Osaka: China’s Guangzhou Evergrande will face Al Ahli of the United Arab Emirates in next month’s AFC Champions League final after a goalless draw in Wednesday’s semi-final second leg with Japan’s Gamba Osaka sealed a 2-1 aggregate triumph for the 2013 winners.
Chinese Super League (CSL) champions Guangzhou enjoyed the better of the chances at Expo ’70 Commemorative Stadium, and while the visitors could not add to last month’s 2-1 home win, 2008 ACL winners Gamba struggled in the final third.
And after Al Ahli claimed a dramatic 3-2 home win over Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal on Tuesday to win their semi-final 4-3 on aggregate, Guangzhou will travel to Dubai on November 7 before hosting the crucial second leg two weeks later.
With the home side needing to overturn a 2-1 deficit, Gamba were surprisingly without Japan international striker Takashi Usami in one of three changes from last month’s first leg, while Guangzhou coach Luiz Felipe Scolari brought in Li Xuepeng at left-back in place of Zou Zheng for the contest at a sold-out Expo ’70 Commemorative Stadium.
While it was Gamba who started the contest brightly, it was Guangzhou who enjoyed the better of the early chances, with Zheng Long sending a rising shot over the crossbar from just outside the penalty area after nine minutes.
Gamba goalkeeper Masaaki Higashiguchi was then forced into action twice in quick succession midway through the first half as Brazilian striker Elkeson warmed the hands of the custodian in the 24th minute before a shot from compatriot Ricardo Goulart required a comfortable save two minutes later.
But Higashiguchi kept Gamba within touching distance two minutes before the break with a superb save to push away Elkeson’s angled snap-shot from just outside the six-yard area after quick interplay from Guangzhou on the edge of the area had played in the two-time CSL Golden Boot winner.
Guangzhou continued to dominate at the start of the second half but Elkeson could only lift his 51st minute effort over the crossbar having being played in by Li after the left-back had capitalised on a Gamba mistake to win back possession.
And with Gamba needing to score but struggling for chances in the final third, coach Kenta Hasegawa introduced Usami at the expense of midfielder Hiroyuki Abe on the hour mark, with the Japan international joining Brazilian Patric in attack and Shu Kurata filling the vacated void on the right.
Guangzhou, though, continued to create chances and three minutes later Higashiguchi was needed to save Paulinho’s low shot from the edge of the penalty area before Goulart flashed an effort just over soon after following a strong run into the box.
The introduction of Usami did hand Gamba a new option in attack and the move almost paid off with 20 minutes remaining as the strikers’ pull back from the left found Kurata on the edge of the area, but the shot from the on-rushing midfielder was blocked.
Usami then lifted an effort just beyond the far post from the edge of the area as the contest entered the closing stages with the home side still needing to score.
And the Japan striker again went close with six minutes remaining as Usami guided another effort just wide, although Guangzhou goalkeeper Zeng Cheng remained untroubled.
But despite Gamba spending the virtually all of the final 10 minutes on the edge of the Guangzhou penalty area, the home side were unable to find the breakthrough they needed.
GUANGZHOU'S SCOLARI SETS SIGHTS ON CSL/ACL DOUBLE
Osaka: Coach Luiz Felipe Scolari hailed a job well done after China’s Guangzhou Evergrande secured a return to the AFC Champions League final despite being forced to settle for a goalless draw with Japan’s Gamba Osaka on Wednesday.
The defending Chinese Super League champions were on top for the majority of the contest at Expo ’70 Commemorative Stadium, with their 2-1 lead from last month’s first leg rarely threatened.
The 2013 ACL winners were unable to convert several chances in either half, but did enough over both legs to earn a place in next month’s final against Al Ahli of the United Arab Emirates, with the first leg taking place in Dubai on November 7.
“This match was really hard because both teams are high quality and very good. We had many opportunities, at least four good chances to score, but we could not score. But in the end we drew so we could reach our goal to get to the final,” said Brazilian Scolari, who remains unbeaten as Guangzhou coach.
“We had at least four opportunities to score compared to Gamba who are a very strong team who only had two opportunities to score, so in the end we had more opportunities to score and if we had scored, the match would have been different. We had more opportunities so there was no problem in attack.”
First-leg goals from midfield duo Zheng Zhi and Huang Bowen ultimately proved the difference after cancelling out Feng Xiaoting’s early own goal last month at Tianhe Sports Centre Stadium.
“I would like to say a special thank you to all the players, especially the Chinese players. We have to be proud we have such good players in our team,” added Scolari.
“They help the foreign players reach these targets in the Chinese Super League and AFC Champions League. They put a lot of effort into every match and I want to thank all the players, especially the Chinese players who have done a good job up to now.”
Guangzhou will host the second leg of the final on November 21, although first Scolari’s side will look to seal a fifth consecutive Chinese Super League title against Shandong Luneng on Sunday.
“From tomorrow, we will start to think about our next Chinese Super League opponent Shandong as the next match is very important,” said Scolari.
Guangzhou Evergrande progress to meet Al Ahli in Asian Champions League final
China’s Guangzhou Evergrande will face UAE's Al Ahli in the AFC Champions League final after a goalless draw in Wednesday’s semi-final second leg with Japan’s Gamba Osaka sealed a 2-1 aggregate triumph.
Chinese Super League (CSL) champions Guangzhou enjoyed the better chances of the first-half and while the visitors could not add to last month’s 2-1 home win, 2008 ACL winners Gamba began to struggle.
And after Al Ahli claimed a dramatic 3-2 home win over Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal on Tuesday to win their semi-final 4-3 on aggregate, Guangzhou will travel to Dubai on November 7 before hosting the crucial second leg two weeks later.
While it was Gamba who started the contest brightly, it was Guangzhou who enjoyed the better of the early chances, with Zheng Long sending a rising shot over the crossbar from just outside the penalty area after nine minutes.
Gamba stopper Masaaki Higashiguchi kept his team in the contest when Brazilian striker Elkeson tested him in the 24th minute before a shot from compatriot Ricardo Goulart - but the goalkeeper was up to the challenge on both occasions.
Higashiguchi was once again called into action minutes before the break with a superb save to push away Elkeson’s angled shot from just outside the six-yard area.
Guangzhou continued to dominate the second half but Elkeson lifted his 51st minute shot tamely over the crossbar in what was a very good chance on goal.
With Gamba needing to score, coach Kenta Hasegawa introduced Usami at the expense of midfielder Hiroyuki Abe in the hope of joining with Brazilian Patric and Shu Kurata to create a more attacking platform
Guangzhou continued to create chances and three minutes later Higashiguchi was needed once more to save Paulinho’s low shot from the edge of the penalty area before Goulart flashed an effort just over soon after following a strong run into the box.
Usami then lifted an effort just beyond the far post from the edge of the area as the contest entered the closing stages with the home side still needing to score.
And the Japan striker again went close with six minutes remaining as Usami guided another effort just wide, although Guangzhou goalkeeper Zeng Cheng remained untroubled.
But despite Gamba spending the virtually all of the final 10 minutes on the edge of the Guangzhou penalty area, the home side were unable to find the breakthrough they needed.
Results & fixtures
Semi-finals
• Al Hilal 1 Al Ahli 1
• Al Ahli 3 Al Hilal 2
• Guangzhou Evergrande 2 Gamba Osaka 1
• G Osaka 0 G Evergrande 0
Finals
• November 7 – Al Ahli v Guangzhou Evergrande
• November 21 – Al Ahli v Guangzhou Evergrande
(times to be decided)
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