Reds' set piece tag fine with Fyfe

The Reds, who meet Bunyodkor of Uzbekistan in the first leg of the AFC Champions League quarter-finals at home on Wednesday 19 September, are actually loving every minute of it because it is creating the perfect foil.

Adelaide has scored several goals from set pieces in this year's Asian campaign and Fyfe, who also found the net twice in a 6-2 victory over Brisbane Roar in a trial at the weekend, sees this as an opportunity to boost his scoring record for the Reds.

”Whenever we have press conference before any Asian game and opposing teams are asked about our main strength, they all say we're good at set pieces,” Fyfe said.

”What they don't realise is that we can score from other situations as well.

”The six goals we scored against Brisbane came from all areas of the field.

”So it is up to us to change this misconception into a positive for us.

”We know that we can score in other ways than from set pieces because we have other attacking options like Sergio Van Dijk, Iain Ramsey, Dario Vidosic and our two new attack-minded Argentine boys Jeronimo Neumann and Marcelo Carrusca.

”So let our rivals keep thinking that way.”

This is Fyfe's third ACL campaign after playing for Sydney FC in 2007 and Adelaide in 2010.

He has since swapped his favourite stopper's role for a more advanced position as defensive midfielder.

The change was forced about in the early part of the current ACL campaign due to team injuries and he has never looked back.

He's not complaining.

”Actually I'm trying to knock off every position on the pitch at the moment,” he quipped.

”Seriously, I'd rather play in my old position as a stopper but I'm really enjoying my current role of holding midfielder.

”I like the attacking side of things and I scored twice against Roar from set pieces, one with my foot and the other with a header, which was good.

”We're lucky to have a guy like Dario who can deliver great free kicks.

”The thing with Asia is when you play away it's always tough and it's difficult to dominate games.

”Sometimes you have to rely on things like set pieces to get results and we have got some big boys to put any chances away.”

Fyfe said he and his team-mates were all optimistic of doing well against a team they have already beaten in the group stage of the competition.

Adelaide overcame Bunyodkor 2-1 in Tashkent and drew 0-0 at Hindmarsh Stadium on its way to winning the group ahead of the Uzbek champion.

The catch is that when the two teams met in Tashkent in early March Bunyodkor was in its off-season while Adelaide was finishing its A-League commitments. The roles are now reversed.

”We would be happy to take a lead to Tashkent but it is more important that Budyodkor don't score an away goal,” Fyfe said.

”So I suppose, yes, a 1-0 win would suit us fine. Two-nil would be fantastic.”