ID :
29889
Thu, 11/13/2008 - 01:03
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/29889
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Soccer: Japan`s Gamba Osaka crowned kings of Asia
ADELAIDE, Australia, Nov. 12 Kyodo - Gamba Osaka were crowned kings of Asia for the first time on Wednesday after the J-League side beat Australia's Adelaide United 2-0 in the second leg of the Asian Champions League final, completing a 5-0 aggregate win.
Gamba were standing on the brink of continental glory after a 3-0 win in the
first leg in Osaka last week and any hopes of an Adelaide comeback were snuffed
out when Lucas put the Japanese in front with less than five minutes gone.
The Brazilian striker added a second near the quarter-hour mark to complete the
victory and keep the tournament silverware in Japan following Urawa Reds'
triumph over Iran's Sepahan in last year's final.
''In short, I'm delighted,'' said Gamba manager Akira Nishino. ''I wanted to
put the tie to rest in the first half and the players carried that plan out for
me.''
''I never imagined the result would turn out like this. I'm extremely satisfied.''
Gamba captain Satoshi Yamaguchi said, ''This is the tournament we have wanted
to win since before the start of the season. We did with Gamba's brand of
soccer. It's a huge relief.''
Gamba's win means they will represent Asia at the lucrative Club World Cup in
Japan next month alongside the likes of English giants Manchester United.
Adelaide had already been guaranteed a place at the Club World Club by reaching
the ACL final.
Aurelio Vidmar's team will play New Zealand's Waitakere United in a playoff
match and victory would earn them another shot at Gamba. The winner of that
game will progress to a semifinal against Man Utd.
Tickets at the compact Hindmarsh Stadium had sold out before the first leg but
Adelaide's red sea of fans was stunned into silence as Lucas put the tie out of
reach early with a knockout blow.
Seventeen-year-old goalkeeper Mark Birighitti, in for suspended Eugene
Galekovic, could only parry Hayato Sasaki's shot and Lucas, who also scored in
the first leg, was on hand to snap up the rebound.
Adelaide, starting the game with a threadbare squad, never looked like
responding and Gamba went further in front when Lucas latched onto an
inch-perfect pass from Takahiro Futgawa and clipped past Birighitti.
Adelaide thought they had pulled a goal back on 27 minutes through Cristiano
but his header was ruled out for offside.
The Australians, with little more than pride to play for, made a fist of it in
the second period but Gamba comfortably rode out the game for a fully deserved
win.
''There are football lessons you can learn but we have done it the hard way,''
said Vidmar.
''We have spoken about lack of resources and been underdogs in each game. We
did exceptionally well to get to the final but obviously Gamba took the game to
a different level, a level we are not used to over two legs.''
''We have learnt there are things to strive for, to be better technically,
physically to go to the next level,'' he said.
==Kyodo
Gamba were standing on the brink of continental glory after a 3-0 win in the
first leg in Osaka last week and any hopes of an Adelaide comeback were snuffed
out when Lucas put the Japanese in front with less than five minutes gone.
The Brazilian striker added a second near the quarter-hour mark to complete the
victory and keep the tournament silverware in Japan following Urawa Reds'
triumph over Iran's Sepahan in last year's final.
''In short, I'm delighted,'' said Gamba manager Akira Nishino. ''I wanted to
put the tie to rest in the first half and the players carried that plan out for
me.''
''I never imagined the result would turn out like this. I'm extremely satisfied.''
Gamba captain Satoshi Yamaguchi said, ''This is the tournament we have wanted
to win since before the start of the season. We did with Gamba's brand of
soccer. It's a huge relief.''
Gamba's win means they will represent Asia at the lucrative Club World Cup in
Japan next month alongside the likes of English giants Manchester United.
Adelaide had already been guaranteed a place at the Club World Club by reaching
the ACL final.
Aurelio Vidmar's team will play New Zealand's Waitakere United in a playoff
match and victory would earn them another shot at Gamba. The winner of that
game will progress to a semifinal against Man Utd.
Tickets at the compact Hindmarsh Stadium had sold out before the first leg but
Adelaide's red sea of fans was stunned into silence as Lucas put the tie out of
reach early with a knockout blow.
Seventeen-year-old goalkeeper Mark Birighitti, in for suspended Eugene
Galekovic, could only parry Hayato Sasaki's shot and Lucas, who also scored in
the first leg, was on hand to snap up the rebound.
Adelaide, starting the game with a threadbare squad, never looked like
responding and Gamba went further in front when Lucas latched onto an
inch-perfect pass from Takahiro Futgawa and clipped past Birighitti.
Adelaide thought they had pulled a goal back on 27 minutes through Cristiano
but his header was ruled out for offside.
The Australians, with little more than pride to play for, made a fist of it in
the second period but Gamba comfortably rode out the game for a fully deserved
win.
''There are football lessons you can learn but we have done it the hard way,''
said Vidmar.
''We have spoken about lack of resources and been underdogs in each game. We
did exceptionally well to get to the final but obviously Gamba took the game to
a different level, a level we are not used to over two legs.''
''We have learnt there are things to strive for, to be better technically,
physically to go to the next level,'' he said.
==Kyodo
