Adelaide United's hopes of making the AFC Champions League quarter-finals have been given a boost with the Reds defeating Binh Duong FC 2-1 in Vietnam on Wednesday.
The Reds got on the front foot with a Diego goal in the 10th minute and all but sealed the result when Richie Alagich scored midway through the second half.
Binh Duong pegged one back late but couldn't find the equaliser despite going on the attack in the dying minutes of the clash.
The 2-1 result means Adelaide has two wins and a draw and remain at the top of Group E on goal difference.
United dominated the early stages of the first half and it was no surprise when it scored from a set piece.
Binh Duong goalkeeper The Anh came off his line to try and cut off an Alagich free kick. But he didn't go hard enough at the contest and the ball went over the top to Travis Dodd.
The Reds skipper headed the ball across the penalty box where opportunist Diego nodded the ball home.
Binh Duong not only conceded the goal but also lost its keeper to injury. The Anh hurt himself in the clash of players and was replaced by Minh Quang minutes later.
It took Binh Duong more than 20 minutes to get into the contest with the Vietnamese side pushing two headers towards goal in quick succession.
Kubheka Philani provided the greatest danger for Adelaide. His header went just right of the target and later in the half he made a number of telling crosses.
He also had a chance to find the equaliser during injury time before a desperate Sasa Ognenovski, playing his first game for the Reds, blanketed the South African striker.
The Vietnamese team went into the break having worked its way into the contest. But Adelaide wasn't put under pressure enough; too often it was allowed to knock the ball around.
Adelaide maintained possession after the break but was too sloppy to take total control of the clash.
Its turnovers opened the door for the Vietnamese with the home side giving United's keeper Eugene Galekovic some concerns without seriously threatening the goal.
But against the tide of play, Adelaide scored the match winner. Travis Dodd found some space down the left side. His shot on goal was deflected by fill-in keeper Minh Quang but Alagich swooped on the lose ball and headed it into the back of the net.
Ognenovski had a good debut with United but his strong challenge late in the game sparked a response from the home side.
Philani scored with a powerful free kick, the ball flying over the top of a four-man United wall and beating Galekovic for pace on his left side.
Minutes later Adelaide earned its own free kick close to goal but Cassio's accurate shot was parried away.
There were some anxious moments for the Reds as their opposition went on the attack but they held on in the final minutes to take the points.
Adelaide United 2 Diego 10', Alagich 77'
Binh Duong FC 1 Philani 84'
@ Binh Duong Stadium