Adelaide United move focus to China trip

Adelaide United will be determined not to let a meticulously executed Asian Champions League campaign go to waste when they travel to China for their pivotal final group match against Changchun Yatai.

And it is looking increasingly likely that valuable strike pair Paul Agostino and Bruce Djite will be fit to make the trip.

Wednesday night's 1-0 win over the Pohang Steelers gave Adelaide 13 of a possible 15 points from their first five games, an exceptional tally that will nonetheless come to nought if they lose to second-placed Yatai (11 points) in China.

Reds coach Aurelio Vidmar admitted it would be harsh indeed to drop out of the ACL having done so much right over five games in Group E, but a competition that allows only the top team from each group to go through is more uncompromising than most.

By comparison the UEFA Champions League allows the top two sides from each four-club group to progress to the knock stage, and this year finalists Chelsea did so while collecting 12 points from six games, one less than United have already.

"When you look at where we're sitting at the moment with 13 points, it would be really harsh if we don't qualify, 13 points in five games would be a real pity if we couldn't qualify like that," Vidmar said.

"We've been very well organised and the players have to take full credit for that, they really embraced what we're trying to do and you can see that through the performances through the entire campaign.

"We've got a massive 90 minutes left."

Robbed of the creativity offered by Brazilian Diego due to a second yellow card of the tournament, Vidmar will be bolstered by the return of Angelo Constanzo from suspension.

He is also optimistic that Djite - likely soon to depart Australia for a European club career - and Agostino will be fit in time to travel, most likely as a high-powered pair of substitutes.

Agostino has been waylaid by chicken pox over the past week, while Djite is at the tail end of his rehabilitation from a hamstring tear.

"I spoke to (Agostino) today and he's ready to rumble if you like, ready to go for China, so if he trains okay he'll definitely be in the travelling party," Vidmar said.

"Bruce has been training with the group this week, a couple of sessions, so if he trains okay next week I can't see why he won't travel either."

Elsewhere Japan's Gamba Osaka and Iranian giants Saipa secured their places in the ACL quarter-finals.

Gamba needed only a draw to progress from Group G but earned a hard-fought 2-0 win in Bangkok against Chonburi, with second-half goals from substitute Masato Yamazaki and Lucas shoring up their berth in the last eight.

Melbourne Victory's 1-1 draw with the Chunnam Dragons had snuffed out any hope the Korean side had of sneaking past Gamba.

Saipa, coached by Iranian legend Ali Daei, booked their place with a 1-0 win over Kuwait Sports club to claim top spot in Group B.

Kianoush Rahmati's long-range effort in the 24th minute was enough to claim all three points to put them into the knockout rounds alongside defending champions and automatic qualifiers Urawa Reds.