Soccer: Kawasaki, Nagoya advance to ACL q'finals+

SUITA, Japan, June 24 Kyodo - Kawasaki Frontale staged a memorable comeback to knock holders Gamba Osaka out of the Asian Champions League and advance to the quarterfinals with a thrilling
3-2 win on Wednesday.

Nagoya Grampus also advanced to the last eight after Keiji Tamada's 67th-minute
goal earned a 2-1 win at home to South Korea's Suwon Bluewings, but reigning
J-League champions Kashima Antlers crashed out 5-4 on penalties to FC Seoul
after a 2-2 draw at Kashima Stadium.
Brazilian striker Leandro looked to have put Gamba on the way to victory with
two goals on his return from injury but an exquisite finish from Renatinho
leveled the tie before substitute Masaru Kurotsu struck five minutes from time
to snatch Kawasaki's first ever victory at Expo Stadium.
''I am very happy to have beaten defending champions Gamba and all credit to my
players, who never stopped trying until the end,'' said Kawasaki manager
Takashi Sekizuka.
''Renatinho and Kurotsu got the job done and this is a massive result for us.
As a Japanese representative we want to keep doing our best.''
Gamba have been beset by injuries in recent weeks with Leandro, influential
midfielder Yasuhito Endo and Tomokazu Myojin all suffering with problems.
Gamba's form dipped in their absence but all three returned to the lineup while
Kengo Nakamura and North Korean striker Chong Tese returned for Frontale after
being rested for Saturday's 2-0 win at home to struggling Oita Trinita.
Endo saw plenty of the ball in the first half and his pinpoint free kick ought
to have been converted by captain Satoshi Yamaguchi, who had his free header
saved by Eiji Kawashima on 19 minutes.
Endo was guilty of spurning an even better chance on 26 minutes, blasting wide
after Hideo Hashimoto had sent the Japan international clean through, but
Leandro broke the deadlock when he cut inside Hiroki Ito and fired a low drive
under Kawashima.
With Chong looking out of sorts, Kawasaki created very little going forward but
Nakamura struck against the run of play to put the visitors on level terms with
a crisp finish on 33 minutes.
However, the visitors' joy proved short-lived and they only had themselves to
blame as Leandro grabbed his second of the night six minutes before the break.
Akira Kaji was given far too much time and space to swing his cross in from the
right wing and Leandro arrived completely unmarked at the back post to head
past a helpless Kawashima.
Once again, though, Kawasaki came back when it looked as though a Gamba victory
was on the cards. Renatinho curled a sweet strike in off the crossbar and
Kurotsu smashed home at the near post to complete a dramatic turnaround.
''It's very disappointing,'' said Gamba manager Akira Nishino. ''I thought with
the return of key players we were able to play something like Gamba's brand of
soccer and the players did their best.''
''But we had plenty of chances to score a third goal. We didn't take them and
that has cost us the game. We now have to try and turn ourselves around.''
The draw for the two-leg quarterfinals will take place on Monday.
The ACL final will be held in Japan in early November with the winners
clinching a spot at the World Club Cup in Abu Dhabi in December.
==Kyodo