Adelaide United will face Melbourne Victory in the A-League Grand Final after Reds midfielder Fabian Barbiero scored a wonder-goal to give his side a 1-0 victory over Queensland Roar in the preliminary final at Hindmarsh Stadium.

The tense victory gave the Reds a chance to have another crack at their bogey team Melbourne Victory in the Grand Final on Saturday night.

It also gave the Reds a ticket to the lucrative 2010 AFC Champions League.

The Reds bounced back just a week after imploding to a 6-0 aggregate defeat against Melbourne Victory in the major semi-final, a performance that resulted in Aurelio Vidmar launching an astonishing attack on the political infighting at the club and labelling Adelaide a "pissant town".

Benefiting greatly from the recall of midfielder Jonas Salley – one of several players told a few weeks ago they would not be needed next season – Adelaide rejoiced when Barbiero volleyed home in the 25th minute and then grimly hung on in the face of increasingly frantic Queensland attacks.

Roar had plenty of chances and teenager Mitch Nichols will rue a night when he had more than enough sights of goal to win the match on his own.

There was much for Adelaide to be proud of in a performance that restored pride to the club.

Nevertheless, it was hardly the sort of display to worry Melbourne, who wait comfortably at home for a rematch with the team they have already beaten five times from as many attempts in 2008-09.

The high stakes occasion seemed to weigh heavily on both sides in the early minutes as little clean passing was seen and usually sure-footed players – notably Roar striker Serginho van Dijk – made a habit of shanks.

Queensland had a few half-openings, Nichols played in for an effort straight at Eugene Galekovic, but the major impression was of Adelaide slowly regathering confidence after their two-legged battering by Melbourne.

They were soon to have the lead in the most spectacular circumstances.

Galekovic's hopeful long punt upfield was headed down and away from goal by Craig Moore but Barbiero had run smartly into position to accept the crumbs and from the edge of the box he flushed a savage half-volley across Reddy and into the far top corner.

Barbiero has been brilliant at times over the season but he did not even make the starting line-up at Telstra Dome last week.

United have become quite accomplished at defending a 1-0 buffer, something they did often in their ACL campaign, and Roar were to be frustrated in their efforts to level.

Nichols had another pair of attempts blocked either side of half-time and Michael Zullo also fired into the arms of Galekovic on the hour.

Gradually the visitors pushed Adelaide deep into their own half and attacking forays by the Reds became fewer and fewer.

Substitute Charlie Miller had two chances in stoppage time but both skidded fractionally wide and the Reds were able to toast redemption after a hellish week.

AAP