“Still there is mathematically an opportunity but it makes it very difficult,” Vidmar said.

“When we went down to ten men, I think that’s what killed us in the end. It was a warm night and we tried to hold out for as long as we could.


"It was always going to be difficult against a team like Sydney who are very experienced and know how to use the ball well and in the end they deserved the points.”

The loss means United must defeat the Newcastle Jets away next Friday night to have any chance of making the top four while the win keeps Sydney FC’s unbeaten away record this season intact.

Adelaide may not have recorded the right result on the scoreboard, but the club recorded the largest ever football crowd in a domestic competition in South Australia in their blockbuster match.

The Reds’ historic first match at Adelaide Oval drew a crowd of 25,039, passing the previous record mark of 20,870 which was set when Australia played Italian league giants Juventus on June 12, 1984.

Adelaide United CEO Sam Ciccarello said it was a terrific achievement and paid credit to the South Australian public and soccer supporters.

“Not withstanding it was not the result we had hoped for on the field, it was a great night for our sport and the code and our fans can celebrate with the record crowd that was at Adelaide Oval,” Mr Ciccarello said.

“Adelaide turned out in force, it was a wonderful spectacle and from our point of view to get a record crowd for any soccer match in South Australia, we’re just thrilled to be part of a historical occasion for Adelaide United and the sport in South Australia.”

Socceroo coach Pim Verbeek was one of those people who contributed to the record attendance as the new Australia boss continued his search for Australia’s best talent in the A-League.

The Adelaide Oval crowd was also the highest outside of Melbourne in the league this season, passing Sydney FC’s 18,457 it recorded in Round 1 at Sydney Football Stadium.

The previous best crowd at a Hyundai A-League match in South Australia was 16,378 at Hindmarsh Stadium on December 1, 2006 against Melbourne Victory for Brazilian veteran Romario’s first home game with The Reds.

The 25,039 has taken the total crowd number in the Hyundai A-League 2007/08 Season to 973,472, with the one millionth spectator expected to pass through the gates at Bluetongue Stadium in Gosford later this round when Central Coast Mariners take on Melbourne Victory.