Football

In a nightmare evening for Australian A-League clubs, Adelaide United were handed a humiliating elimination from the Asian Champions League, while Melbourne City and Macarthur United were knocked out of the Australia Cup by state league opposition.

Needing a win in the playoff to secure qualification to the ACL, Adelaide suffered a shock 2-0 loss at home against Vietnam’s Cong An Ha Noi in front of more than 6000 fans at Coopers Stadium.

The Reds will now compete in ACL2 — the second tier Asian competition — alongside Melbourne Victory, with Newcastle Jets the only Australian representative in Asia’s premier ACL.

Cong An Ha Noi were Vietnamese champions last season and ironically featured ex-Adelaide United icon Stefan Mauk in their midfield.

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Adelaide United’s coach Airton Androli played down the disappointing result, insisting he was happy the team was competing in Asia this season.

“I don’t think it’s a big setback,” Androli said post-match

“We’re in Asia, we’re obviously happy for that. We were doing everything we could to maybe go into that Elite competition, but it was not meant to be.

“So I wouldn’t say (it’s a) setback. We’re looking forward to playing (in) Asia in that second tier competition, and we’ll do everything we can to make sure that the club is well represented.”

In other shock results involving A-League clubs, Melbourne City were stunned 2-0 by Queensland Lions in the Australia Cup, while NSW semi-professional club SD Raiders stunned Macarthur FC on penalties in the same competition.

Melbourne City’s defeat ensures that a state league team will be in the final of the competition with all A-League teams being eliminated from one half of the draw.

Melbourne Victory and Sydney FC are the only A-League clubs that remain among eight potential quarter-finalists.

Football

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