Source :- PERTH NOW NEWS
Adelaide United’s disappointing start to the 2026-27 season continued on Tuesday night with a 2-0 loss to Vietnamese club Cong An Hanoi in an AFC Champions League Elite playoff.
Already knocked out of the Australia Cup with a shock 2-1 away loss to NPL Victoria club South Melbourne last month, the Reds again came up short, this time on home soil at Coopers Stadium.
The only consolation for the Reds is that despite the defeat, they will compete in this season’s AFC Champions League Two.
However, a spot in the higher quality and much more lucrative Elite competition – in which the Reds could have earned more than $1.1 million just for qualifying for the group stage – went begging with a lacklustre display.
Adelaide’s lack of potency in attack was again evident, with the Reds in desperate need of a quality striker before the start of their A-League campaign.
While it was a forgettable display from the hosts, it was a much happier night for ex-Adelaide midfielder Stefan Mauk, who joined the Vietnamese club last year.
Mauk was jeered by Reds fans when in possession of the ball, but the South Australian product had the last laugh against his former club.
“We’re so proud to represent Vietnam and we’re so proud to represent Cong An Hanoi,” Mauk said.
“I hate to be Adelaide to be completely honest. It’s the team I grew up supporting … but it’s a game you want to win when you’re playing in it.”
Adelaide’s Spanish playmaker Juan Muniz came close to giving the Reds the lead in the ninth minute with a curling free kick that had goalkeeper Filip Nguyen beaten but flew centimetres wide of the target.
The hosts had another chance 17 minutes later when midfielder Ryan White unleashed a long-distance strike. However, it flew over the crossbar.
Cong An eventually got themselves into the contest, and went ahead in the 41st minute through forward David Henen.
Fed by Colombian attacking weapon Brayan Perea, Belgium-born Togo international Henen got the better of Adelaide defender Panagiotis Kikianis before producing a powerful shot that was too much for Reds keeper Joshua Smits to deal with.
It was part of an unhappy night for Kikianis, who was booked in the 22nd minute for a needless foul on Mauk
Reds midfielder Ethan Alagich had an opportunity to equalise in the 53rd minute, but his shot was saved by Nguyen.
The visitors proved to be more clinical in the 64th minute, doubling their lead through Perea.
Henen was this time the provider with a low cross that was well finished by Perea in his first appearance for his new club.
Adelaide had a late chance to score, but a header from White was well saved by Nguyen.
