NEWS

Gamba Osaka battled back in the second half to draw with Asian champions Urawa Reds 1-1 at home in the first leg of their AFC Champions League semifinal on Wednesday night.

In the other semifinal, Australian club Adelaide United downed Uzbekistan club Kruvuchi 3-0 at home.
Gamba manager Akira Nishino said, “We didn’t play badly. It was a game we wanted to win.”
Playing before 17,166 fans at Expo ’70 Commemorative Stadium in Osaka, Gamba started the game in aggressive style, pressuring their J. League rivals. The hosts came close in the seventh minute when forward Ryuji Bando reacted well to a Sota Nakazawa rebound, but his shot sailed over the bar.
In the 18th minute, the north Osaka club threatened the visitors again when Takahiro Futagawa connected with a Masato Yamazaki pass, but Reds goalkeeper Ryota Tsuzuki denied his attempt.
Facing Gamba’s defense, Reds struggled to create chances but it was the Saitama team who went ahead after a 22nd-minute corner.
Robson Ponte’s corner was cleared by Gamba but fell to Reds winger Takahito Soma, who beat his marker and let off a shot. His effort was blocked by Gamba goalkeeper Yosuke Fujigaya but Hajime Hosogai fired home the rebound.
After the break, the north Osaka club, playing in the ACL semifinals for the first time, rallied thanks to the arrival of substitute forward Hayato Sasaki early in the period.
Gamba midfielder Tomokazu Myojin hit the bar from mid-range in the 55th minute, former Japan fullback Akira Kaji followed up with a blast from the right a few seconds later and Bando hit from close range soon afterwards.
Kaji was replaced by Michihiro Yasuda due to an injury in the 64th minute, but Gamba’s rally continued with back-to-back efforts from Masato Yamazaki.
Gamba’s efforts eventually paid off when they were awarded a penalty after Bando, who latched on to a pass from Yasuda, was brought down by Soma in the box in the 80th minute. Endo took the spot kick and wrong-footed Tsuzuki for the equalizer.
Reds, who had one day less to prepare for the game after playing their J. League game on Sunday, lost their momentum under pressure from the hosts.
Reds boss Gert Engels attempted to improve the situation by sending in attacking players Tsukasa Umesaki and Tatsuya Tanaka later in the half. The visitors couldn’t change the course of the game, but managed to hold firm to the end.
“The game was played hard, fast and well. The first half went according to our game plan, but the second half was played at our opponents’ pace,” said Engels.
“I’m not sure about the penalty, but a 1-1 draw was OK if you look at the game over 90 minutes. The important thing is that we scored a goal. That is a small advantage for us,” the German coach noted.
The defending champions will have to play the second leg without goalkeeper Tsuzuki, Hosogai and Soma due to suspension after all three picked up yellow cards.
Engels commented: “It’s a pity, but we have good players on the bench and back home. Also, we’ll be playing at home. I think we can produce a good result in the second leg.”
Nishino said, “We should have turned things around in a game like this. We played aggressively in the second half and that resulted in our penalty.
“Having given up an away goal to them was a little disadvantage to us. But we have no fears or worries about the second leg. I’m convinced that we can do it there. And we can see what we have to do in the second leg.”
The two J. League clubs will face each other again in the second leg on October 22 at Saitama Stadium.