Adelaide United head to Japan for the FIFA Club World Cup on top of the A-League after hammering Wellington 6-1.

KUALA LUMPUR: Adelaide United were the toast of the Australian sports media today after storming into the final of the AFC Champions League Wednesday, the first club from Down Under to do so. 

‘Adelaide United hits the jackpot’ screamed a headline on ABC.net.au, in an obvious reference to the riches awaiting Aurelio Vidmar’s men if they win the two-legged final while a place in the FIFA Club World Cup is already guaranteed.

The Melbourne Herald Sun paid tribute to the Reds, saying “Adelaide United revolutionised Australian soccer” with their victory over “Uzbekistan billionaires Bunyodkor”.

The writer also noted that “Adelaide's overall Champions League victory means that the club has won at least a cool $2 million in prize money”.

Earlier, a blogger on SBS.com.au said: “Our marriage into the Asian family has opened up a whole new world for our revitalised game.”

ABC Online quoted Adelaide chief executive Sam Ciccarello hailing the qualification as a huge achievement.
“The rewards are enormous, not just financial but the rewards of being able to project our club on to a global stage,” he said.

The report also pointed out Adelaide’s dilemma in choosing a stadium with a bigger capacity for the final.
“That's been considered and it is ruled out. Hindmarsh Stadium is our home stadium,” said Ciccarello.

“We did look at Football Park. We also looked at Adelaide Oval.”

“Adelaide Oval's got some cricket activity on at that time, and AAMI Stadium (Football Park) we just deemed to be not suitable for a final of the AFC Champions League, so we didn't even submit a formal request,” said Ciccarello.