUONG (Vietnam)
Wednesday 23 April 2008
Kick-Off 7.30PM (ACST), Gates Open 6.00pm
HINDMARSH STADIUM, ADELAIDE

Tickets: Venue*tix: available via internet or phone and at the venue. Visit www.venuetix.com.au or phone (08) 8225 8888.

Media Coverage:
TV: Live & Exclusive Fox Sports 3 www.foxsports.com.au - Match broadcast commences 7:00pm ACST (7:30pm AEST)
Radio: Fresh FM (Adelaide) 92.7FM www.freshfm.com.au

ADELAIDE UNITED FC SQUAD
1. Daniel BELTRAME (GK)
2. Richie ALAGICH
4. Angelo COSTANZO
6. CASSIO
7. Lucas PANTELIS
8. Kristian SARKIES
9. Paul AGOSTINO
10. Nathan BURNS
12. Matthew MULLEN
13. Travis DODD (Captain)
14. Shaun ONTONG
15. Jonas SALLEY
17. Isyan ERDOGAN
18. Robert CORNTHWAITE
19. Sasa OGNENOVSKI
21. Robert BAJIC (GK)
22. DIEGO
23. Dez GIRALDI
26. Fabian BARBIERO
30. Eugene GALEKOVIC (GK)