Goal! Weekly Article 4: Asian Champions League Coverage

VICTORY FACE J-LEAGUE GIANT

By Julius Ross

Asian Champions League debutants Melbourne Victory will encounter yet another tough test when they confront J-League giant Gamba Osaka on Wednesday.

Victory will face an uphill battle to progress from the group stage if they fail to achieve a positive result against the Japanese club at Telstra Dome.

After suffering their first Champions League defeat against Thai opponents Chonburi FC on match day two, Victory sit in third position and currently out of contention for group stage progression.

A 3-1 away lost in Thailand saw Victory’s hopes of reaching the knock-out stages severely dented, as the A-League team struggled in hot and humid conditions against Chonburi, eventually succumbing to two late goals.

Danny Allsopp had given the away side a glimmer of hope by cancelling the game’s opener from Chonburi’s Brazilian import, Ney ‘Fabiano’ de Oliveira, but a 30-yard screamer from Cameroonian Stephane Baga in the 79th minute and a second from the same player in injury time, knocked Victory from pole position in the group.

Whilst only one point behind joint leaders Osaka and Chonburi, Victory will have to accomplish significant home and away victories in order to maintain hope of continuing to the next stage of the tournament.

Only the top team in the group advances to the quarter-finals, and despite commencing the competition in superb fashion with a 2-0 victory against Korean outfit Chunnam Dragons - which saw them top the group, Victory were knocked back down to earth in their first away match in Supachalasai National Stadium, Bangkok.

However, Victory coach Ernie Merrick remains positive heading into the match against Osaka and believes that his side can reverse their fortunes and put their Asian Champions League campaign back on track.

According to Merrick, Victory will hit back in their remaining fixtures, with the Melbourne coach drawing on the fact that all teams in Group G have dropped points thus far in the campaign, which provides a confidence boost for his side.

Gamba has already underlined its credentials as quarter final contenders, through two displays of determination and stamina, in their opening group fixtures.

The J-League team scored an injury time equaliser against Chonburi on match day one, and came from two goals down to secure a 4-3 Victory over Chunnam Dragons in their second match.

Gamba will be looking to further stretch their lead in the group over Victory when they travel to Melbourne, with confidence high in the Japanese camp after their come-from-behind success over Chunnam.

Goals from Brazilian forward Victor Simoes and captain Kim Tae-Su appeared to have given the Dragons a comfortable 2-0 lead in Gwangyang, but Gamba bounced back through goals from striker Ruji Bando and midfielders Takahiro Futagawa and Michihiro Yasuda to make the score 3-2.

Osaka survived a late scare when Tae-Su converted a penalty to make the score 3-3, but Bando buried his second to secure a first group victory for his side.

Akira Nishino, Osaka’s manager, stated at the beginning of the tournament that his aims were to win the title; however, after a surprise draw against Chonburi and the hard-fought victory over Chunnam, Nishino’s thoughts must be now focussed on first progressing into the quarter finals.

Nishino is adamant that his side is more thoroughly prepared and determined than in 2006 when they last participated in the Champions League, when they failed o progress beyond the group stage, losing to eventual winners Jeonbuk Motors.

After a two year absence, Nishino believes his side can go all the way this year and the team has already experienced a taste for silverware, winning the final of the Pan Pacific Championships against MLS side Houston Dynamo in February.

Gamba’s second appearance in the Asian Champions League comes after they finished third in the J-League last season, their only other appearance in 2006, a result of winning the J-League in 2005.

As well as finishing a respectable third, Osaka also lifted the 2007 J-League Cup and Super Cup last season and the team has managed consistent league form over the last four seasons, sitting third or above at the end of each campaign.

Gamba’s squad consists of several top class players who have the ability to decide the match against the Victory.

Stocky Japanese international Yasuhito Endo has scored 49 goals in 181 appearances for Gamba, and as a result has earned 64 caps for his country.

Endo’s sensational passing skills, dribbling expertise, free-kick technique, and ability to play successfully in both attacking and defensive midfield, will make him the target man for Victory to subdue.

The partnership of Japan international Ryuji Bando and new signing Lucas Severino will also prove difficult for Victory to contain, with the pair scoring three goals between them in two matches.

Founded in 1991, the team’s name comes from the Japanese word gambaru, which means ‘to stand firm’ or ‘to do your best.’
Victory can expect Gamba to do just that, in this key encounter.