Queensland's grand final hopes were extinguished for a second consecutive season on Saturday night, by what Roar coach Frank Farina described as a wonder strike.
Adelaide set up a replay of the 2006/07 A-League grand final after striker Fabian Barbiero's stunning strike handed the Reds a 1-0 win in the preliminary final at Hindmarsh Stadium.
Despite playing away from home, the Roar - unbeaten in their last 12 matches - were favourites to meet the Victory in the A-League decider thanks to some electric recent form coupled with Adelaide's week of tumult.
But Farina's men were unable to deliver the killer instinct in front of goal which saw them launch a late-season tilt for the title.
"That's football, sometimes the better team doesn't win," Farina said.
"I thought we were most probably the better team but we were beaten by a wonder strike, it was a fantastic strike."
The loss also denied Queensland a chance at breaking into the Asian Champions League for the first time, a heavy blow for Farina to take.
"That's the biggest disappointment. The grand final's not a disappointment, to be totally honest," he said.
"It's not qualifying for Asia, that was the biggest prize tonight.
"It's disappointing, but if we keep this current squad together it'll happen. We'll get to Asia and we'll get to a grand final."
A panoramic view of Hindmarsh Stadium at night Adelaide United will play in the A-League football preliminary final Queensland Roar in Adelaide on Saturday night. In a top four finals series, which the A-League uses, the preliminary final is a final played between the qualifying Semi Final (1st vs. 2nd) and the winner of the elimination Semi Final (3rd vs. 4th) for the remaining spot in the Grand Final.

Adelaide qualified after losing to Melbourne Victory in the major semi final. Queensland qualified after winning the minor semi final against the Central Coast Mariners.


Queensland playing Central Coast in the minor semi final
Adelaide United opened the scoring at the 25 minute mark through midfielder Fabian Barbiero. Barbiero's shot, which sailed into the top lefthand corner of goal, came from just outside the 18 yard box off to the right of the goals.

"I thought we were most probably the better team but we were beaten by a wonder strike, it was a fantastic strike," said Queensland coach Frank Farina.

Queensland rallied in the second half and continually took shots on goal. However, an indifferent Adelaide kept them out. Serginho Van Dijk fired some inaccurate shots while Mitch Nichols had a low trajectory shot saved by Adelaide keeper Eugene Galekovic.

"That's the biggest disappointment. The grand final's not a disappointment, to be totally honest," Farina said. "It's not qualifying for Asia, that was the biggest prize tonight. It's disappointing, but if we keep this current squad together it'll happen. We'll get to Asia and we'll get to a grand final."

Adelaide will now play Melbourne Victory in the Grand Final at the Telstra Dome.