Adelaide United coach Luciano Trani hailed his team's defensive efforts despite a 1-0 loss to Pohang Steelers in the Asian Champions League.
Adelaide United coach Luciano Trani hailed his team's defensive efforts despite a 1-0 loss to Pohang Steelers in the Asian Champions League.
A scrappy 69th-minute goal from Kim Dae-Ho after a rare error from Eugene Galekovic gave the K-League side the important win in Group E.
The Reds were defensive for most of the encounter and failed to trouble Steelers shot-stopper Kim Da-Sol.
With John Kosmina in Canberra doing his 'A' coaching licence course, assistant coach Trani - formally taking the reins for the Asian Champions League campaign - was in full control.
Trani said he was pleased with his side's defending, and spoke of the opportunity they had in playing against quality opposition in Asia.
"It was one of those difficult games where we defended as well as we expected and against an opposition like that, it's a credit to the boys," Trani said.
"Technically all of the Pohang players are sound, if you give them too much space they've got the ability to carve you open very quickly and that's what you get in the AFC Champions League.
"You've got the chance to come up against footballing nations that have technically very sound footballers."
Adelaide welcome Pohang to Hindmarsh Stadium on April 18, and Trani said the Reds were eager to get back to winning ways.
"The boys now know what's required and that's a real motivation to go back home and give ourselves a chance to make amends for what happened tonight," he said.
Adelaide remain top of Group E despite the loss, level on six points with Pohang, while Bunyodkor and Gamba Osaka are third and fourth respectively.