Osaka: Coach Luiz Felipe Scolari has admitted that while a draw is an acceptable result in Wednesday’s AFC Champions League semi-final second leg against Japan’s Gamba Osaka, his Guangzhou Evergrande side are intent on securing a return to the final with victory at Expo ’70 Commemorative Stadium.
Unbeaten in five month’s in all competitions since May’s AFC Champions League Round of 16 first-leg defeat by Korea Republic’s Seongnam FC prior to Scolari replacing Italian Fabio Cannavaro as coach, Chinese champions Guangzhou have one foot in the final after goals from midfield duo Huang Bowen and Zheng Zhi secured a 2-1 first-leg win at home last month.
But after Feng Xiaoting’s early own-goal handed 2008 champions Gamba a potentially crucial away goal, an end to that run could see Guangzhou again fail to follow up their 2013 continental success after losing to eventual champions Western Sydney Wanderers from Australia in the quarter-finals last year.
“It is a semi-final with two strong teams and whoever wins will get to the final, so I am sure it will be a spectacular match,” said Scolari (pictured), who is looking to follow in the footsteps of fellow FIFA World Cup-winning coach Marcello Lippi after the Italian masterminded Guangzhou’s 2013 ACL triumph.
“We have not come here and prepared for a draw. Gamba is a very strong opponent so when we start the match we want to win, but of course, if at the end it is a draw we can accept it, but we did not come to draw and we want to win.”
A defeat is not guaranteed to end Guangzhou’s campaign, however, with the away goals rule a potential factor, while a 2-1 win for 2014 J.League treble winners Gamba would send the tie into extra-time.
Guangzhou, though, have only failed to win one of their last eight outings in all competitions after beating Tianjin Teda 2-0 in the Chinese Super League on Saturday to remain on course for a fifth consecutive domestic title.
“We have already played the first leg with Gamba and we know they are a good team and I am sure they want to do their best to reach the final,” said Guangzhou captain Zheng, who lifted the 2013 trophy.
“We reached the semi-final last year, but we want to do better again and reach the final of the AFC Champions League.
“This is not a traditional team in Japan as Gamba are very strong in attack and have good quality in speed, but we are not thinking about extra-time and we hope to do our best to win and go to the final.”
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