Sydney were eliminated from the Asian Champions League this evening after drawing 0-0 away to the Urawa Red Diamonds of Japan. It officially ends Australia's involvement in the competition, Adelaide's dead-rubber game against Dong Tam Long An of Vietnam a 3-0 win courtesy of a Travis Dodd hat-trick.

 The focus on Sydney's exit won't get a great deal of coverage, given it fell on the same night as State of Origin rugby league, but it's likely that what will be said will be sympathetic to the Bling's cause. Sydney should be disappointed that they couldn't find a way through against a Urawa team only mildly interested in winning the match, and succeeding with a safety first approach.

Sydney's best two chances of the match were poles apart in terms of quality. In the second half David Carney hit the outside of the post with a brilliant left-footed shot from outside of the area. David Zdrilic's miss in the first half was considerably less impressive. Unmarked ten yards from goal, Zdrilic headed a cross from the right flank nowhere near the goal. How heavily that miss is criticised may be swept away by the "brave" Sydney team, who stood up to an always-singing throng of Urawa fans, and seemed less than daunted by the atmosphere and occasion.

 In other A-League news, Melbourne finally signed off on a new stadium agreement today at the Olympic Park site. For now, it will be opened in 2009 with a seating capacity of 31,000 seats. The debate about "safe standing" seems set to continue, with a chance the actual capacity of the venue may be around the 35,000 mark by the time the stadium opens. And in a win for the club, an agreement was reached where blockbuster games can be moved to the Telstra Dome - although one hopes that by 2009 the A-League season will be longer than 21 home and away games (meaning today's breakdown of 7 at OP and 5 at the Dome will be irrelevant).

 And keep an eye on the Australian page at OleOle because the "revenge" friendly between Australia and Uruguay is coming soon.

It's been a bad matchday round for Australian clubs in the Asian Champions League, with Sydney losing, and Adelaide's destiny in the competition out of their own control. Adelaide lead 2-0 before being pegged back to 2-2 by Korean side Seongnam, while Sydney lead before losing 2-1 to Indonesian outfit Persik Kediri.

 In fairness to Sydney, Persik are a much improved side on the one that lost 15-0 the last time they participated in the Champions League, and the conditions in central Java were oppressive. Persik are playing weekly league matches, while Sydney have been in a domestic offseason since February. Damage to Sydney's pride does take a back seat to the fact they are now a very serious underdog in terms of qualifying from their group. Having conceded twice in their home match against Urawa (a 2-2 draw) there was every likelihood they had to beat the Reds in Japan in order to finish ahead of them on the table. Now they will have to, unless Urawa conspire to drop points themselves in their other two remaining games.

 Adelaide started the Champions League on a hiding to nothing given their end to the A-Leauge season, and the entertaining football they provided at Hindmarsh Stadium on Wednesday was a vast improvement on their dire, workmanlike performance against Dong Tam. Not holding a 2-0 advantage means that even three wins from three in their remaining matches will put Adelaide top of the gorup and through, without other results going their way.

 Still, the conspiracy theorists who believe that Australia winning too much too soon will lead to a revolt, and expulsion from Asia, are now being tested by the unfavourable run of results for the Aussie clubs. In brief news from Melbourne, the Victory have signed former Chelsea player Joe Keenan, and Adelaide defender Matthew Kemp. The signing everyone is interested in however, the replacement for Fred/Kristian Sarkies, is still yet to happen, with no rumours doing the rounds as to whom it could possibly be.

It's been a good week for football in Australia, Sydney drawing 2-2 with Urawa Reds and Adelaide beating Dong Tam 2-0 in the Champions League. But the entire nation will take far more interest in Saturday's friendly between the national team and China.

 It won't be the strongest Australian team taking the field, far from it, but with coach Graham Arnold still considered an interim manager by the fanbase, a good performance against Asian opposition could allay some fears going into the Nations Cup in the upcoming european offseason.

Worryingly, some star Socceroos such as Mark Viduka and Lucas Neill have criticised future friendlies against Uruguay and Argentina to be played in Sydney and Melbourne respectively in June. It's ridiculous that the word "boycott" is even being used. While the club-vs-country debate is an old chestnut, the chance to play in front of 180,000 fans against two of the most decorated teams in the world sems unrefusable.

In Melbourne, the Victory have undergone some changes to their squad, with the likes of Mark Byrnes and Simon Storey leaving to pursue their careers elsewhere. Brazillian recruit Fred has also left the club, apparently on his way to DC United in America.

 And finally, the FFA have decided New Zealand will get their third crack at a franchise in Australia's national league, this time from the city of Wellington. No name or concrete player details about the team yet, and opinion is still very much divided about whether it will be third time lucky, or third strike and out for the Kiwis.