AUCKLAND – A Travis Dodd header six minutes from fulltime edged Adelaide United past a gallant Waitakere United 2-1 at the FIFA Club World Cup in Tokyo in the early hours of Friday morning.
The deftest glance from Dodd was enough to steer a Paul Reid free kick past Richard Gillespie and extinguish the flames of an Waitakere upset that began to flicker when Paul Seaman shot the New Zealand and Oceania Champions into a 34th minute lead.
Seaman pressured Adelaide goalkeeper Eugene Galekovic into spilling a Neil Sykes free-kick, and reacted quickly to give the Oceania underdogs the lead over the Asian Champions League runners-up.
The lead was short-lived however, as just five minutes later Daniel Mullen found space 12 yards out at the back post to meet an outswinging Fabian Barbiero corner with a thundering header that left Gillespie with no chance.
The amateur West Auckland outfit were supposed to be cannon-fodder for the A-League leaders but defended compactly, with discipline and in numbers with Jonathan Perry and captain Neil Emblen outstanding in the heart of defence, and Gillespie making two very sharp saves in each half.
Surviving on only half as much possession as their opponents, Waitakere still managed to trouble Adelaide, especially in a second half more open and more even than the first.
Front runner Daniel Koprivcic provided a solid outlet for Waitakere’s counter attacks while the pace of Allan Pearce and Roy Krishna especially, provided some testing moments for Adelaide’s fullbacks.
Waitakere’s best second-half chances both fell to Krishna early, blazing a shot over the bar after a weaving run took him to the edge of the area and then just failing to beat Galekovic to a Koprivcic through ball.
Mullen put a close-range 76th minute header wide of the mark as the sheer weight of possession began to take its toll on a Waitakere side who endured a barrage of corners and set pieces throughout the match but were equal to anything Adelaide produced in open play.
“It’s really disappointing to lose and to a set piece so close to the end,” said Waitakere captain Neil Emblen.
“But Travis has made a great run and sneaked it home.”
“We wanted to keep it 0-0 for as long as possible, but we took the lead and had we been able to hang on to it until halftime things may have been different.”
“We showed that the amateurs can give the pros a run for their money.”
Head coach Chris Milicich echoed his captain’s thoughts and said the closeness of the result put paid to questions over Oceania representation in FIFA’s elite club competition.
“I think we categorically gained [redemption from last year’s loss to Sepahan] and we also categorically proved that Oceania deserve to be at this tournament. If we’d been a little bit cleverer or perhaps luckier with some of our counter attacks, particularly in the second half, then we might have gone through."
Addelaide now face a Asian Champions League final re-match against Gamba Osaka on Sunday with a semi final date with Manchester United awaiting the winner.
FIFA Club World Cup Japan 2008
Play Off for Quarter Final
Waitakere United 1 (Paul Seaman 34)
Adelaide United 2 (Daniel Mullen 39, Travis Dodd 84)
Thursday 11 December
National Stadium, Tokyo
Waitakere United: 1-Richard GILLESPIE (GK), 2-Jonathan PERRY, 8-Paul SEAMAN (9-Benjamin TOTORI 85), 10-Allan PEARCE, 11-Neil SYKES, 12-Roy KRISHNA (29-PIMENTA 75), 13-Daniel KOPRIVCIC (21-Kayne VINCENT 67), 15-Christopher BALE, 16-Neil EMBLEN, 17-Jake BUTLER, 20-Jason ROWLEY.
Substitutes not used: 3-Aaron SCOTT, 5-Danny HAY, 6-Hone FOWLER, 7-Daniel ELLENSOHN, 14-Jeff CAMPBELL, 22- Daniel ROBINSON (RGK),
Coach: Chris MILICICH (NZL)
Yellow Cards: Roy KRISHNA, Jake BUTLER, Christopher BALE
Red Cards:None
Adelaide United: 20-Eugene GALEKOVIC (GK), 2-Robert CORNTHWAITE, 4-Angelo COSTANZO, 8-Kristian SARKIES (25-Robert YOUNIS 70), 10-CRISTIANO, 13-Travis DODD, 14-Scott JAMIESON, 16-Daniel MULLEN, 18-Fabian BARBIERO, 21-Jason SPAGNUOLO (3-ALEMAO 57), 24-Paul REID.
Substitutes not used: 5-Michael VALKANIS, 6-CASSIO, 11-Osama MALIK, 15-Gyawe SALLEY, 19-Sasa OGNENOVSKI, 22-DIEGO, 23-Michael MARRONE, 30-Mark BIRIGHITTI (RGK), 40-Lucas ANDREUCCI (RGK).
Coach: Aurelio VIDMAR (AUS)
Yellow Cards: Fabian BARBIERO
Red Cards: None
Referee: Mohamed BENOUZA (ALG)
Assistant Referee 1: Nasser Sadek ABDEL NABI (EGY)
Assistant Referee 2: Angesom OGBAMARIAM (ERI)
Fourth Official: Yuichi NISHIMURA (JPN)