The 2009–10 Adelaide United FC season was the club's fifth A-League season. It includes the A-League 2009–10 season as well as any other competitions of the 2009–10 football (soccer) season.
After a stellar season in the A-League and internationally, Adelaide United began its pre-season without a financial owner; Nick Bianco relinquished his A-League licence back to Football Federation Australia (FFA). Regardless of this situation, the FFA ensured that Adelaide would have the funds available to recruit in the off-season and to maintain the club, whilst they would negotiate the new ownership deals. Adelaide United managed to secure major sponsors Modern Solar as well as Jim's Plumbing for their 2009–10 season.
At the end of the 2008–09 regular season Adelaide United released veteran Angelo Costanzo as well as Jonas Salley, Isyan Erdogan and Jason Spagnuolo, with Diego Walsh moving to New Zealand club Wellington Phoenix and Saša Ognenovski moving to K-League side Seongnam Ilhwa. Veteran Adelaide players Michael Valkanis, Daniel Beltrame and Paul Agostino retired at the end of the 2008–09 season.
Adelaide made a number of signings to replace the players which left in the off-season, most notably former Sydney FC defenders, Iain Fyfe and Mark Rudan, Korean youngster Inseob Shin and former Drogheda United midfielder Adam Hughes. Arguably the biggest off-season signing was former Cheltenham Town and Brentford striker, Lloyd Owusu, a capped Ghanaian international. The Reds also elevated a handful of players from their Youth squad to the senior team, namely Francesco Monterosso, Michael Marrone and Joe Costa.
After making a rather average start to the 2009–10 season, the Reds made their final signing in promising young Bulleen Lions winger, Mathew Leckie prior to the Round 5 clash against Wellington Phoenix. Leckie made an immediate impression, and scored his first goal in his second game off the bench against North Queensland Fury and would soon become a fan favourite.
With two rounds to go, and Adelaide sitting at the base of the table, the Reds made a surprise announcement that Argentine playmaker, Marcos Flores, who had signed on for 2 years starting with the club's third AFC Champions League venture, was to make his debut as an injury replacement for fellow import Cristiano. The South American made his presence felt in the final two games of the regular season, and helped Adelaide United finish the season with two consecutive wins. This however, was still not enough to lift the club up from its 2009–10 wooden spoon status – the club's worst performing season in its short history.
Adelaide competed in the Champions League in 2010 after finishing second on the 2008–09 A-League league table, and runner-up in the Finals series to cross-border rivals, Melbourne Victory. This will mark the return of Adelaide United to the continental club champions' tournament after a 1-year absence.
On 7 December 2009, Adelaide were drawn into Group H of the Champions League alongside 2009 Asian Champions Pohang Steelers, Chinese sister club Shandong Luneng and the winners of the 2009 Japanese Emperor's Cup. Because Gamba Osaka, the winner of the Emperor's Cup, had already qualified through league placing, 4th placed Sanfrecce Hiroshima became Adelaide United's final opponent in Group H of the Champions League.
In Adelaide's first match of the campaign played on 24 February against Pohang Steelers, Adelaide secured an important victory at Hindmarsh Stadium winning 1–0 courtesy of a fantastic individual effort by youngster Mathew Leckie on the stroke of half-time. They then continued their winning form by beating Shandong Luneng 2–0 and then coming from a 1–2 deficit to beat Sanfrecce Hiroshima 3–2. Despite not quite playing to the standard set in their opening three matches, Adelaide United managed to hold on to top spot in the group by securing a 0–0 draw against Pohang in Korea in between narrow 1–0 losses to Hiroshima in Hiroshima and then to Shandong Luneng at Hindmarsh in Adelaide.
Other results fell Adelaide's way and they finished on top of Group H resulting in a home match in the Round of 16. In an exciting, nerve-racking match, Adelaide lost to Jeonbuk Motors 3–2. Adelaide came back twice in the game, including a goal in the final seconds of the match. Jeonbuk won the match with a goal in the second half of extra time.
Players
Squad information
First Team Roster
Injury replacement player for Cristiano.
Youth Team Roster
2009–10 Transfers
First Team
In Name Position Moving from Fee Iain Fyfe Defender Sydney FC TBA Michael Marrone Defender Adelaide United Youth - Adam Hughes Midfielder Drogheda United Free Joe Costa Midfielder Adelaide United Youth - Francesco Monterosso Striker Adelaide United Youth - Lloyd Owusu Striker Cheltenham Town TBA Inseob Shin Midfielder Konkuk University Free Mark Rudan Defender FC Vaduz Free Mathew Leckie Midfielder Bulleen Lions Free Marcos Flores Midfielder Curicó Unido Free* Injury replacement for Cristiano
Out Name Position Moving to Fee Angelo Costanzo Defender Newcastle Jets – Jonas Salley Midfielder Shaanxi Neo-China Chanba F.C. – Jason Spagnuolo Midfielder North Queensland Fury – Michael Valkanis Defender Retired – Paul Agostino Striker Retired – Diego Midfielder Wellington Phoenix TBA Saša Ognenovski Defender Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma TBA Robert Younis Striker APIA Leichhardt – Isyan Erdogan Defender Hume City FC – Daniel Beltrame Goalkeeper Retired –
Youth Team
In
Out Name Position Moving to Fee Michael Marrone Defender Adelaide United - Osama Malik Midfielder North Queensland Fury - Joe Costa Midfielder Adelaide United - Francesco Monterosso Striker Adelaide United -
Technical Staff Position NameHead coach Aurelio VidmarAssistant coach Phil StubbinsSpecialist coach Carl VeartGoalkeeping coach Peter BlazincicYouth Team Coach Joe Mullen
Statistics
Squad statistics No.Pos.NameA-LeagueA-LeagueFinalsTotalDisciplineAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals1GK Eugene Galeković27000270302DF Robert Cornthwaite19000190403DF Alemão16100161004DF Iain Fyfe2610026140†5DF Daniel Mullen13000130106DF Cássio19200192207MF Lucas Pantelis23500235218MF Kristian Sarkies11000110109FW Cristiano243002431010DF Adam Hughes261002616011FW Lloyd Owusu161001612012MF Paul Reid8000801013MF Travis Dodd234002345014DF Scott Jamieson240002403015FW Francesco Monterosso5000500016MF Inseob Shin130001300017DF Michael Marrone160001601018MF Fabian Barbiero183001830119MF Mathew Leckie203002032020GK Mark Birighitti0000000021DF Mark Rudan190001905023MF Joe Costa1000100024MF Marcos Flores2000200025FW Evan Kostopoulos10001000
Goal scorers TotalPlayerGoals per Round 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 275 Lucas Pantelis 2 1 1 1 4 Travis Dodd 1 1 1 1 3 Cristiano 2 1 Mathew Leckie 1 1 1 Fabian Barbiero 1 1 12 Cássio 1 1 1 Lloyd Owusu 1 Iain Fyfe 1 Adam Hughes 1 Alemão 1 A goal was scored from a penalty kick Two goals were scored from penalty kicks
Attendance at home games Round Date Opponent Score Attendance Weekday 1 7 August 2009 Perth Glory 1–0 13,847 Friday 3 21 August 2009 Gold Coast United 0–2 12,741 Friday 4 28 August 2009 North Queensland Fury 3–3 10,773 Friday 6 11 September 2009 Central Coast Mariners 1–0 10,262 Friday 7 18 September 2009 Melbourne Victory 0–2 15,038 Friday 9 5 October 2009 Newcastle Jets 1–1 12,090 Monday 11 16 October 2009 Sydney FC 2–1 10,291 Friday 14 6 November 2009 Brisbane Roar 0–2 11,209 Friday 15 20 November 2009 Gold Coast United 1–1 9,578 Friday 17 4 December 2009 Newcastle Jets 0–2 8,502 Friday 19 19 January 2010 Perth Glory 2–3 8,904 Tuesday 20 18 December 2009 Wellington Phoenix 1–1 9,070 Friday 23 15 January 2010 Central Coast Mariners 1–1 10,156 Friday 26 6 February 2010 Brisbane Roar 2–0 8,244 Saturday
Competitions
Pre-season Match Date Home team Score Away team Attendance Stadium 1 2 June 2009 Para Hills Knights 0 – 1Cristiano Adelaide United N/A The Paddocks 2 9 June 2009 North Eastern MetroStars 1 – 1Sarkies Adelaide United N/A TK Shutter Reserve 3 16 June 2009 Adelaide Raiders 1 – 4Sarkies Cornthwaite Marrone Dodd Adelaide United N/A Croatian Sports Centre 4 26 June 2009 Adelaide United 1 – 0Dodd Perth Glory 1,961 Hindmarsh Stadium 5 2 July 2009 North Queensland Fury 3 – 2Costa Alemão Adelaide United 2,547 Darwin Football Stadium 6 8 July 2009 Adelaide United 4 – 0Monterosso Hughes , Jamieson South Australian State Team N/A Hindmarsh Stadium 7 26 July 2009 Melbourne Victory 2 – 1Cássio Adelaide United 6,257 Aurora Stadium
A-League
League table
Matches Round Date Home team Score Away team Attendance Stadium Match details 1 7 August 2009 Adelaide United 1 – 0Dodd Perth Glory 13,847 Hindmarsh Stadium Report 2 16 August 2009 Sydney FC 1 – 0 Adelaide United 14,924 Sydney Football Stadium Report 3 21 August 2009 Adelaide United 0 – 2 Gold Coast United 12,741 Hindmarsh Stadium Report 4 28 August 2009 Adelaide United 3 – 3Pantelis Owusu North Queensland Fury 10,773 Hindmarsh Stadium Report 5 4 September 2009 Wellington Phoenix 1 – 1Fyfe Adelaide United 7,523 Westpac Stadium Report 6 11 September 2009 Adelaide United 1 – 0Cássio Central Coast Mariners 10,262 Hindmarsh Stadium Report 7 18 September 2009 Adelaide United 0 – 2 Melbourne Victory 15,038 Hindmarsh Stadium Report 8 27 September 2009 North Queensland Fury 0 – 2Pantelis Leckie Adelaide United 6,745 Dairy Farmers Stadium Report 9 5 October 2009 Adelaide United 1 – 1Cássio Newcastle Jets 12,090 Hindmarsh Stadium Report 10 9 October 2009 Perth Glory 1 – 0 Adelaide United 9,482 Members Equity Stadium Report 11 16 October 2009 Adelaide United 2 – 1 Cristiano Sydney FC 10,291 Hindmarsh Stadium Report 12 24 October 2009 Melbourne Victory 3 – 1Hughes Adelaide United 21,182 Etihad Stadium Report 13 31 October 2009 Central Coast Mariners 0 – 0 Adelaide United 5,437 Canberra Stadium Report 14 6 November 2009 Adelaide United 0 – 2 Brisbane Roar 11,209 Hindmarsh Stadium Report 15 20 November 2009 Adelaide United 1 – 1Leckie Gold Coast United 9,578 Hindmarsh Stadium Report 16 28 November 2009 North Queensland Fury 2 – 1Cristiano Adelaide United 5,356 Dairy Farmers Stadium Report 17 4 December 2009 Adelaide United 0 – 2 Newcastle Jets 8,502 Hindmarsh Stadium Report 18 12 December 2009 Brisbane Roar 0 – 1Barbiero Adelaide United 5,801 Suncorp Stadium Report 19 19 January 2010 Adelaide United 2 – 3Pantelis Dodd Perth Glory 8,904 Hindmarsh Stadium Report 20 18 December 2009 Adelaide United 1 – 1Alemão Wellington Phoenix 9,070 Hindmarsh Stadium Report 21 27 December 2009 Sydney FC 1 – 0 Adelaide United 11,741 Sydney Football Stadium Report 22 9 January 2010 Gold Coast United 1 – 1Dodd Adelaide United 4,505 Skilled Park Report 23 15 January 2010 Adelaide United 1 – 1Dodd Central Coast Mariners 10,156 Hindmarsh Stadium Report 24 23 January 2010 Melbourne Victory 2 – 0 Adelaide United 20,361 Etihad Stadium Report 25 30 January 2010 Wellington Phoenix 1 – 0 Adelaide United 19,258 AMI Stadium Report 26 6 February 2010 Adelaide United 2 – 0Barbiero Pantelis Brisbane Roar 8,244 Hindmarsh Stadium Report 27 12 February 2010 Newcastle Jets 1 – 2Barbiero Leckie Adelaide United 6,880 EnergyAustralia Stadium Report
AFC Champions League
Group stage
Round of 16
References
External links Official website