# 2009–10 Adelaide United FC season

The 2009–10 Adelaide United FC season was the club's fifth A-League season. It includes the A-League 2009–10 season as well as any other competitions of the 2009–10 football (soccer) season.
After a stellar season in the A-League and internationally, Adelaide United began its pre-season without a financial owner; Nick Bianco relinquished his A-League licence back to Football Federation Australia (FFA). Regardless of this situation, the FFA ensured that Adelaide would have the funds available to recruit in the off-season and to maintain the club, whilst they would negotiate the new ownership deals. Adelaide United managed to secure major sponsors Modern Solar as well as Jim's Plumbing for their 2009–10 season.
At the end of the 2008–09 regular season Adelaide United released veteran Angelo Costanzo as well as Jonas Salley, Isyan Erdogan and Jason Spagnuolo, with Diego Walsh moving to New Zealand club Wellington Phoenix and Saša Ognenovski moving to K-League side Seongnam Ilhwa. Veteran Adelaide players Michael Valkanis, Daniel Beltrame and Paul Agostino retired at the end of the 2008–09 season.
Adelaide made a number of signings to replace the players which left in the off-season, most notably former Sydney FC defenders, Iain Fyfe and Mark Rudan, Korean youngster Inseob Shin and former Drogheda United midfielder Adam Hughes. Arguably the biggest off-season signing was former Cheltenham Town and Brentford striker, Lloyd Owusu, a capped Ghanaian international. The Reds also elevated a handful of players from their Youth squad to the senior team, namely Francesco Monterosso, Michael Marrone and Joe Costa.
After making a rather average start to the 2009–10 season, the Reds made their final signing in promising young Bulleen Lions winger, Mathew Leckie prior to the Round 5 clash against Wellington Phoenix. Leckie made an immediate impression, and scored his first goal in his second game off the bench against North Queensland Fury and would soon become a fan favourite.
With two rounds to go, and Adelaide sitting at the base of the table, the Reds made a surprise announcement that Argentine playmaker, Marcos Flores, who had signed on for 2 years starting with the club's third AFC Champions League venture, was to make his debut as an injury replacement for fellow import Cristiano. The South American made his presence felt in the final two games of the regular season, and helped Adelaide United finish the season with two consecutive wins. This however, was still not enough to lift the club up from its 2009–10 wooden spoon status – the club's worst performing season in its short history.
Adelaide competed in the Champions League in 2010 after finishing second on the 2008–09 A-League league table, and runner-up in the Finals series to cross-border rivals, Melbourne Victory. This will mark the return of Adelaide United to the continental club champions' tournament after a 1-year absence.
On 7 December 2009, Adelaide were drawn into Group H of the Champions League alongside 2009 Asian Champions Pohang Steelers, Chinese sister club Shandong Luneng and the winners of the 2009 Japanese Emperor's Cup. Because Gamba Osaka, the winner of the Emperor's Cup, had already qualified through league placing, 4th placed Sanfrecce Hiroshima became Adelaide United's final opponent in Group H of the Champions League.
In Adelaide's first match of the campaign played on 24 February against Pohang Steelers, Adelaide secured an important victory at Hindmarsh Stadium winning 1–0 courtesy of a fantastic individual effort by youngster Mathew Leckie on the stroke of half-time. They then continued their winning form by beating Shandong Luneng 2–0 and then coming from a 1–2 deficit to beat Sanfrecce Hiroshima 3–2. Despite not quite playing to the standard set in their opening three matches, Adelaide United managed to hold on to top spot in the group by securing a 0–0 draw against Pohang in Korea in between narrow 1–0 losses to Hiroshima in Hiroshima and then to Shandong Luneng at Hindmarsh in Adelaide.
Other results fell Adelaide's way and they finished on top of Group H resulting in a home match in the Round of 16. In an exciting, nerve-racking match, Adelaide lost to Jeonbuk Motors 3–2. Adelaide came back twice in the game, including a goal in the final seconds of the match. Jeonbuk won the match with a goal in the second half of extra time.

## Players
### Squad information
#### First Team Roster

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 1 | GK | AUS | Eugene Galeković |
| 2 | DF | AUS | Robert Cornthwaite |
| 3 | DF | BRA | Alemão |
| 4 | DF | AUS | Iain Fyfe |
| 5 | DF | AUS | Daniel Mullen (Youth) |
| 6 | DF | BRA | Cássio |
| 7 | MF | AUS | Lucas Pantelis |
| 8 | MF | AUS | Kristian Sarkies |
| 9 | FW | BRA | Cristiano |
| 10 | MF | AUS | Adam Hughes |
| 11 | FW | GHA | Lloyd Owusu |
| 12 | MF | AUS | Paul Reid |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 13 | MF | AUS | Travis Dodd (Captain) |
| 14 | DF | AUS | Scott Jamieson |
| 15 | FW | AUS | Francesco Monterosso (Youth) |
| 16 | MF | KOR | Inseob Shin (Youth) |
| 17 | DF | AUS | Michael Marrone |
| 18 | MF | AUS | Fabian Barbiero |
| 19 | MF | AUS | Mathew Leckie (Youth) |
| 20 | GK | AUS | Mark Birighitti (Youth) |
| 21 | DF | AUS | Mark Rudan |
| 23 | MF | AUS | Joe Costa (Youth) |
| 24 | MF | ARG | Marcos Flores (Injury replacement player) |
| 25 | FW | AUS | Evan Kostopoulos (Youth) |
* Injury replacement player for Cristiano.

#### Youth Team Roster

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| — | GK | AUS | Codey Larkin |
| — | GK | AUS | Nick Munro |
| — | DF | AUS | Michael Doyle |
| — | DF | AUS | Dane Milovanovic |
| — | DF | AUS | Perry Mitris |
| — | DF | AUS | Alex Sunasky |
| — | MF | AUS | Joel Allwright |
| — | MF | AUS | Andrew Ciarla |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| — | MF | AUS | Nathan Farrell |
| — | MF | AUS | Kingsley Francis |
| — | MF | AUS | Matthew Mullen |
| — | MF | AUS | Brett Rayner |
| — | MF | AUS | Liam Wooding |
| — | MF | AUS | Joe Wright |
| — | FW | AUS | Evan Kostopoulos |

### 2009–10 Transfers
#### First Team

| Name | Position | Moving from | Fee |
| Iain Fyfe | Defender | Sydney FC | TBA |
| Michael Marrone | Defender | Adelaide United Youth | - |
| Adam Hughes | Midfielder | Drogheda United | Free |
| Joe Costa | Midfielder | Adelaide United Youth | - |
| Francesco Monterosso | Striker | Adelaide United Youth | - |
| Lloyd Owusu | Striker | Cheltenham Town | TBA |
| Inseob Shin | Midfielder | Konkuk University | Free |
| Mark Rudan | Defender | FC Vaduz | Free |
| Mathew Leckie | Midfielder | Bulleen Lions | Free |
| Marcos Flores | Midfielder | Curicó Unido | Free * Injury replacement for Cristiano |
| Name | Position | Moving to | Fee |
| Angelo Costanzo | Defender | Newcastle Jets | – |
| Jonas Salley | Midfielder | Shaanxi Neo-China Chanba F.C. | – |
| Jason Spagnuolo | Midfielder | North Queensland Fury | – |
| Michael Valkanis | Defender | Retired | – |
| Paul Agostino | Striker | Retired | – |
| Diego | Midfielder | Wellington Phoenix | TBA |
| Saša Ognenovski | Defender | Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma | TBA |
| Robert Younis | Striker | APIA Leichhardt | – |
| Isyan Erdogan | Defender | Hume City FC | – |
| Daniel Beltrame | Goalkeeper | Retired | – |

#### Youth Team
## Technical Staff

| Position | Name |
| Head coach | Aurelio Vidmar |
| Assistant coach | Phil Stubbins |
| Specialist coach | Carl Veart |
| Goalkeeping coach | Peter Blazincic |
| Youth Team Coach | Joe Mullen |

## Statistics
### Squad statistics

| No. | Pos. | Name | A-League | A-League | A-League Finals | A-League Finals | Total | Total | Discipline | Discipline |
| No. | Pos. | Name | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | | |
| 1 | GK | Eugene Galeković | 27 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 27 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 2 | DF | Robert Cornthwaite | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| 3 | DF | Alemão | 16 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 4 | DF | Iain Fyfe | 26 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 26 | 1 | 4 | 0$^†$ |
| 5 | DF | Daniel Mullen | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 6 | DF | Cássio | 19 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| 7 | MF | Lucas Pantelis | 23 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 23 | 5 | 2 | 1 |
| 8 | MF | Kristian Sarkies | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 9 | FW | Cristiano | 24 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 24 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| 10 | DF | Adam Hughes | 26 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 26 | 1 | 6 | 0 |
| 11 | FW | Lloyd Owusu | 16 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| 12 | MF | Paul Reid | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 13 | MF | Travis Dodd | 23 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 23 | 4 | 5 | 0 |
| 14 | DF | Scott Jamieson | 24 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 24 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 15 | FW | Francesco Monterosso | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 16 | MF | Inseob Shin | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 17 | DF | Michael Marrone | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 18 | MF | Fabian Barbiero | 18 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 3 | 0 | 1 |
| 19 | MF | Mathew Leckie | 20 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| 20 | GK | Mark Birighitti | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 21 | DF | Mark Rudan | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| 23 | MF | Joe Costa | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 24 | MF | Marcos Flores | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 25 | FW | Evan Kostopoulos | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Last updated: 12 February 2010. Source: Adelaide United FC $^†$ Iain Fyfe was sent off in Round 19, but the red card was later rescinded by the Match Review Panel

### Goal scorers

| Total | Player | Player | Goals per Round | Goals per Round | Goals per Round | Goals per Round | Goals per Round | Goals per Round | Goals per Round | Goals per Round | Goals per Round | Goals per Round | Goals per Round | Goals per Round | Goals per Round | Goals per Round | Goals per Round | Goals per Round | Goals per Round | Goals per Round | Goals per Round | Goals per Round | Goals per Round | Goals per Round | Goals per Round | Goals per Round | Goals per Round | Goals per Round | Goals per Round |
| Total | Player | Player | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 |
| 5 | | Lucas Pantelis | | | | 2 | | | | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | | | | | | | 1 | |
| 4 | | Travis Dodd | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | | | 1 | 1 | | | | |
| 3 | | Cristiano | | | | | | | | | | | 2 | | | | | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 3 | | Mathew Leckie | | | | | | | | 1 | | | | | | | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 |
| 3 | | Fabian Barbiero | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | | | | | | | | 1 | 1 |
| 2 | | Cássio | | | | | | 1 | | | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 1 | | Lloyd Owusu | | | | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 1 | | Iain Fyfe | | | | | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 1 | | Adam Hughes | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 1 | | Alemão | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | | | | | | | |
* A goal was scored from a penalty kick
* Two goals were scored from penalty kicks

### Attendance at home games

| Round | Date | Opponent | Score AUFC – Away | Attendance | Weekday |
| 1 | 7 August 2009 | Perth Glory | 1–0 | 13,847 | Friday |
| 3 | 21 August 2009 | Gold Coast United | 0–2 | 12,741 | Friday |
| 4 | 28 August 2009 | North Queensland Fury | 3–3 | 10,773 | Friday |
| 6 | 11 September 2009 | Central Coast Mariners | 1–0 | 10,262 | Friday |
| 7 | 18 September 2009 | Melbourne Victory | 0–2 | 15,038 | Friday |
| 9 | 5 October 2009 | Newcastle Jets | 1–1 | 12,090 | Monday |
| 11 | 16 October 2009 | Sydney FC | 2–1 | 10,291 | Friday |
| 14 | 6 November 2009 | Brisbane Roar | 0–2 | 11,209 | Friday |
| 15 | 20 November 2009 | Gold Coast United | 1–1 | 9,578 | Friday |
| 17 | 4 December 2009 | Newcastle Jets | 0–2 | 8,502 | Friday |
| 19 | 19 January 2010 | Perth Glory | 2–3 | 8,904 | Tuesday |
| 20 | 18 December 2009 | Wellington Phoenix | 1–1 | 9,070 | Friday |
| 23 | 15 January 2010 | Central Coast Mariners | 1–1 | 10,156 | Friday |
| 26 | 6 February 2010 | Brisbane Roar | 2–0 | 8,244 | Saturday |

## Competitions
### Pre-season

| Match | Date | Home team | Score | Away team | Attendance | Stadium |
| 1 | 2 June 2009 | Para Hills Knights | 0 – 1 Cristiano | Adelaide United | N/A | The Paddocks |
| 2 | 9 June 2009 | North Eastern MetroStars | 1 – 1 Sarkies N/A' (pen.) | Adelaide United | N/A | TK Shutter Reserve |
| 3 | 16 June 2009 | Adelaide Raiders | 1 – 4 Sarkies 19' Cornthwaite 35' Marrone 80' Dodd 88' (pen.) | Adelaide United | N/A | Croatian Sports Centre |
| 4 | 26 June 2009 | Adelaide United | 1 – 0 Dodd 25' | Perth Glory | 1,961 | Hindmarsh Stadium |
| 5 | 2 July 2009 | North Queensland Fury | 3 – 2 Costa 40' Alemão 50' | Adelaide United | 2,547 | Darwin Football Stadium |
| 6 | 8 July 2009 | Adelaide United | 4 – 0 Monterosso 28' Hughes 32', 72' Jamieson 85' | South Australian State Team | N/A | Hindmarsh Stadium |
| 7 | 26 July 2009 | Melbourne Victory | 2 – 1 Cássio 58' | Adelaide United | 6,257 | Aurora Stadium |

### A-League
#### League table

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Sydney FC (C) | 27 | 15 | 3 | 9 | 35 | 23 | +12 | 48 | Qualification for 2011 AFC Champions League group stage and Finals series |
| 2 | Melbourne Victory | 27 | 14 | 5 | 8 | 47 | 32 | +15 | 47 | Qualification for 2011 AFC Champions League group stage and Finals series |
| 3 | Gold Coast United | 27 | 13 | 5 | 9 | 39 | 35 | +4 | 44 | Qualification for Finals series |
| 4 | Wellington Phoenix | 27 | 10 | 10 | 7 | 37 | 29 | +8 | 40 | Qualification for Finals series |
| 5 | Perth Glory | 27 | 11 | 6 | 10 | 40 | 34 | +6 | 39 | Qualification for Finals series |
| 6 | Newcastle Jets | 27 | 10 | 4 | 13 | 33 | 45 | −12 | 34 | Qualification for Finals series |
| 7 | North Queensland Fury | 27 | 8 | 8 | 11 | 29 | 46 | −17 | 32 | |
| 8 | Central Coast Mariners | 27 | 7 | 9 | 11 | 32 | 29 | +3 | 30 | |
| 9 | Brisbane Roar | 27 | 8 | 6 | 13 | 32 | 42 | −10 | 30 | |
| 10 | Adelaide United | 27 | 7 | 8 | 12 | 24 | 33 | −9 | 29 | |

#### Matches

| Round | Date | Home team | Score | Away team | Attendance | Stadium | Match details |
| 1 | 7 August 2009 | Adelaide United | 1 – 0 Dodd 30' (pen.) | Perth Glory | 13,847 | Hindmarsh Stadium | Report Summary |
| 2 | 16 August 2009 | Sydney FC | 1 – 0 | Adelaide United | 14,924 | Sydney Football Stadium | Report Summary |
| 3 | 21 August 2009 | Adelaide United | 0 – 2 | Gold Coast United | 12,741 | Hindmarsh Stadium | Report Summary |
| 4 | 28 August 2009 | Adelaide United | 3 – 3 Pantelis 23', 90+2' (pen.) Owusu 33' | North Queensland Fury | 10,773 | Hindmarsh Stadium | Report Summary |
| 5 | 4 September 2009 | Wellington Phoenix | 1 – 1 Fyfe 42' | Adelaide United | 7,523 | Westpac Stadium | Report Summary |
| 6 | 11 September 2009 | Adelaide United | 1 – 0 Cássio 33' | Central Coast Mariners | 10,262 | Hindmarsh Stadium | Report Summary |
| 7 | 18 September 2009 | Adelaide United | 0 – 2 | Melbourne Victory | 15,038 | Hindmarsh Stadium | Report Summary |
| 8 | 27 September 2009 | North Queensland Fury | 0 – 2 Pantelis 60' Leckie 90+2' | Adelaide United | 6,745 | Dairy Farmers Stadium | Report Summary |
| 9 | 5 October 2009 | Adelaide United | 1 – 1 Cássio 76' | Newcastle Jets | 12,090 | Hindmarsh Stadium | Report Summary |
| 10 | 9 October 2009 | Perth Glory | 1 – 0 | Adelaide United | 9,482 | Members Equity Stadium | Report Summary |
| 11 | 16 October 2009 | Adelaide United | 2 – 1 Cristiano 30', 54' | Sydney FC | 10,291 | Hindmarsh Stadium | Report Summary |
| 12 | 24 October 2009 | Melbourne Victory | 3 – 1 Hughes 64' | Adelaide United | 21,182 | Etihad Stadium | Report Summary |
| 13 | 31 October 2009 | Central Coast Mariners | 0 – 0 | Adelaide United | 5,437 | Canberra Stadium | Report Summary |
| 14 | 6 November 2009 | Adelaide United | 0 – 2 | Brisbane Roar | 11,209 | Hindmarsh Stadium | Report Summary |
| 15 | 20 November 2009 | Adelaide United | 1 – 1 Leckie 90+3' | Gold Coast United | 9,578 | Hindmarsh Stadium | Report Summary |
| 16 | 28 November 2009 | North Queensland Fury | 2 – 1 Cristiano 90+1' | Adelaide United | 5,356 | Dairy Farmers Stadium | Report Summary |
| 17 | 4 December 2009 | Adelaide United | 0 – 2 | Newcastle Jets | 8,502 | Hindmarsh Stadium | Report Summary |
| 18 | 12 December 2009 | Brisbane Roar | 0 – 1 Barbiero 78' | Adelaide United | 5,801 | Suncorp Stadium | Report Summary |
| 19 | 19 January 2010 | Adelaide United | 2 – 3 Pantelis 13' Dodd 53' | Perth Glory | 8,904 | Hindmarsh Stadium | Report Summary |
| 20 | 18 December 2009 | Adelaide United | 1 – 1 Alemão 57' | Wellington Phoenix | 9,070 | Hindmarsh Stadium | Report Summary |
| 21 | 27 December 2009 | Sydney FC | 1 – 0 | Adelaide United | 11,741 | Sydney Football Stadium | Report Summary |
| 22 | 9 January 2010 | Gold Coast United | 1 – 1 Dodd 20' | Adelaide United | 4,505 | Skilled Park | Report Summary |
| 23 | 15 January 2010 | Adelaide United | 1 – 1 Dodd 43' | Central Coast Mariners | 10,156 | Hindmarsh Stadium | Report Summary |
| 24 | 23 January 2010 | Melbourne Victory | 2 – 0 | Adelaide United | 20,361 | Etihad Stadium | Report Summary |
| 25 | 30 January 2010 | Wellington Phoenix | 1 – 0 | Adelaide United | 19,258 | AMI Stadium | Report Summary |
| 26 | 6 February 2010 | Adelaide United | 2 – 0 Barbiero 7' Pantelis 51' | Brisbane Roar | 8,244 | Hindmarsh Stadium | Report Summary |
| 27 | 12 February 2010 | Newcastle Jets | 1 – 2 Barbiero 8' Leckie 74' | Adelaide United | 6,880 | EnergyAustralia Stadium | Report Summary |

### AFC Champions League
#### Group stage

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | ADE | POH | HIR | SHA |
| 1 | Adelaide United | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 4 | +2 | 10 | Advance to knockout stage | — | 1–0 | 3–2 | 0–1 |
| 2 | Pohang Steelers | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 8 | 7 | +1 | 10 | Advance to knockout stage | 0–0 | — | 2–1 | 1–0 |
| 3 | Sanfrecce Hiroshima | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 11 | 11 | 0 | 9 | | 1–0 | 4–3 | — | 0–1 |
| 4 | Shandong Luneng | 6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 5 | 8 | −3 | 6 | | 0–2 | 1–2 | 2–3 | — |
Round of 16