Kashima Antlers start year off right

With the J-League season nearing, the Kashima Antlers started the season off right with a 3-0 defeat of Gamba Osaka at Tokyo National Stadium to win the 2009 Super Cup.

After an early Gamba attack, Oswaldo de Oliveira's side found composure and Blue Samurai Shinzo Koroki netted the first goal only six minutes into the match with a powerful left-footed drive. Only eight minutes later last-years J-League MVP Marquinhos made it 2-0 as the Antlers capitalized on a powerful break down the left side. Long time Kashima veteran Takuya Nozawa sealed the match off six minutes before the break to make it 3-0. Gamba tried to adjust in the second half with a more attacking formation but they couldn't budge the scoreline and Kashima won the Cup 3-0.

Gamba Osaka continue to build adding Kazumichi Takagi

Gamba Osaka continue to build on their squad as they have added Kazumichi Takagi from Shimizu S-Pulse. The twenty-eight year defender earned his first cap for Japan this past summer and will make a strong impression on Gamba's backline.

Cho Jae-jin joins Gamba Osaka

Former Shimuzu S-Pulse striker Cho Jae-jin has joined champions Gamba Osaka after a season with K-League powerhouse Jeonbuk Motors. During his three-year tenure at S-Pa the twenty-seven year-old Korea Republic international scored 51 goals in 113 matches.

Gamba Osaka advances in Club World Cup

In a rematch of the AFC Champions League battle, Gamba Osaka defeated Adelaide United 1-0 with the lone goal coming from Blue Samurai Yasuhito Endo. As the match began the A-League side was clearly the aggressor but in a show-stopper example of fluid team play, Yasuhito passed the ball onto Takahiro Futugawa who linked the ball to Ryuji Bando and subsequently returned the ball to Yasuhito for a clinical finish past Adelaide ‘keeper Eugene Galeković. Adelaide came back but their efforts fell short, including skipper Travis Dodd thumping the ball against the crossbar before the break as well as another attempt of his as the match waned. However the match concluded with the lone goal standing and advances Gamba to the semi-finals against Manchester United.

Following the match Gamba Osaka manager Akira Nishino said:
“I’m really proud of the players. We played an attacking style of football in the Champions League final, but tonight Adelaide managed to disrupt our passing game. Tonight’s game came down to whether we could score while they were pressing forward and attempting to close us down. Both sides had chances to score in the second half. I would have liked another goal, but we kept our composure and controlled the game. We picked up a couple of injuries tonight that reduced our strike power, but we’ll train hard and get ready for our next match.”

Gert Engels days numbered with Urawa Red Diamonds

Sports Nippon has reported that manager Gert Engels will be let go by the Urawa Red Diamonds at the conclusion of the season. The daily quoted Engels:

"I was told that I will have no contract for next season. I must just accept it because of the differences in how we think."

Urawa let go Holger Osieck in the spring of the year after leading them to the AFC Champions League title the year before. In keeping with the clubs preference of German managers, Volker Finke, formerly of SC Freiburg is rumoured to be meeting club president Mitsunori Fujiguchi following the Gamba Osaka match.

Gamba Osaka with AFC Champions League

Gamba Osaka won AFC Champions League with a flourish defeating A-League's Adelaide United 2-0 at Hindmarsh Stadium. A capacity crowd, dressed in red to support their home team's efforts were quickly silenced as Gamba displayed a fervor to score immediately. Blue Samurai Yasuhito Endō led Gamba as a whirlwind in the midfield and at the fourth minute Hayato Sasaki stuck a powerful drive that Adelaide's 17-year-old 'keeper Mark Birighitti's parry fell to a well-placed Lucas. Without delay the ex FC Tokyo man dispatched the ball into the net to the dismay of the shocked home crowd. The match was extremely open with Gamba winning in the midfield with super-charged play. It was clear they knew the trophy was their's and they searched to close the match off. At the fifteenth minute Gamba etched their name on the trophy as Takahiro Futagawa rolled a perfectly weighted through-ball to Lucas on the left who delicately flicked the ball above the onrushing Adelaide 'keeper. With the score now 2-0 and Gamba leading in aggregate 5-0 there was no doubts. While Adelaide fought notably on for a least a consolation goal for their loyal fans, with skipper Travis Dodd coming close, Gamba would not relent and the match ended 2-0. The great victory now leads Gamba into the World Club Cup.




Gamba Osaka:
22.Yoskuke FUJIGAYA, 2.Sota NAKAZAWA, 5.Satoshi YAMAGUCHI (Captain), 7.Yasuhito ENDO, 9.LUCAS, 10.Takahiro FUTAGAWA, 13.Michihiro YASUDA (19.Takumi SHIMOHIRA 65’), 16.Hayato SASAKI (30.Masato YAMAZAKI 58’), 17.Tomokazu MYOJIN (11.Ryugi BANDO 81’), 21.Kaji AKIRA, 27.Hashimoto HIDEO

Adelaide United:
20.Mark BIRIGHITTI, 5.Michael VALKANIS, 6.CASSIO, 8.Kristian SARKIES (21.Jason SPAGNUOLO 59’), 10.CRISTIANO (25.Robert YOUNIS 68’), 13.Travis DODD (Captain), 14.Scott JAMIESON, 18.Robert CORNTHWAITE, 19.Sasa OGNENOVSKI, 22.DIEGO (7.Lucas PANTELIS 68’), 24.Paul REID.

Adelaide - Gamba Osaka AFC Champions League final

Only a few hours away from the second leg of the AFC Champions League final, Gamba Osaka heads into Hindmarsh Stadium to face Adelaide United with a strong three goal advantage. Adelaide coach Aurelio Vidmar goes into the match without 'keeper Eugene Galekovic because of suspension and will have seventeen year-old Mark Birighitti between the pipes.

Adelaide coach Aurelio Vidmar knows the task is difficult but showing an optimistic side:

"We've just got to do the best with the numbers we have. We know it's a very difficult task but you've still got to believe anything's possible. The players that are going in there are going to give everything they possibly can to try to reverse the result."

The only changes from the opening match is with Adelaide's losses, Eugene Galekovic and Angelo Costanzo suspended as well as Paul Agostino out with injury.

Gamba Osaka's manager Akira Nishino is showing no signs of letting up:

"Three goals is a good advantage, and to use this advantage to get the first goal is very important."

Gamba's forces led by Blue Samurai Yasuhito Endō are ready to bring glory to the squad.

The match starts in five hours. I'll provide a full wrap-up once it ends.

Gamba humbles Adelaide United 3-0

In the opening leg of the AFC Champions League, Gamba Osaka devastated Adelaide United 3-0 at Expo ’70 with the Aussies offering little opposition. The normally tight marking Adelaide United were no match for Gamba and their midfield easily dissected in a match that seemed to be over sometime after the opening whistle. Gamba opened the scoring thirty-seven minutes after the start as Takahiro Futagawa sent a pass to Lucus into the channel and racing to the top of the Aussie box, his strike took an opportunistic bounce off Angelo Costanzo and into the net. Two minutes before the break, Yasuhito Endo continued in his great season as he struck a powerful drive to the back of the net with Hayato Sasaki and Lucas linking up as providers. The Blue Samurai turned provider as his perfectly placed corner at the sixty-eighth minute that rising star Michihiro Yasuda dispatched into the net. The young Michihiro continues to shine and after representing Japan in the Summer Olympics is well on his way to a outstanding career. With Adelaide no match for Gamba's resolve, the home side continued to press and came close to scoring on a number of occasions as well as having another goal by Yasuhito brought back. The return leg of AFC Champions League is set for November 12th at Hindmarsh Stadium in Adelaide with Gamba now owning a very commanding three goal margin.The Australia club will additionally be without the services of Eugene Galekovic who will be suspended for a yellow-card infringement.

Akira Nishino saying nice things about Adelaide United

Leading up AFC Champions League final between Gamba Osaka and Adelaide United the managers are doing the standard pre-first date niceties. Gamba architect Akira Nishino was very gracious as he commented on the upcoming match:

"From what I have seen of their previous games, Adelaide United are a very dynamic and strong team who play a very direct and physical game"

"They are very speedy and strong and they have a significant height advantage over us so we will have to think hard about how we can overcome them."

"We beat Melbourne twice during the group stage but although they play in the same league as Adelaide they don’t play with a similar style. Adelaide are stronger and more physical and they make good use of their physical power.

"We cannot play that sort of game with them because that is not our strength. We have to utilise our originality and try to dictate the style of play."

"Doing well in the AFC Champions League was one of our main targets for this season and we have been lucky enough to get to the final."

"We are very honoured to be here because we have great aspirations at this club and it is a great achievement for us to make it to the final as the AFC Champions League is a special tournament not only for us but for all of Japanese football."

"Urawa won it last year and we would like to ensure that the trophy remains in Japan. Hopefully we can put in a good performance tomorrow and get a win."

"It is not important for me to be the first Japanese coach to win the Champions League. It is more important that Gamba have a chance to make history."

"I want my team to challenge the best in the world and this is our opportunity to do so. We are very honoured and happy to be in the final but that is not our final goal. We want to win the tournament and hopefully we can get the job done."

"It will not be easy but we have to think how we can beat them."

"it's not enough to just get to the final" says Adelaide manager

Prior to his Adelaide United club facing Gamba Osaka in the first leg of the ACL final, manager Aurelio Vidmar is feeling confident:

"I don’t think that we need too much motivation for these next two games. It’s the final."

"I think our players have just risen every time they’ve come out for an ACL game so I’m very relaxed and very confident that we can do a good job tomorrow night."

"I want the players to be nervous, I think it’s only natural to be nervous. But if they understand their roles, which they do, then it shouldn’t be a problem."

"Reaching a first big final like this is tremendous and all of Australia will obviously be backing us all the way and if we perform the way we have throughout the ACL, I can’t see any reason why we won’t be successful."

"It’s been a dream run to get to this point but for our players, it’s not enough for them just to get to the final.We need to take that next step and whether we’ve got that in us, we’ll see over the next 180 minutes but I certainly believe we have."

"They are certainly the overwhelming favourites. Whether it’s added pressure on them, who knows? But they are certainly the favourites going into the final."

"(Yasuhito) Endo is a classy player – there’s no question about that - but I think that they have another 15 or 20 classy players."

"If you look at their two semi-final games, there’s no passengers at all on that team. They’re very quick, very strong, technically gifted and they compete – that’s what their strengths are."

"I have a lot of respect for Gamba Osaka. They are a very, very good footballing side and very strong."

"For a team to go to a place like Saitama and, from what I saw, beat Urawa Reds very convincingly shows that they are an extremely strong side."

Yasuhito Endō and Yuji Nakazawa up for AFC Player of the Year

The AFC has released the revised listing of AFC Player of the Year which includes Blue Samurai Yasuhito Endō 遠藤 保仁 of Gamba Osaka and Yuji Nakazawa 中澤 佑二 of Yokohama F Marinos. The AFC will announce the winner November 25th in Shanghai at the Awards Gala.


The list is as follows:

1. Ahmad Ajab (Kuwait and Al Qadsia – Kuwait )
2. Ali Al Habsi (Oman and Bolton Wanderers – England )
3. Andres Sebastian Soria Quintana ( Qatar and Qatar SC – Qatar )
4. Choe Kum-Chol (DPRK and April 25 - DPRK)
5. Ebrahim Sadeghi ( Iran and Saipa – Iran )
6. Ismael Matar (UAE and Al Wahda – UAE)
7. Jehad Al Hussein (Syria and Kuwait SC – Kuwait)
8. Mark Schwarzer - (Australia and Fulham - England)
9. Nathan Burns (Australia and AEK Athens – Greece)
10. Saad Al Harthi - (Saudi Arabia and Al Nasr - Saudi Arabia)
11. Server Djeparov (Uzbekistan and Kuruvchi/Bunyodkor – Uzbekistan)
12. Travis Dodd - (Australia and Adelaide United - Australia)
13. Yasuhito Endo - (Japan and Gamba Osaka - Japan)
14. Yuji Nakazawa ( Japan and Yokohama F Marinos – Japan)

Urawa Red Diamonds to miss three in AFC Champions League

The Urawa Red Diamonds will be without Hajime Hosogai, Ryota Tsuzuki and Takahito Soma in the second leg of the AFC Champions League semi-finals against Gamba Osaka on October 22 due to card suspensions. With the first leg level at one their absences will definitely impact the Red Diamonds plans, particularly with the exclusion of 'keeper Ryota Tsuzuki.

Urawa Red Diamonds v Gamba Osaka AFC Champions League

The semi-finals of the AFC Champions League begin to today with Uzbekistan's Bunyodkor visiting Adelaide United whilst J-League giants Urawa Red Diamonds and Gamba Osaka battle for the final spot.

The Red Diamonds visit to Osaka offers little surprises to these great rivals. Urawa are looking to defend their title but have been stumbling of recent in league action with only a single victory in the last six matches. In the clubs only meeting this year, Akira Nishino's Gamba handled the Red Diamonds a tough 3-2 defeat in-front of a packed house at Saitama Stadium. On the other side of the pitch Gamba has been slowly moving up the table with efficient Football and offering the opposition few scoring opportunities. This past weekend they shut down Kashima Antlers after three successive victories. Much of the battle will be decided in the disciplined midfield play with Nippon Daihyo 日本代表 代表 Yasuhito Endō leading the charge for Gamba facing off against the formidable Red Diamond midfield that includes Takahito Soma and fellow Daihyo Marcus Tulio Tanaka and Yuki Abe on the back-line.

In the other match of the day, at a packed Hindmarsh Stadium, Aurelio Vidmar's squad will employ their stingy defense in a effort to control the surging Uzbekistan club.

Prior to the match Aurelio Vidmar noted:

"It would be nice to keep a clean sheet but I think we’re good enough to score goals and I think through this whole campaign we’ve been very good defensively so I expect that to continue."

Adelaide will miss central defender Sasa Ognenovski but Lucas Pantelis is expected back from injury. Bunyodkor, led by Brazilian legend Zico, offer a punishing attack with Rivaldo at the helm.

Urawa Red Diamonds and Gamba Osaka advance to AFC Champions League

Thoughts of all J-League final in the AFC Champions League disappeared as A-League's Adelaide United defeated Kashima Antlers 1-0 at Hindmarsh Stadium. However J-League fans can celebrate as both Urawa Red Diamonds and Gamba Osaka advanced with resounding victories.



















Urawa Red Diamonds defeated Al Qadisiya 2-0, led by goals from Marcus Tulio Tanaka and Takahito Soma in a match that was never in-doubt.



































It was a much different match for Gamba as although they dominated possession they could not break through Al Karama defense until Masato Yamazaki, who had come in twenty minutes earlier for Ryūji Bando, netted the first goal. With Al Karama throwing attackers forward, Roni added the second goal to give Osaka Gamba the 2-0 victory.













































The Antlers painful offensive draught continued and needing to overtake Adelaide after a 1-1 draw they were held scoreless in a well defended match. With seventeen minutes left in the match Robert Cornthwaite headed a Cássio cross in to give the home 'Roo club the lead. With ten minutes left in the match Japanese capped' Yuzo Tashiro was brought in as a third striker but it was far too late of an effort and in-the-end manager Oswaldo de Oliveira's approach was too conservative.

The semi-finals that will pit Urawa Red Diamonds against Osaka Gamba will commence on October 8 with the second match on the 22nd.