KEY POINTS:
Adelaide United, now in Japan for tomorrow night's first leg of the Asian Champions League final, will be looking for a quick turnaround in fortunes.
After leading, then losing, their Hyundai A-League to Melbourne Victory 3-2 on Friday night, the South Australians now face Gamba Osaka as their
build-up to next month's Fifa World Club Cup continues.
Adelaide, who now trail the Victory on goal difference at the top of the A-League table, have had this week's scheduled game away to Central Coast postponed, allowing them to focus entirely on the Champions League.
An away point - or more - would give Adelaide a flying start. The return at Hindmarsh Stadium a week tomorrow will sort out where they will fit into the World Club Cup draw.
If they win, Adelaide will go into the cup proper as Asian champions and prepare to play on December 14. If they lose, Adelaide will play Waitakere United at the National Stadium in Tokyo on December 11 with the winner to progress to play the Asian representative - either Gamba Osaka, if they beat Adelaide, or the J-League winner who might not be known until the final round on December 6.
For Adelaide coach Aurelio Vidmar it is a huge challenge.
The game against Melbourne Victory, in front of 13,191 fans at Hindmarsh, was frustrating. A Travis Dodd penalty gave Adelaide the lead after 28 minutes. The visitors drew level in the 55th minute with a Kevin Muscat penalty. Cassio put the home side back in front 12 minutes later.
A second Muscat penalty in the 82nd minute again levelled the scores. The killer blow came two minutes later through Billy Celeski.
There were even more goals in Sydney as 18,251 spectators watched Sydney FC blow a three-goal lead in finishing 3-3 with neighbours Central Coast Mariners.
In a game in which all the scoring came in the opening 35 minutes, Queensland Roar prospered on their trip south, edging Newcastle Jets 2-1. Joel Griffiths gave the home side their 24th minute lead. That was cancelled out a minute later by Matt McKay. In-form Charlie Miller earned the Roar the points with his 36th-minute goal.
Nikita Rukavytsya scored twice as Perth Glory beat a lacklustre Wellington Phoenix to send Ricki Herbert's side to the bottom of the table.
They are now in Sydney for Friday night's opening game of round 11. In other matches this week, Queensland play Melbourne on Saturday and Perth are at home to Newcastle on Sunday.