Adelaide United were beaten for the first time in this season's Asian Champions League group stage when Pohang Steelers scored a 1-0 home win on Tuesday.
The Reds had triumphed in their first two outings but failed to maintain that record when Kim Dae-ho fired home from close range after goalkeeper Eugene Galekovic spilled Hwang Jin-sung's 68th-minute free-kick.
Despite the loss, Adelaide remained at the top of the Group E table, equal in six points with Pohang, and three clear of both Bunyodkor and Gamba Osaka after the Japanese side beat the Uzbeks 3-1.
Adelaide head coach Luciano Trani was proud of his players even though they failed to gain a point as they now prepare for the April 18 home return with Pohang.
"After Pohang scored in the second half, the game became a bit more difficult for us and we will look towards the upcoming games and start training so that we can get back to winning ways and get some good results.
"I do not think that the weather had an effect on the players, the boys knew during the warm-up that it would be very cold and had adapted quickly to this.""The game itself was a very difficult game for us as Pohang are a very good side. The boys played well and the score was disappointing," said Trani.
