# 2007–08 Adelaide United FC season

The 2007–08 Adelaide United FC season was the club's third season since the inception of the A-League. The club competed in the 2007–08 A-League and finished sixth on the ladder.
For the 2007–08 season Adelaide recruited ex-Socceroo Paul Agostino "marquee", Ivorian Jonas Salley and ex-Olyroo Kristian Sarkies. They also signed Issy Erdogan of Preston Lions. One of the success stories of the season was the signing of former Flamengo FC player Cássio on a free transfer from Brazilian club. Cássio, who joined from Santa Cruz FC, won the Club Champion award in his first season. Shaun Ontong and Matthew Mullen from the AIS, were also signed to replenish their defensive stocks after the departure of Kristian Rees, Adam van Dommele and Aaron Goulding.
The 2007–08 season was a season to forget for Adelaide as they battled a huge amount of player injury throughout the season. This effectively ended their finals hopes and it was the first time Adelaide had failed to make the top two in A-League history.
Adelaide United participated in the 2008 AFC Champions League after finishing runner-up in the 2006–07 regular season and finals series to Melbourne Victory. Adelaide was drawn into Group E, along with V-League and Super Cup winners Bình Dương F.C., CSL champions Changchun Yatai, and K-League winners Pohang Steelers.
In their opening match of the 2008 campaign, Adelaide United defeated Pohang 2–0 in Korea. United drew against Changchun 0–0 in their second game, defeated Bình Dương 2–1 in Vietnam and followed this up with a 4–1 victory in the return leg. In their final group tie at home, Adelaide defeated Pohang 1–0, setting up a deciding away tie against Changchun to determine the Group E winner. In Changchun, Adelaide withstood considerable pressure to achieve an historic 0–0 draw, thus becoming the first Australian team to ever progress to the knockout stage of the Asian Champions League.
Adelaide drew J-League and Emperor's Cup champions Kashima Antlers in a two legged quarter-final starting in Japan, where they managed a 1–1 draw. Adelaide captain Travis Dodd scored first in the opening half, but right before halftime the score levelled when Robert Cornthwaite scored an own goal. In the return leg at the Hindmarsh Stadium a week later, Adelaide became the first Australian team to progress to the semi-finals of the competition with a 1–0 win. Cornthwaite redeemed himself from his own goal in the first leg by scoring the only goal of the game midway through the second half.
Adelaide drew 2007 Uzbek League Runners-up FC Bunyodkor in the semi-final, after the Uzbeks knocked out Saipa F.C. in their quarter-final. In the first leg of the semi-final, Adelaide won 3–0 with Diego, Barbiero, and Cristiano (via a penalty) scoring. The match was witnessed by 16,998 fans at Hindmarsh Stadium.
In the second leg of the semi-finals Adelaide United lost 1–0 to FC Bunyodkor but went through to the final 3–1 on aggregate. Thus they became the first Australian team to make it to the final of Asia's premier club competition. In the two legged final, they took on Japanese team Gamba Osaka who deposed 2007 champions Urawa Red Diamonds in the other semi-final.
This result ensured that Adelaide would participate in the 2008 FIFA Club World Cup either as the AFC representatives or as the highest placed non-Japanese team – as the rules do not allow more than one Japanese team to participate.
Adelaide lost heavily over two legs to Gamba Osaka. The score was 3–0 to Gamba Osaka away and 2–0 to Osaka at home in Adelaide, the Japanese club winning 5–0 on aggregate.

## Players

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 |
| 4 | DF | AUS | Angelo Costanzo |
| 5 | DF | AUS | Michael Valkanis (captain) |
| 6 | DF | BRA | Cássio |
| 7 | MF | AUS | Lucas Pantelis |
| 8 | MF | AUS | Kristian Sarkies |
| 9 | FW | AUS | Paul Agostino |
| 13 | MF | AUS | Travis Dodd |
| 15 | MF | CIV | Jonas Salley |
| 17 | DF | AUS | Isyan Erdoğan |
| 18 | MF | AUS | Fabian Barbiero |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 20 | GK | AUS | Eugene Galeković |
| 21 | MF | AUS | Jason Spagnuolo |
| 22 | MF | BRA | Diego |
| 28 | MF | AUS | Rostyn Griffiths |
| — | DF | AUS | Richie Alagich |
| — | FW | AUS | Bruce Djite |
| — | FW | AUS | Nathan Burns |
| — | MF | AUS | Shaun Ontong |
| — | DF | AUS | Milan Susak |
| — | MF | NED | Bobby Petta |
| — | FW | AUS | Dez Giraldi |
| — | GK | AUS | Robert Bajic |

## Transfers
### Transfers in

| Name | Position | Moving from |
| Paul Agostino | Forward | TSV 1860 München |
| Jonas Salley | Midfield | New Zealand Knights |
| Kristian Sarkies | Forward | Melbourne Victory |
| Cássio | Defender | Santa Cruz |
| Shaun Ontong | Defender | AIS |
| Matthew Mullen | Midfield | AIS |
| Isyan Erdogan | Defender | Preston Lions |
| Milan Susak | Defender | FK Vojvodina |
| Eugene Galekovic | Goalkeeper | Melbourne Victory |

### Transfers out

| Name | Position | Moving to |
| Greg Owens | Midfield | Central Coast Mariners |
| Ross Aloisi | Midfield | Wellington Phoenix |
| Matthew Kemp | Defender | Melbourne Victory |
| Shengqing Qu | Forward | released |
| Carl Veart | Forward | retired |
| Fernando | Forward | released |
| Kristian Rees | Defender | Whittlesea Zebras |
| Aaron Goulding | Defender | released |
| Adam van Dommele | Defender | South Melbourne |

## 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 |
| 6 | | Bruce Djite | 1 | | | | 1 | 2 | | | | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | 1 |
| 5 | | Travis Dodd | | | 1 | | | | | 2 | | | | | 1 | | | | | | | 1 | |
| 5 | | Lucas Pantelis | | | | | | | | 1 | 1 | | | | | | 1 | | | | 1 | | 1 |
| 4 | | Nathan Burns | 1 | 1 | | | | | | | | 1 | | | | | | | | | | 1 | |
| 4 | | Paul Agostino | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | 2 | 1 | | | | |
| 2 | | Richie Alagich | | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | | | | | | | |
| 1 | | Diego | | | | | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 1 | | Kristian Sarkies | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | | | |
* A goal was scored from a penalty kick

## Competitions
### Pre-season

| Round | Date | Home team | Score | Away team | Crowd | Stadium | Match Details |
| 1 | 15 July 2007 | Melbourne Victory | 1–1 | Adelaide United | 8,061 | Aurora Stadium | Report |
| 2 | 20 July 2007 | Adelaide United | 1–1 | Perth Glory | 3,513 | Hindmarsh Stadium | Report |
| 3 | 27 July 2007 | Adelaide United | 4–1 | Newcastle Jets | 3,800 | Hindmarsh Stadium | Report |
| Playoff | 5 August 2007 | Adelaide United | 3–2 | Queensland Roar | 5,221 | Hindmarsh Stadium | Report |
| Grand Final | 12 August 2007 | Adelaide United | 2–1 | Perth Glory | 9,606 | Hindmarsh Stadium | Report |

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

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Central Coast Mariners | 21 | 10 | 4 | 7 | 30 | 25 | +5 | 34 | Qualification for 2009 AFC Champions League group stage and Finals series |
| 2 | Newcastle Jets (C) | 21 | 9 | 7 | 5 | 25 | 21 | +4 | 34 | Qualification for 2009 AFC Champions League group stage and Finals series |
| 3 | Sydney FC | 21 | 8 | 8 | 5 | 28 | 24 | +4 | 32 | Qualification for 2008 Pan-Pacific Championship and Finals series |
| 4 | Queensland Roar | 21 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 25 | 21 | +4 | 31 | Qualification for Finals series |
| 5 | Melbourne Victory | 21 | 6 | 9 | 6 | 29 | 29 | 0 | 27 | |
| 6 | Adelaide United | 21 | 6 | 8 | 7 | 31 | 29 | +2 | 26 | |
| 7 | Perth Glory | 21 | 4 | 8 | 9 | 27 | 34 | −7 | 20 | |
| 8 | Wellington Phoenix | 21 | 5 | 5 | 11 | 25 | 37 | −12 | 20 | |
* ↑ First place qualifies for the 2009 AFC Champions League group stage. Winning the 2008 A-League Grand Final earns qualification for the 2009 AFC Champions League group stage, unless the Grand Final winners are also first place, in which case the Grand Final runner up qualifies.
* ↑ Wellington Phoenix cannot qualify for the AFC Champions League as they are not recognised as an AFC club.

#### Matches

| Round | Date | Home team | Score | Away team | Crowd | Stadium | Match Details |
| 1 | 25 August 2007 | Queensland Roar | 2–2 | Adelaide United | 16,828 | Suncorp Stadium | Report Summary |
| 2 | 1 September 2007 | Sydney FC | 2–2 | Adelaide United | 14,233 | Sydney Football Stadium | Report Summary |
| 3 | 7 September 2007 | Adelaide United | 1–1 | Melbourne Victory | 12,231 | Hindmarsh Stadium | Report Summary |
| 4 | 15 September 2007 | Newcastle Jets | 1–0 | Adelaide United | 13,627 | EnergyAustralia Stadium | Report Summary |
| 5 | 22 September 2007 | Wellington Phoenix | 2–2 | Adelaide United | 12,127 | Westpac Stadium | Report Summary |
| 6 | 30 September 2007 | Adelaide United | 2–1 | Central Coast Mariners | 11,019 | Hindmarsh Stadium | Report Summary |
| 7 | 7 October 2007 | Perth Glory | 0–0 | Adelaide United | 6,252 | Members Equity Stadium | Report Summary |
| 8 | 12 October 2007 | Adelaide United | 4–1 | Melbourne Victory | 13,372 | Hindmarsh Stadium | Report Summary |
| 9 | 20 October 2007 | Sydney FC | 0–1 | Adelaide United | 12,922 | Sydney Football Stadium | Report Summary |
| 10 | 28 October 2007 | Adelaide United | 4–1 | Wellington Phoenix | 11,740 | Hindmarsh Stadium | Report Summary |
| 11 | 2 November 2007 | Adelaide United | 0–1 | Queensland Roar | 10,705 | Hindmarsh Stadium | Report Summary |
| 12 | 10 November 2007 | Central Coast Mariners | 2–0 | Adelaide United | 11,680 | Bluetongue Stadium | Report Summary |
| 13 | 18 November 2007 | Adelaide United | 1–1 | Newcastle Jets | 10,256 | Hindmarsh Stadium | Report Summary |
| 14 | 23 November 2007 | Adelaide United | 1–1 | Perth Glory | 10,678 | Hindmarsh Stadium | Report Summary |
| 15 | 30 November 2007 | Wellington Phoenix | 1–2 | Adelaide United | 18,345 | Westpac Stadium | Report Summary |
| 16 | 8 December 2007 | Melbourne Victory | 2–2 | Adelaide United | 22,466 | Telstra Dome | Report Summary |
| 17 | 14 December 2007 | Adelaide United | 1–2 | Central Coast Mariners | 11,123 | Hindmarsh Stadium | Report Summary |
| 18 | 28 December 2007 | Adelaide United | 1–3 | Sydney FC | 25,039 | Adelaide Oval | Report Summary |
| 19 | 4 January 2008 | Newcastle Jets | 2–1 | Adelaide United | 13,047 | EnergyAustralia Stadium | Report Summary |
| 20 | 13 January 2008 | Perth Glory | 3–2 | Adelaide United | 8,025 | Members Equity Stadium | Report Summary |
| 21 | 20 January 2008 | Adelaide United | 2–0 | Queensland Roar | 10,803 | Hindmarsh Stadium | Report Summary |

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

| Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| Adelaide United | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 9 | 2 | +7 | 14 |
| Changchun Yatai | 6 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 10 | 3 | +7 | 12 |
| Pohang Steelers | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 7 | −1 | 5 |
| Bình Dương | 6 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 17 | −13 | 1 |
| Round | Date | Home team | Score | Away team | Attendance | Stadium |
| 1 | 12 March 2008 | Pohang Steelers | 0 – 2 Cornthwaite 3' Djite 59' | Adelaide United | 8,436 | Steelyard Stadium |
| 2 | 19 March 2008 | Adelaide United | 0–0 | Changchun Yatai | 10,510 | Hindmarsh Stadium |
| 3 | 9 April 2008 | Bình Dương | 1 – 2 Diego 10' Alagich 78' | Adelaide United | 15,000 | Gò Đậu Stadium |
| 4 | 23 April 2008 | Adelaide United | 4 – 1 Pantelis 56' Dodd 58', 62' Diego 77' | Bình Dương | 13,802 | Hindmarsh Stadium |
| 5 | 7 May 2008 | Adelaide United | 1 – 0 Diego 63' | Pohang Steelers | 11,805 | Hindmarsh Stadium |
| 6 | 22 May 2008 | Changchun Yatai | 0–0 | Adelaide United | 20,000 | Changchun City Stadium |

#### Knockout stage

| Final | Date | Home team | Score | Away team | Attendance | Stadium |
| Quarter (1) | 17 September 2008 | Kashima Antlers | 1 – 1 Dodd 38' | Adelaide United | 7,004 | Kashima Soccer Stadium |
| Quarter (2) | 24 September 2008 | Adelaide United | 1 – 0 Cornthwaite 73' | Kashima Antlers | 16,965 | Hindmarsh Stadium |
| Semi (1) | 8 October 2008 | Adelaide United | 3 – 0 Diego 57' Barbiero 70' Cristiano 89' (pen) | Bunyodkor | 16,998 | Hindmarsh Stadium |
| Semi (2) | 22 October 2008 | Bunyodkor | 1–0 | Adelaide United | 17,000 | MHSK Stadium |
| Grand (1) | 5 November 2008 | Gamba Osaka | 3–0 | Adelaide United | 20,639 | Osaka Expo '70 Stadium |
| Grand (2) | 12 November 2008 | Adelaide United | 0–2 | Gamba Osaka | 17,000 | Hindmarsh Stadium |