Osaka; Coach Kenta Hasegawa has urged Gamba Osaka to show “motivation and desire” to overturn a 2-1 deficit against China’s Guangzhou Evergrande in Wednesday’s AFC Champions League semi-final second leg to secure Japanese representation in the final for the first time since the J.League side lifted the 2008 continental title.
Akira Nishino guided Gamba to victory over Australia’s Adelaide United seven years ago, but no J.League side has since reached the final, with Nagoya Grampus and Kashiwa Reysol eliminated in the semi-finals in 2009 and 2013.
Hasegawa’s Gamba, though, have an opportunity to end Japan’s wait after Feng Xiaoting’s 13th minute own goal in the first leg at Tianhe Sports Centre Stadium last month gave the Japanese treble winners a priceless away goal despite strikes either side of half-time from Huang Bowen and Zheng Zhi securing acomeback victory for the 2013 champions.
“In the first leg, it was good that we could score the opening goal, but we lost goals in a way that we knew we had to be alert,” said Hasegawa.
“However, my team did not lose their control or calm when we lost those two goals, and it was a match that could have had a different result against a tough team with no real weaknesses. It’s a difficult opponent, but we have to try hard and work together to advance to the final.
“This time we are playing at home and the most important thing is the motivation of the players. The key is how well we can do in terms of motivation and desire.
“We need to believe in ourselves, our ability to play as a team, and that we are capable of winning. We have to show everything on the pitch.”
And Hasegawa will be boosted by the availability of centre-back Daiki Niwa who missed the first leg through suspension, while forward Takashi Usami was on target for Japan against Syria in their recent joint qualifier for the 2018 FIFA World Cup and 2019 AFC Asian Cup.
“Daiki Niwa is a very tough player and is a vocal leader on the pitch during the game. He also shows his strong fighting spirit, especially in a situation like this, so having him back is a very encouraging,” added Hasegawa, who saw Gamba beat Urawa Red Diamonds 2-1 at home in the J.League on Saturday.
“Every match I expect something from Usami. He played well for the national team in the recent qualifiers and I am looking forward to his performance against Guangzhou.”
Opponents Guangzhou, meanwhile, saw their undefeated streak in all competitions since the end of May extend after Brazilian striker Ricardo Goulart scored twice to secure a 2-0 win over Tianjin Teda in the Chinese Super League on Saturday.
The result sees Luiz Felipe Scolari’s side remain at the top of the Chinese Super League table with just two fixtures remaining as Guangzhou look to secure a repeat of the domestic and continental double they achieved in 2013 under Italian Marcello Lippi.
Gamba are Guangzhou’s third J.League opponent in the AFC Champions League this season having faced Kashima Antlers in the group stage before eliminating Kashiwa Reysol in the quarter-finals.
However, it will be the first time since the 2013 quarter-final against Qatar’s Lekhwiya that Guangzhou will play the second leg of an AFC Champions League knockout tie away from home.
Awaiting either Gamba or Guangzhou in the final will be the winner of Tuesday’s meeting in Dubai as Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal face Al Ahli of the United Arab Emirates, with the home side looking to build on a 1-1 draw from the first leg in Riyadh.
Al Ahli are undefeated in the early stages of the new Arabian Gulf League season after recording a 3-1 win over Al Sharjah on Thursday, with in-form striker Rodrigo Lima on target again after the Brazilian netted the potentially crucial goal for Cosmin Olariou’s side in Riyadh.
Giorgos Donis’ Al Hilal, though, also boast an impressive unbeaten streak in all competitive competitions that stretches back to the end of May as the 2014 finalists seek to earn the right to host the first leg of the final on November 7, with either Gamba or Guangzhou hosting the decisive return fixture on November 21.
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