Gamba, Ahli seek home inspiration - AFC CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
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| AFP |
The race to the 2015 AFC Champions League decider remains wide open as the semi-finals reach the decisive return legs. Luiz Felipe Scolari's Guangzhou Evergrande travel to Gamba Osaka aware that they can't afford any slip-ups, despite narrowly winning the first leg 2-1 at home. A draw is enough to seal the visitor's return to the tournament ultimate match, but the home side can progress with just a 1-0 victory courtesy of their away goal.
Having been held to a 1-1 draw at home, last year's runners-up Al Hilal, meanwhile, face a more complicated scenarios against hosts Al Ahli who can advance with a goalless draw. While forced to score goals, the Saudi visitors will also be mindful of defensive solidity considering the home side's formidable attacking line-up of Ahmed Khalil and Lima.
The match
Gamba Osaka-Guangzhou Evergrande
Both hosts Gamba and the visiting Guangzhou enter the return seeking to emulate their past success as former Asian champions. Visiting coach Scolari knows an aggregate victory can maintain hopes of a domestic and continent double, a feat achieved by his predecessor Marcello Lippi in 2013. The match holds even greater significance in the eyes of the hosts coach Kenta Hasegawa, who is hoping to build on their treble-winning success last year with a second Asian title.
The Chinese can take heart from their dominant record against J.League sides in this campaign, notably routing Kashiwa Reysol 8-1 on aggregate in the same stage two years ago. The Japanese can, meanwhile, boast impressive home form which has seen them bounce back to eliminate the likes of FC Seoul and Jeonbuk Motors with victories.
Guangzhou travel to Japan on the back of a 2-0 league victory at Tianjin Teda, a result which maintains their a four-point cushion at the summit of the local competition. Gamba also head into the second leg in winning form with a 2-1 home win against Urawa Red Diamonds as they remain in the top-four on the domestic stage. The hosts will look to in-form striker Takashi Usami, who was on target in Japan's recent 3-0 FIFA World Cup™ qualifying victory against Syria. The visitors, for their part, can count on their high-profile Brazilian trio in Paulinho, Ricardo Goulart and Elkeson.
The other attraction
Al Ahli coach Cosmin Olaroiu has plans of stunning Al Hilal as the United Arab Emirates hosts aim to continue their fairytale campaign. While a goalless draw at home is enough to take them through courtesy of their 1-1 away draw, the hosts manager is shrewd enough to urge his side to attack and seek victory in what is anticipated to be a balanced battle. Shouldering the goal-scoring duties for the home side is, of course, new Brazilian forward Lima who was twice on target as they triumphed 2-0 in Saturday’s Arabian Gulf Cup win over defending champions Al Nasr.
Al Hilal coach Georgios Donis is, meanwhile, hoping for improved play in the return having surprisingly spurned the opportunity of winning at home. Leading the attack will be Nasser Al Shamrani who scored ten times as the Saudi giants made it to the final last year. New Brazilian signing Ailton is expected to continue his prolific form for the visitors, having netted the equaliser in the opening leg.
Player to watch
Elkeson proved to be instrumental in Guangzhou's title-winning campaign two years ago before being on target six times as his side progressed into the last eight last year. Despite underperforming due to injuries this season, the two-time C-League top-scorer announced his return to form by providing two assists in their home win against Gamba and having a hand in both goals against Tianjin.
The stat
5 - Korea Republic have proved to be the most successful country in the semi-final stage with five of their clubs having made it through to the final since the tournament's inauguration in 2003. Notably, both Jeonbuk Motors and Seongnam FC have twice progressed to the final.
What they said
"Gamba Osaka is certainly the best team I have encountered since taking over as coach of Guangzhou. I have told the team that the game is not finished yet and we have to be very careful still," Guangzhou Evergrande coach Luiz Felipe Scolari
The fixtures
20 & 21 October
Al Ahli-Al Hilal
Gamba Osaka-Guangzhou Evergrande