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JINAN, East China - Australian A-League side Adelaide United beat Chinese Super League giant Shandong Luneng 2-0 here Wednesday to top Group H of the 2010 AFC Champions League.
Goals in each half from Sergio Van Dijk and Matthew Leckie gifted Adelaide United the victory.
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The visitors took the lead in the 28 minute. Argentine Marcos Flores sliced open Shandong's defence as he put Lucas Pantells in with a beautifully weighted through-ball.
Then Lucas provided a pinpoint cross from the right flank to Sergio Van Dijk who nodded home into a vacent net.
With two miutes remaining in the half, Shandong had another good chance when Wang Yongpo whipped in a free-kick to the back post but Galekovic held it safely and the opening 45 minutes ended 1-0 to the visitors.
After the interval, van Dijk got a scoring chance when Adelaide skipper Travis Dodd forced his way into the box before squaring up the Dutchman who got onto his favored left foot but Shandong keeper Li Leilei was well-positioned to make a comfortable save.
However, in the 69th minute, the Reds took a two-goal lead when young gun Leckie made contact with a powerful header from a Scott Jamieson corner, notching his second goal of the Asian Champions League in just his second outing.
Shandong rallied and toiled hard for a goal in an attempt to get back into the contest but the Australians fought well to make it a perfect record from their opening two group stage matches.
At the press after the contest, Branko Ivankovic said ?"It is regretful that we lose the match. Australian players are stronger and ambitive and the Reds were closing down our tactic. This is the contest, who won the first ball who take the lead. "
Shandong Luneng is scheduled to meet defending champion South Korean Pohang Steelers on March 24 in guest field.
