AFC CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
Japan’s Gamba Osaka and Urawa Reds go into their AFC Champions League semi-final second leg today with everything to play for, in contrast to Adelaide, who have a 3-0 cushion against Kuruvchi.
At stake is a place in next month’s final, with the winner qualifying for the FIFA Club World Cup in December, where European Champions League winners Manchester United will be in action.
Gamba coach Akira Nishino is confident his side can reach their first final despite having to beat the defending champions away in Saitama following a 1-1 home draw two weeks ago.
“We’re not scared of Urawa Reds and we can actually win the next game in Saitama,” he said. “I and the players believe that we can make [the] final. We have to get at least a goal so that is a good thing and will help the preparation for the next game.”
Gamba were indebted to Yasuhito Endo’s 81st minute penalty to emerge from a first leg game they largely dominated with a share of the spoils, having gone behind to Hajime Hosogai’s first half drive.
Urawa coach Gert Engels said his side would not sit back and play for a no-score draw, which would be enough to put them through on the away goals rule.
“I think we should approach the second game like the first half of the first leg, try to be a little bit more aggressive up front as we cannot stay back and wait for a 0-0 draw,” he said.
Adelaide travel to Tashkent for the return tie against the Zico-led Uzbeki giants with a comfortable three-goal advantage.
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