AFC Champions League, Discussion about the AFC Champions Leagu

Ok folks, we are going into the 1/4 finals. Let's rap about this. So far, the Japanese are moving on. This is a huge development. I don't think their teams have experience any type of success in this competition. There are some very strong teams remaining. I am looking forward to this. Here is a quick list of the teams in the Quarters:
Seongnam Chunma
Urawa Reds
Kawasaki Frontale
Al Wahda
Al Hilal
Sepahan
Al Karama
Chonbuk Motors

With the winne rof the competition heading to the World Club Cup it is time to bring this thread back to life as they are now in the semifinals in the Asian Champions League.

The semifinal pairings are:
Urawa (Japan) vs Seongnam (Korea)
Sepahan (Iran) vs Al Wahda (UAE)

Today Urawa drew 2-2 at Seongnam in leg 1 so they look in pretty good shape for the return leg. Sepahan and Al Wahda play later today.

Sepahan of Iran won 3-1 against Al Wahda in the first leg that Merengue mentioned.

The second legs are this week, with the final played over two legs in November. It's interesting that Japanese sides have struggled in the competition in recent years, after all the J-League would be most people's idea of Asia's top championship, or its most high-profile at least. Japanese clubs have won this competition before in its previous guise as the Asian Champions Cup. Most recently, Jubilo Iwata won in 1999 and then lost the following two finals. But it seems that Urawa Reds have the potential to become arguably Japan's first 'super club'. They have a large fan base, a healthy fan culture, a good team and they are ambitious. It will be interesting to see what effect the FIFA Club Cup can have on the global profile of teams from Asia and Africa in particular.

You are only saying this, cause they appear to be copying manure

You are only saying this, cause they appear to be copying manure

What can I say, it's a very fetching look!

Good point Simon, every time I see one of thsoe Asian football highlight shows they always show a packed stadium watching Urawa play so the support is definitely there. I too find it strange that Japanese clubs haven't done better recently in Asian club competitions. Korean clubs have had a good record though.

Urawa won the Asian Champions League 2-0 over Sepahan (3-1 aggregate) for their first Asian title. They are now the Japanese league and Cup winners in addition to being the champions of Asia.

http://sports.yahoo.com/sow/news?slug=reu-...uters&type=lgns

I think this will be the first of numerous Japanese clubs winning this continental title. As noted here the clubs have the money, infrastructure and crowd support to do well on the continental level.

I will revive this thread discussing the 2007 tournament with the latest results of the 2008 event,

http://sports.yahoo.com/sow/news?slug=reu-...uters&type=lgns

Gamba Osaka upset holders Urawa Reds 4-2 on aggregate with a 3-1 away win today and they will meet Australia's Adelaide United in the final after they defeated Bunyodkur of Uzbekistan 3-1 overall.

Interesting that no Middle Eastern teams even made the semifinals this year and Japanese clubs finally seem to be showing their influence in this competition. Also note how quickly Australian clubs have adapted to the competition.

You should have just started a new one. Anyway, I hear that Rivaldo is playing for a team in Uzbekistan named FC Bunyodkor and Zico is their Head Coach. Interesting to see how this side does.

Gamba Osaka took a convincing lead in the first leg of the final with a 3-0 home win over Adelaide United.

http://sports.yahoo.com/sow/news?slug=reu-...uters&type=lgns

From the article it reads that Gamba Osaka should have ahd a 4th goal but it was wrongly called back. That gives Adelaide a slight chance in the return match, 4 goals down would have been too much, 3 is hard enough!

Win or lose Adelaide United will be in the World Club Cup though as Japan as the host country gets an automatic spot, either to Gamba Osaka as the Asian champion or whichever club wins the Japanese title.

Gamba Osaka won the Asian Champions League today 5-0 on aggregate after beating Adelaide United 2-0 in Australia. A pair of early goals from Brazilian player Lucas gave Gamba Osaka the comfortable win.

http://sports.yahoo.com/sow/news?slug=reu-...uters&type=lgns

For a little background info on the new Asian champions,

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gamba_Osaka

Maybe Japanese football is finally taking advantage of the wonderful infrastructure and financial backing, that is two straight Asian Champions Leagues won now by Japanese clubs.

There was an interesting article on the Guardian's website yesterday which profiles the club and its place in Uzbekistan.

The Death and Glory of Football in Uzbekistan

Their rapid rise to the top bears similarities with some of the Eastern European teams who are backed by shady Russian oligarchs.

No Japanese club in this year's Asian Champions League Final, Nagoya Grampus Eight were eliminated in the semifinals. Instead it will be Al Ittihad of Saudi Arabia against Pohang Steelers of Korea. Al Ittihad are coached by Gabriel Calderon, the former Argentinian international and World Cup 1982 player, who has been coaching in the Middle East for a long time now.

I was surprised by the way Al Ittihad battered Nagoya out of sight in the semis. They must be big favourites to win Saturday's final against the Pohang Steelers.