Impressive Kashiwa keep Japanese hopes alive
0 Comment(s)
Print
E-mail China.org.cn, May 24, 2013
Emperor's Cup winners Kashiwa Reysol kept alive hopes of a first Japanese winner of the AFC Champions League in five years after sealing a first appearance in the quarter-finals with a 3-2 comeback win over former champions Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors on Wednesday.
|
|
|
Kashiwa Reysol kept alive hopes of a first Japanese winner of the AFC Champions League in five years after sealing a first appearance in the quarter-finals with a 3-2 comeback win over Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors on Wednesday. |
Hirofumi Watanabe, Jorge Wagner and Masato Kudo scored as Japan's sole remaining representative extended their unbeaten record to eight games after Tatsuya Masushima's own goal had briefly given 2006 champions Jeonbuk hope of overturning the two-goal deficit from last week's first leg.
And with Kevin Oris' consolation coming too late for 2011 finalists Jeonbuk, Kashiwa remained on course to follow in the footsteps of Urawa Reds and Gamba Osaka, who claimed back-to-back successes for J.League sides in 2007 and 2008, after completing a 5-2 win on aggregate.
"The win was a product of our players' hard work. I want to congratulate them," said Kashiwa coach Nelsinho Baptista.
"The game was tough as I had expected, and our players were not responding well in terms of speed and spirit at the beginning of the first half. But they showed their determination from late in the first half, which helped us find our rhythm and take control of the game."
K-League champions FC Seoul, Thailand's Buriram United, Chinese Super League champions Guangzhou Evergrande, Saudi duo Al Shabab and Al Ahli, Qatar's Lekhwiya and recently-crowned Iranian champions Esteghlal also sealed their places in June's draw for the quarter-finals this week.
Guangzhou confirmed also their place in the quarter-finals for a second consecutive season on Wednesday as a 3-0 win over Australia's Central Coast Mariners at Tianhe Stadium completed a 5-1 aggregate success for Marcello Lippi's side.
Muriqui scored his eighth goal in eight games while Dario Conca converted from the penalty spot in first half injury time to put Guangzhou in an unassailable position before Gao Lin netted in the second half.
Guangzhou will now go into the draw for the quarter-finals, to be held on June 20 in Kuala Lumpur, hoping to surpass their showing on their debut appearance in the competition last year, when they were eliminated in the last eight by two-time champions Al Ittihad from Saudi Arabia.
"The players concentrated very well, in the game they were well organised and we have realised we are a strong team and we need to continue this way," said Lippi.
"We have acquired the sort of mentality that we would like to win every match we play."
With K-League sides having won three of the last four editions, Yun Il-lok scored once and provided an assist as FC Seoul secured a third AFC Champions League quarter-final appearance in five years after recording a 3-1 comeback win over China's Beijing Guoan on Tuesday.
Also on Tuesday, Thailand's Buriram continued to follow in the footsteps of inaugural finalists BEC Tero Sasana after reaching the quarter-finals for the first time by completing a 2-1 aggregate win over two-time semi-finalists Bunyodkor with a hard-fought goalless draw in Tashkent.
Elsewhere, 2012 finalists Al Ahli of Saudi Arabia booked their place in the quarter-finals for the second season in a row as first-half goals from Bruno Cesar and Mustafa Al Bassas sealed a 2-0 second leg win over Qatari newcomers El Jaish.
Cesar fired last year's runners-up into the lead after 24 minutes at King Abdulaziz Sport Centre and Al Bassas added a second with a fine individual effort eight minutes before half-time to give the Saudi side a 3-1 aggregate victory.
"We played with good tactics and I am happy that we had a good performance which helped us to advance to the quarter-finals," said Al Ahli coach Aleksander Ilic.
"However, we expect tough matches in the next stage and, hopefully, we can continue our good run in the competition."
And Al Ahli were joined by fellow Saudi League side Al Shabab after Argentinian striker Sebastian Tagliabue scored twice on Tuesday as a 3-0 second leg win secured a convincing 5-1 aggregate victory over Qatar's Al Gharafa.
Iran and Qatar will also be represented in the quarter-finals after Esteghlal completed a 4-2 aggregate victory over Al Shabab Al Arabi of the United Arab Emirates with a goalless draw at Azadi Stadium on Wednesday, while Lekhwiya held off a second-half fight back from Saudi Arabia's Al Hilal to advance to the last eight for the first time 3-2 on aggregate following a 2-2 draw in Wednesday's second leg.
Go to Forum >>0 Comment(s)