TOKYO — Travis Dodd's late goal gave Australia's Adelaide United a 2-1 win over a stubborn Waitakere United of New Zealand in Thursday's opening match of the Club World Cup.

Adelaide progressed to a quarterfinal against Japan's Gamba Osaka, and an early chance to avenge the defeat it suffered to the Japanese side in the recent Asian Champions League final.

The winner of that match will meet tournament favorite Manchester United in the semifinals.

Adelaide dominated Waitakere throughout, but a combination of some resolute defending by the semiprofessional Waitakere outfit, and lack of precision in the final third of the pitch prevented the Australians putting the match away until Dodd's 82nd-minute strike.

Paul Reid played a close-range freekick from the right to the near post, where Dodd darted between defenders and sent a glancing header inside the far post.

Waitakere had taken the lead in contentious circumstances in the 34th minute.

Adelaide goalkeeper Eugene Galekovic reached up for a high ball, but was knocked to the ground in a collision with midfielder Paul Seaman. While the Adelaide defenders waited for a whistle for a foul on the keeper, Seaman spun onto the loose ball and shot into the empty net.

Adelaide equalized five minutes later, when an unmarked Daniel Mullen was left unmarked at the back post, and with both feet planted he directed a firm header back across the goalkeeper.

European champion Manchester United and South American champion Liga de Quito received byes to the semifinals stage and are heavily favored to meet in the final at Yokohama International Stadium on Dec. 21.

The next match will be Saturday's quarterfinal between Egypt's Al Ahly, representing Africa, and Mexican club Pachuca, representing the CONCACAF region.