NEWS

Asian champions Urawa Reds overcame their 3-2 away defeat with a convincing 2-0 win over Al Qadsia of Kuwait at home on Wednesday night to advance to the semifinals of the AFC Champions League, and Gamba Osaka joined the J. League rivals with a 2-0 win over Al Karama of Syria at home for a 4-1 aggregate success.

But J. League champions Kashima Antlers bowed out of the annual club competition after losing 1-0 at Adelaide United in Australia following their 1-1 draw in the first leg at home a week ago.
Reds will next visit Gamba on October 8 before meeting the north Osaka club on October 22 at home for the first all-Japanese semifinals in the Champions League.
Adelaide United, meanwhile, will play Kuruvchi of Uzbekistan in their semifinals, at home first. Kuruvchi romped over Saipa of Iran 5-1 at home for a 7-3 aggregate victory.
At Saitama Stadium, Reds needed to beat Al Qadsia to carry on their Asian campaign and displayed well focused attacking football from the outset of the game.
Reds went ahead in the 31st minute when  Takahito Soma blasted home a superb volley from 25 meters out off an Al-Qadsia defender’s clearance, leveling the aggregate scores 3-3 while giving the hosts a lead with away goal advantage.
Reds went on take control of the game, and Japan defender Marcus Tulio Tanaka connected with a Robson Ponte free-kick to give a 2-0 up in the 54th minute.
Al Qadsia showed some late rally but Reds held firm to the end.
  “The second goal secured out victory,” said Reds manager Gert Engels.
“We started the game very well and had a good game control, which was better in the second half. We had some hard time late in the game but managed to defend our goal.”
The German coach continued, “It’s great to become a semifinalist with the win today, and I’m thankful to our players who played hard in a tough match schedule.”
Asked about the semifinal meeting with Gamba, Engels said, “It’s good to play them for travel-wise. They are our good rivals, too.”
Al Qadsia manager Mohamed Ibrahim commented, “I’m content with our performance with our opponents. I think Reds proved their ability as Asian champions.”
In Osaka, Gamba took advantage of their 2-1 first-leg away win and enjoyed the possession to dominate the game.
The hosts created chances and threatened the Al Karama goal with efforts from midfielder  Shinichi Terada, Brazilian forward Roni and midfielder Takumi Shimohira.
Gamba came close in the 30th minute when Terada hit the bar from middle range and forward Ryuji Bando hit the post off the rebound.
The goal came in the 83rd minute when substitute Masato Yamazaki latched on to a ball from Roni, cut in to the box and beat an Al-Karama defender to blast home from close range. Yamazaki has scored five goals in his eight ACL matches so far.
His Brazilian partner Roni then took his turn two minutes later to strike a Takahiro Futagawa pass into the back of the net.
“Things have gone according to our plans,” said Gamba manager Akira Nishino. ”Our players played well using the advantage we had earned from the first leg.
“Playing Reds [in the semifinals] has always been in my mind as my wish. I think it’s going to be a different atmosphere and a different type of competition from the J. League. I’m looking forward to the game.
Nishino noted, “I’m a strong believer that a Japanese club should win this tournament. I hope we will be the one to reach the final.”
In Adelaide, Kashima had to beat the Australian A-League side to advance to the next stage after suffering a 1-1 draw at home last Wednesday.
But playing without key midfielder Mitsuo Ogasawara to a serious knee injury and left-back Toru Araiba to a leg injury, the visitors couldn’t break through a solid Aussie defense.
Forward Shinzo  Koroki had a couple of big scoring chances but his first attempt in the 12th minute was denied by the Australian goalkeeper and his second one in the 43rd minute turned out to be a mis-shot.
In the  73rd minute, Kashima gave up a crucial winner to the hosts when tallish defender Robert Cornthwaite scored a header off a cross from the left.
“Becoming the Asian champions has been our dream,” Kashima manager Oswaldo Oliveira said in a disappointment.
Asked if he had to make tactical changes because of the loss of Ogasawara, the Brazilian boss replied: “I cannot talk about the player who is not here with us. But the absences of Ogasawara and Araiba were a big loss to us.”
Kashima have challenged the Asian title four times including the old Asian Club Championships but haven’t gone beyond the quarterfinals.