# 2008–09 Adelaide United FC season

The 2008–09 Adelaide United FC season was the club's fourth A-League season since the inception in the Australian football league since it first started in 2005. The club competed in the 2008–09 A-League, 2008 AFC Champions League and 2008 FIFA Club World Cup.
For the 2008–09 season, Adelaide United made some significant signings to strengthen the squad, most notably striker Cristiano from Willem II for two years on a free transfer. Another key signing to fill the vacancy left by the retirement of Richie Alagich was Alemão formerly of CA Juventus. Saša Ognenovski joined the club from Queensland Roar to help shore up the defence, midfielder Paul Reid joined from Brighton & Hove Albion F.C., while promising youngsters Scott Jamieson, Daniel Mullen, Mark Birighitti and Robert Younis also signed. Bobby Petta, Shaun Ontong, Milan Susak, Dez Giraldi and Robert Bajic were all released, Bruce Djite was sold for an A-League record of A$850,000 to Genclerbirligi, whilst Nathan Burns also transferred to pursue his European dreams, joining Greek first division outfit AEK Athens for A$500,000. Kristian Sarkies, Lucas Pantelis and Fabian Barbiero all had their contracts renewed.
This season, Adelaide United passed the one millionth spectator milestone of total crowds since the inception of the A-League. They reached this achievement when their 7,052nd fan passed through the gate, for the Round 3 match against Wellington. Adelaide United are only the third A-League club to do so thus far, the other two being Melbourne Victory and Sydney FC.
The round 18 A-League match against Sydney FC at the Adelaide Oval saw $23,002 donated to the Starlight Foundation as $1 from every ticket sold for the match went to the charity.
By the end of round 27, Adelaide had drawn level for first, equalling Melbourne's 38 points on the ladder, having needed to win 2–0 against the Central Coast Mariners away to win the premiership and only securing a 1–0 win. Adelaide was pushed down to second because of goal difference. The Reds, along with Melbourne, the Queensland Roar and Central Coast, proceeded to the finals where they lost 1–0 against Melbourne Victory in the grand final at Etihad Stadium, Melbourne.
An early highlight for the season was Adelaide's run to the final of the AFC Champions League against Gamba Osaka. Because of this performance, Adelaide participated in the 2008 FIFA Club World Cup. They played in the play-off round against Waitakere United on 11 December, defeating them 2–1. The Reds' next game was played against AFC Champions League rivals, Gamba Osaka, in the quarterfinal round on 14 December in Toyota, Japan. This match, despite Adelaide's grown skill since their first meeting with ACL champions, was won by Gamba Osaka 0–1. Adelaide's last appearance in the Club World Cup was against Al Ahly, from Egypt, to determine the fifth-placed club. The match was played on 18 December, and Adelaide defeated Al-Ahly 0–1.
This season also saw the introduction of the Adelaide United W-League team and the A-League National Youth League team. Former Adelaide player Richie Alagich, along with Michael Barnett and former Socceroos Tony Vidmar and Joe Mullen joined the coaching staff of these teams.

## Players
### Squad information
#### First Team roster

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 1 | GK | AUS | Daniel Beltrame |
| 2 | DF | AUS | Robert Cornthwaite |
| 3 | DF | BRA | Alemão |
| 4 | DF | AUS | Angelo Costanzo |
| 5 | DF | AUS | Michael Valkanis |
| 6 | DF | BRA | Cássio |
| 7 | MF | AUS | Lucas Pantelis |
| 8 | MF | AUS | Kristian Sarkies |
| 9 | FW | AUS | Paul Agostino |
| 10 | FW | BRA | Cristiano |
| 13 | MF | AUS | Travis Dodd (captain) |
| 14 | DF | AUS | Scott Jamieson |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 15 | MF | CIV | Jonas Salley |
| 16 | DF | AUS | Daniel Mullen |
| 17 | DF | AUS | Isyan Erdoğan |
| 18 | MF | AUS | Fabian Barbiero |
| 19 | DF | AUS | Saša Ognenovski |
| 20 | GK | AUS | Eugene Galeković |
| 21 | MF | AUS | Jason Spagnuolo |
| 22 | MF | BRA | Diego |
| 24 | MF | AUS | Paul Reid |
| 25 | FW | AUS | Robert Younis |
| 28 | MF | AUS | Rostyn Griffiths |
| 30 | GK | AUS | Mark Birighitti |

#### Youth Team roster

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| — | GK | AUS | Lucas Andreucci |
| — | GK | AUS | Luke Ostybe |
| — | DF | AUS | Michael Doyle |
| — | DF | AUS | Michael Marrone |
| — | DF | AUS | Alex Sunasky |
| — | DF | AUS | Scott Weidnebach |
| — | MF | AUS | Joel Allwright |
| — | MF | AUS | Travis Anderson |
| — | MF | AUS | Andrew Ciarla |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| — | MF | AUS | Joe Costa |
| — | MF | AUS | Osama Malik |
| — | MF | AUS | Matthew Mullen |
| — | MF | AUS | Ivan Pavlak |
| — | FW | AUS | Angelo Arambatsis |
| — | FW | AUS | Michael De Bono |
| — | FW | AUS | Francesco Monterosso |
| — | FW | AUS | Shane Tobias |

### Transfers
#### First Team

| Name | Position | Moving from | Fee |
| Mark Birighitti | Goalkeeper | Australian Institute of Sport | Free |
| Saša Ognenovski | Defender | Queensland Roar | Free |
| Daniel Mullen | Defender | Australian Institute of Sport | Free |
| Scott Jamieson | Defender | Bolton Wanderers | Free |
| Alemão | Defender | CA Juventus | Free |
| Paul Reid | Midfielder | Brighton & Hove Albion | Free |
| Cristiano | Striker | Willem II Tilburg | Free |
| Robert Younis | Striker | APIA Leichhardt | Free |
| Name | Position | Moving to | Fee |
| Robert Bajic | Goalkeeper | Released | – |
| Milan Susak | Defender | Released | – |
| Richie Alagich | Defender | Retired | – |
| Bobby Petta | Midfielder | Para Hills Knights | Free |
| Shaun Ontong | Midfielder | Newcastle Jets | Free |
| Bruce Djite | Striker | Gençlerbirliği | €500,000 |
| Dez Giraldi | Striker | Released | – |
| Nathan Burns | Striker | AEK Athens | €290,000 |

#### 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 |
| Youth Team Assistant Coach | Tony Vidmar |
| Women's Team Coach | Michael Barnett |
| Women's Team Assistant Coach | Richie Alagich |

## Statistics
### Squad statistics

| No. | Pos. | Name | A-League | A-League | A-League Finals | A-League Finals | Pre-Season Cup | Pre-Season Cup | ACL | ACL | CWC | CWC | Total | Total | Discipline | Discipline |
| No. | Pos. | Name | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | | |
| 1 | GK | Daniel Beltrame | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2 | DF | Robert Cornthwaite | 17 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 10 | 2$^1$ | 3 | 0 | 35 | 4$^1$ | 10 | 0 |
| 3 | DF | Alemão | 18 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 25 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| 4 | DF | Angelo Costanzo | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 26 | 0 | 8 | 0 |
| 5 | DF | Michael Valkanis | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 6 | DF | Cássio | 14 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 29 | 4 | 6 | 1 |
| 7 | MF | Lucas Pantelis | 10 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 26 | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| 8 | MF | Kristian Sarkies | 10 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 20 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 9 | FW | Paul Agostino | 7 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 10 | FW | Cristiano | 21 | 8 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 36 | 12 | 4 | 0 |
| 11 | MF | Osama Malik** | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 13 | MF | Travis Dodd | 20 | 7 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 12 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 40 | 11 | 6 | 0 |
| 14 | DF | Scott Jamieson | 21 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 36 | 0 | 7 | 0 |
| 15 | MF | Jonas Salley | 17 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 27 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| 16 | DF | Daniel Mullen | 9 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 20 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 17 | DF | Isyan Erdogan | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 18 | MF | Fabian Barbiero | 15 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 29 | 3 | 6 | 0 |
| 19 | DF | Saša Ognenovski | 20 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 35 | 3 | 12 | 0 |
| 20 | GK | Eugene Galekovic | 18 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 38 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 21 | MF | Jason Spagnuolo | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 23 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 22 | MF | Diego | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 11 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 22 | 4 | 3 | 0 |
| 23 | DF | Michael Marrone | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 24 | MF | Paul Reid | 18 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 29 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| 25 | FW | Robert Younis | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 17 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 26 | MF | Matthew Mullen | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 28 | MF | Rostyn Griffiths | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 30 | GK | Mark Birighitti | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| —— | DF | Richie Alagich* | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| —— | FW | Bruce Djite* | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| —— | DF | Milan Susak* | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| —— | FW | Nathan Burns* | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| —— | FW | Dez Giraldi* | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| —— | MF | Shaun Ontong* | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
$^1$ – does not include own goal(s) * – player(s) who competed in the ACL but not in the 2008–09 A-League season or the CWC ** – player(s) who competed in the CWC but not in the 2008–09 A-League season or the ACL

### 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 |
| Total | Player | Player | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 |
| 8 | | Cristiano | | | 2 | | | 2 | 1 | | | | | | | 2 | | | | | | | 1 |
| 7 | | Travis Dodd | 1 | 1 | | | | | 1 | | 1 | 1 | | 1 | | 1 | | | | | | | |
| 4 | | Cássio | | | | | | | | | | 1 | | | | 2 | | | | 1 | | | |
| 3 | | Saša Ognenovski | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | 1 | 1 | | | | | | | |
| 2 | | Robert Cornthwaite | | | | | | | 1 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 2 | | Alemão | | | | | | | | | 1 | | | | | | | | | 1 | | | |
| 2 | | Lucas Pantelis | | | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | | |
| 1 | | Kristian Sarkies | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | | | | |
| 1 | | Fabian Barbiero | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | | |
| 1 | | Paul Reid | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 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 | 17 August 2008 | Perth Glory | 1–0 | 10,510 | Sunday |
| 3 | 30 August 2008 | Wellington Phoenix | 3–0 | 7,832 | Saturday |
| 6 | 27 September 2008 | Newcastle Jets | 2–0 | 8,111 | Saturday |
| 7 | 3 October 2008 | Central Coast Mariners | 3–3 | 9,074 | Friday |
| 9 | 26 October 2008 | Perth Glory | 2–1 | 10,126 | Sunday |
| 10 | 31 October 2008 | Melbourne Victory | 2–3 | 13,191 | Friday |
| 12 | 22 November 2008 | Sydney FC | 2–0 | 9,509 | Saturday |
| 14 | 5 December 2008 | Wellington Phoenix | 6–1 | 9,442 | Friday |
| 16 | 14 January 2009 | Queensland Roar | 0–0 | 14,450 | Wednesday |
| 18 | 3 January 2009 | Sydney FC | 2–0 | 23,002 | Saturday |
| 19 | 9 January 2009 | Newcastle Jets | 2–0 | 13,585 | Friday |
| SF1 | 7 February 2009 | Melbourne Victory | 0–2 | 14,119 | Saturday |
| PF | 21 February 2009 | Queensland Roar | 1–0 | 8,472 | Saturday |

## Competitions
### Pre-season

| Round | Date | Home team | Score | Away team | Attendance | Stadium |
| 1 | 20 July 2008 | Melbourne Victory | 1–2 Cristiano 33', 90' | Adelaide United | 4,720 | Aurora Stadium |
| 2 | 26 July 2008 | Newcastle Jets | 0–0 | Adelaide United | 2,756 | Baddeley Park |
| 3 | 2 August 2008 | Adelaide United | 0–0 | Perth Glory | 3,000 | Vansittart Park |

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

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Melbourne Victory (C) | 21 | 12 | 2 | 7 | 39 | 27 | +12 | 38 | Qualification for 2010 AFC Champions League group stage and Finals series |
| 2 | Adelaide United | 21 | 11 | 5 | 5 | 31 | 19 | +12 | 38 | Qualification for 2010 AFC Champions League group stage and Finals series |
| 3 | Queensland Roar | 21 | 10 | 6 | 5 | 36 | 25 | +11 | 36 | Qualification for Finals series |
| 4 | Central Coast Mariners | 21 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 35 | 32 | +3 | 28 | Qualification for Finals series |
| 5 | Sydney FC | 21 | 7 | 5 | 9 | 33 | 32 | +1 | 26 | |
| 6 | Wellington Phoenix | 21 | 7 | 5 | 9 | 23 | 31 | −8 | 26 | |
| 7 | Perth Glory | 21 | 6 | 4 | 11 | 31 | 44 | −13 | 22 | |
| 8 | Newcastle Jets | 21 | 4 | 6 | 11 | 21 | 39 | −18 | 18 | |

#### Matches

| Round | Date | Home team | Score | Away team | Attendance | Stadium |
| 1 | 17 August 2008 | Adelaide United | 1–0 Dodd 41' | Perth Glory | 10,510 | Hindmarsh Stadium |
| 2 | 24 August 2008 | Queensland Roar | 1–1 Dodd 8' (pen) | Adelaide United | 12,761 | Suncorp Stadium |
| 3 | 30 August 2008 | Adelaide United | 3 -0 Pantelis 15' Cristiano 49', 60' | Wellington Phoenix | 7,832 | Hindmarsh Stadium |
| 4 | 12 September 2008 | Melbourne Victory | 1–0 | Adelaide United | 24,812 | Telstra Dome |
| 5 | 20 September 2008 | Sydney FC | 3–0 | Adelaide United | 12,462 | Sydney Football Stadium |
| 6 | 27 September 2008 | Adelaide United | 2–0 Cristiano 72', 60' | Newcastle Jets | 8,111 | Hindmarsh Stadium |
| 7 | 3 October 2008 | Adelaide United | 3–3 Dodd 7' (pen) Cornthwaite 19' Cristiano 50' | Central Coast Mariners | 9,074 | Hindmarsh Stadium |
| 8 | 17 October 2008 | Queensland Roar | 0–1 Cornthwaite 60' | Adelaide United | 11,117 | Suncorp Stadium |
| 9 | 26 October 2008 | Adelaide United | 2–1 Alemão 80' Dodd 82' (pen) | Perth Glory | 10,126 | Hindmarsh Stadium |
| 10 | 31 October 2008 | Adelaide United | 2–3 Dodd 28' (pen) Cássio 67' | Melbourne Victory | 13,191 | Hindmarsh Stadium |
| 11 | 15 November 2008 | Central Coast Mariners | 3–0 | Adelaide United | 7,865 | Bluetongue Stadium |
| 12 | 22 November 2008 | Adelaide United | 2–0 Ognenovski 45+2' Dodd 78' | Sydney FC | 9,509 | Hindmarsh Stadium |
| 13 | 30 November 2008 | Newcastle Jets | 1–1 Ognenovski 90+4' | Adelaide United | 7,136 | Energy Australia Stadium |
| 14 | 5 December 2008 | Adelaide United | 6–1 Ognenovski 21' Cristiano 43', 74' Cassio 47', 70' Dodd 90+1' | Wellington Phoenix | 9,442 | Hindmarsh Stadium |
| 15 | 6 January 2009 | Melbourne Victory | 1–0 | Adelaide United | 27,196 | Telstra Dome |
| 16 | 14 January 2009 | Adelaide United | 0–0 | Queensland Roar | 14,450 | Hindmarsh Stadium |
| 17 | 26 December 2008 | Perth Glory | 0–1 Sarkies 40' | Adelaide United | 12,581 | Members Equity Stadium |
| 18 | 3 January 2009 | Adelaide United | 2–0 Cassio 45' Alemão 82' | Sydney FC | 23,002 | Adelaide Oval |
| 19 | 9 January 2009 | Adelaide United | 2–0 Barbiero 23' Pantelis 74' | Newcastle Jets | 13,585 | Hindmarsh Stadium |
| 20 | 18 January 2009 | Wellington Phoenix | 1–1 Reid 9' | Adelaide United | 8,241 | Westpac Stadium |
| 21 | 25 January 2009 | Central Coast Mariners | 0–1 Cristiano 82' | Adelaide United | 12,351 | Bluetongue Stadium |

#### Finals series

| Final | Date | Home team | Score | Away team | Attendance | Stadium |
| Semi (1) | 7 February 2009 | Adelaide United | 0–2 | Melbourne Victory | 14,119 | Hindmarsh Stadium |
| Semi (2) | 14 February 2009 | Melbourne Victory | 4–0 | Adelaide United | 34,736 | Telstra Dome |
| Preliminary | 21 February 2009 | Adelaide United | 1–0 | Queensland Roar | 8,472 | Hindmarsh Stadium |
| Grand | 28 February 2009 | Melbourne Victory | 1–0 | Adelaide United | 53,273 | Telstra Dome |

### FIFA Club World Cup

| Final | Date | Team 1 | Score | Team 2 | Attendance | Stadium |
| Play-off | 11 December 2008 | Adelaide United | 2–1 Mullen 39' Dodd 83' | Waitakere United | 19,777 | National Stadium, Tokyo |
| Quarter | 14 December 2008 | Adelaide United | 0–1 | Gamba Osaka | 38,141 | Toyota Stadium, Toyota |
| Fifth Place | 18 December 2008 | Al Ahly | 0–1 Cristiano 7' | Adelaide United | 35,154 | International Stadium Yokohama |