The Reds suffered a 1-0 defeat to Kuruvchi of Uzbekistan at the MHSK Stadium on Wednesday, but advanced to next month’s final 3-1 on aggregate thanks to goals by Diego, Fabian Barbiero and Cristiano in the first leg in Adelaide two weeks ago.

Having become the first Australian club to reach the knockout stage of Asia’s premier club tournament, Adelaide can now look forward to a final clash against Gamba Osaka of Japan, who overcame J.League rivals Urawa Reds in the other semi-final.

“This certainly is as big as the national team getting to the World Cup. It is the biggest competition in club football in Asia and it is a magnificent achievement to get to the final, a real magnificent achievement,” gleamed Vidmar, whose team overcame another Japanese club, Kashima Antlers, in the quarter-finals.

“We have done it in the hardest possible way in terms of the resources of the other clubs so for us to get this far is unbelievable.”

Adelaide set out to defend their healthy advantage from the first whistle at MHSK Stadium and were rarely threatened with the central defensive duo of Sasa Ognenovski and Angelo Costanzo marshalling the Reds backline.

The home side were rewarded for their possession and dominance with 11 minutes remaining as substitute Bahodir Pardaev fired home, but hard-working Adelaide had done enough to join Gamba in the final.

Goalkeeper Eugene Galekovic, who made a crucial point blank save from Timur Kapadze in the second half, played while still troubled by a groin injury, while Diego and Paul Reid were also not at 100%, making Adelaide’s achievement even more remarkable in the eyes of Vidmar.

“They were extremely difficult opponents. We knew it was going to be an extremely difficult game, but our players were fantastic again,” added Vidmar.

“We have been very, very good throughout the group stage and over the two legs in the quarter-final and the two legs in the semi-final and we deserve to go through.

“Kuruvchi and Kashima Antlers are very good footballing sides, very quick and very fit and for us to compete and get this far is a great achievement. We have beaten some very good sides and it is an excellent result for us.”