Gamba Osaka salvaged a win for the Japanese clubs in the first leg of Asian Champions League quarter-finals after defending champions Urawa Red lost away to Al Qadsia and Kashima Antlers were held to a 1-1 draw by Adelaide United.
Urawa Red had a bye through the group stage and were playing the first match in their Asian Champions League defense at Kuwait City, where they went down 3-2 on Wednesday night on Khalaf al-Salama’s late penalty kick.
Fahed al-Ansari headed in Selim bin Ashoor’s free kick in the 18th minute for Al Qadsia, but Edmilson equalized for Urawa in the 32nd with the first of his pair.
PHOTO: EPA
Bin Ashoor surprised Urawa Red’s goalkeeper with a free kick in the 57th, and al-Salama’s penalty made it 3-1 with nine minutes left.
Edmilson’s last-minute goal at the Mohammed al-Hamad Stadium cut the final margin to one goal.
Despite the loss, Urawa coach Gert Engels believes his club can reach the semi-finals.
“We need to win only 1-0 in the match at home,” he said. “I’m confident the team can do it.”
Elsewhere, Iran’s Saipa were held to a 2-2 draw at home by Uzbek club Bunyodkor and Osaka rallied with two goals in the last 20 minutes after conceding a goal in the seventh to beat Al Karama 2-1 in Syria.
At Kashima, Japan, Australia’s Adelaide United scored in the 38th minute via Travis Dodd’s header, but surrendered the cushion on Robert Cornthwaite’s own-goal seconds from half-time.
Atsuto Uchida’s shot seemed to pose little danger until Cornthwaite, under no pressure, skewed it into his own net as he tried to clear.
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