Adelaide United secure A-League finals place with draw vs. Western Sydney Wanderers

Adelaide United have secured their place in the A-League finals with hard-fought 2-2 draw against a 10-man Western Sydney Wanderers at Coopers Stadium.

The draw ensures the Reds will play finals football but they won't know their position on the table until the conclusion of the Macarthur-Wellington fixture on Friday night.

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The Reds took an early lead but soon fell behind after two quick goals from the visitors.

A red card to Tass Mourdoukoutas late in the first half gave Adelaide some hope of salvaging the contest and their playoffs hopes.

United coach Carl Veart was satisfied his side achieved its goal of sealing a top-six berth.

"It's been a long season and our goal was to make finals," he said.

"We've achieved that but we've still got long way to go."

Wanderers coach Carl Robinson praised his players' spirited performance despite the numerical disadvantage.

"I thought the 10 fought like they need to fight in a game which really had nothing on it for us other than to get points on the board," he said.

United started with intent and dominated play early with Louis D'Arrgio forcing Wanderers keeper Daniel Margush into a great save early on, diving low and tipping around the post.

On nine minutes Javi Lopez called Margush into action again after a well worked short corner and again the Wanderers shot stopper was up to the task.

The Reds pressure paid off with the opening goal arriving on 12 minutes after a neat exchange of passes.

Ryan Strain found the feet of Al Hassan Toure who laid off for Ben Halloran, who in turn flicked back to Strain who chipped the onrushing Margush with Wanderers defender Ziggy Gordon eventually credited with an own goal after turning his clearance into the net.

The lead was short-lived with Western Sydney equalising in the 23rd minute with Strain ironically putting the ball into his net after Bruce Kamau's shot slammed straight into the legs of the Adelaide defender.

United's finals tilt took another blow on the half hour when Graham Dorrans picked out the bottom corner of Adelaide's net with a perfect half volley after controlling a clearance out of the Reds penalty area.

Adelaide were given a lifeline on 36 minutes when Wanderers defender Mourdoukoutas was shown a straight red for a reckless sliding tackle on D'Arrigo.

The Reds emerged from the interval and attacked from the get-go, but almost conceded a third against the run of play when Thomas Aqualina thundered his shot against the cross after a quick counter.

United drew level on 56 minutes when Halloran looped a cross to the back post and Goodwin arrived unchecked and powered a half volley past Margush at the near most.

A minute later and substitute Tomi Juric struck the upright from a similar angle after controlling a lofted pass from Ryan Kitto.

The Reds nearly sealed their own fate in the 83rd minute when a pass from James Delianov went straight to Jordon Mutch but the keeper made amends and brilliantly kept out the one-on-once chance.

Halloran almost won it for United a minute later but he volleyed his shot into the side netting after a looped cross from Josh Cavallo.