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Diego puts Reds in box seat

7 May 2008 | 22:30 - AAP

Closing in... Jonas Salley & Co are a step closer to making history (Getty Images)

Adelaide United are one point away from securing a historic place in the knockout stage of the Asian Champions League after a tense 1-0 victory over a weakened Pohang Steelers at Hindmarsh Stadium.

Brazilian midfielder Diego's emphatic second-half strike was enough to claim all three points for United and maintain a two-point lead of their ACL group.

A win or draw in their final match against second-placed Changchun Yatai in China will be enough to progress.

Diego however will miss that match due to his second yellow card of the tournament, a loss softened somewhat by the return of defensive general Angelo Costanzo from his own one-match suspension.

The result provided a fitting Adelaide send-off for reliable fullback Alagich, who will retire from football following the Changchun match and was farewelled with real warmth by a crowd of 11,805.

United had begun the night hoping for a favour from Vietnamese minnows Binh Duong against Yatai to assure them of a spot in the next phase a game early, but a 3-0 halftime score to Yatai quickly made that a forlorn hope.

The Reds had far more trouble finishing off against a determined if makeshift Pohang side, featuring only a handful of the players from the sides' previous meeting.

Lucas Pantelis did well at left-back in place of knee injury victim Cassio, but he was missed further up the park as the Reds pressed hard through midfield without the right amount of attacking composure.

Kristian Sarkies and Diego flashed shots wide of either post, and close to halftime Jonas Salley headed off-target.

The match meandered for the first 15 minutes after the interval, Pohang making a little more headway into Adelaide territory and notching their first shot on target through Song Changho.

A spark was desperately needed, and it came through a driving run and finish from Diego on 63 minutes.

Taking possession on the edge of the box, he had Nathan Burns in support but chose to beat two defenders before ripping his shot beyond Shin Hwa Yong.

Relieved to be leading, the Reds were a paper width away from going a man down when Robert Cornthwaite's lunging 66th minute challenge on Cho Han Bum went fortunately without a second yellow card from lenient Uzbek referee Ravshan Irmatov.

Adelaide threatened a second through the industry of Burns, but unlike his magical night against Binh Duong two weeks ago he was unable to complete numerous searching runs with a precision pass.

Lacking a second goal, the closing minutes were nervy for the home side, outgoing Alagich saving the night by heading clear when 'keeper Eugene Galekovic completely misjudged a cross.

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