GAMBA OSAKA

KIM BACKS SEONGNAM TO RETURN TO WINNING WAYS AGAINST GAMBA OSAKA

Seongnam: Coach Kim Hak-bum is banking on two-time continental champions Seongnam FC to bounce back following defeat in last week’s AFC Champions League Group F opener with victory at home against 2008 winners Gamba Osaka at the Tancheon Sports Complex on Tuesday.

Goals from Deeprom Prakit and Gilberto Macedo secured Thailand champions Buriram United a 2-1 victory (pictured) with Narubadin Weerawatnodom’s own goal a late consolation for Korean FA Cup winners Seongnam.  

And Kim’s side will look to get off the mark in Seongnam against a Gamba side who also suffered an opening round defeat after visitors Guangzhou R&F of China pulled off arguably the upset of the first round with a 2-0 victory in Japan.

“Both Seongnam and Gamba lost their opening matches, so we are both under pressure to win. But Seongnam is playing at home so we are confident about winning this match,” said Seongnam coach Kim, who guided the club to the K-League title in 2006.

“Gamba are a very good team and have won championships on the continent and in the J.League, so I have though a lot about how to combat them on the field.

“It’s the second match for us in the AFC Champions League and the players and I will do our best to make the K-League proud. We aim to win and show the power of the K-League clubs in this competition.”

Gamba coach Kenta Hasegawa who, although disappointed to see his side lose their home opener against Guangzhou last week after goals in each half from Abderrazzaq Hamedallah and Wang Song, believes the early continental setback will help the treble winners raise their game for their forthcoming AFC Champions League fixtures.

“The AFC Champions League has a high level of players and teams, so even though we lost, it doesn’t mean we’re not good, it just means we have to try harder,” said former Japan international Hasegawa, who was awarded the 2014 J.League Manager of the Year Award after his side’s historic domestic treble.

“My team is doing their best in training for this match and although we lost our first game, we will win our second match.

“We will try our best to counter Seongnam’s stronger players like striker Kim Dong-sub, who I remember being very fast and physical when he played in the J-League, as well as their Brazilian players.

“It’s only the beginning of the season for us and all the matches are important, the match against Seongnam could be the most important.”

CONTRA RECOGNISES KEY NATURE OF GUANGZHOU R&F VERSUS BURIRAM FIXTURE

Guangzhou: Tuesday’s meeting of the two sides on top of Group F, Guangzhou R&F and Thai champions Buriram United at Yuexiu Stadium could prove to be pivotal in terms of qualification for the knockout stages of the AFC Champions League as early as Matchday Two, according to Guangzhou coach Cosmin Contra.

The Chinese Super League side pulled off arguably the shock of the round in Matchday One with the debutants securing a 2-0 victory at the home of Japan’s treble winners Gamba Osaka thanks to goals from Moroccan striker Abderrazzaq Hamedallah and Wang Song last Tuesday.

And on the same evening in Thailand, Buriram also picked up maximum points from their opener with Deeprom Prakit and Gilberto Macedo netting in the 2-1 win over Korean FA Cup winners Seongnam FC.

With the two sides sharing the lead of Group F, a win for either on Tuesday in Guangzhou would go a long way in the hunt for a prized place in the AFC Champions League Round of 16.

“The winning team will go top of Group F outright and have a better chance of qualifying for the knock out stage, that is why Tuesday’s match is so important,” said Contra, who has led his side to three consecutive victories in the AFC Champions League competition, having successfully negotiated two play-off ties against Warriors FC of Singapore and Central Coast Mariners before last week’s victory at Gamba.

“Our tactic will be the same as our previous three games, but our players will have to pay close attention in the defending because it will be a very dangerous match for us.

“Buriram also won their first round match and every team in the AFC Champions League is strong, all the games are tough.

“I hope we can win, though, because we are playing at home and I have confidence in my players.”

Buriram’s Brazilian coach Alexandre Gama, meanwhile, has called upon his countryman Gilberto Macena for an insight into the workings of Chinese Super League teams with the striker having played for Shandong Luneng and Hangzhou Greentown.

“Macena used to play for two CSL teams so I consulted him about our opponent Guangzhou R&F and I have also watched all three of Guangzhou’s ACL matches this season,” said Gama.

“Their forward Hamedallah is a great player, his ball control is impressive and he is also physically strong. They are going to be a very tough opponent.”

Gama would have liked to have called on the services of a former Guangzhou R&F player in Brazilian forward Rafael Coelho, who played for the Southern Chinese club in the 2012/13 season, but the player sustained an injury in training and will be ruled out.