Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Seoul: Coach Kenta Hasegawa is looking for an away goal in the first leg of Gamba Osaka’s AFC Champions League last 16 tie with FC Seoul on Wednesday with the J.League champions eyeing a return to the quarter-finals for the first time in seven years.
J.League treble winners Gamba earned a place in the last 16 for the first time since 2011 after winning Group F ahead of Korea Republic’s Seongnam FC as the 2008 AFC Champions League winners bounced back in style from back-to-back defeats at the start of the group stage.
And with the return leg of their last 16 tie with the 2013 finalists taking place next week in Japan, an away goal at Seoul World Cup Stadium would go a long way to help Gamba secure a return to the last eight for the first time since landing the continental title in 2008.
“To score an away goal can be the most decisive factor in going through in a home and away two leg tie,” said Hasegawa, who saw Gamba end the group stage with three consecutive wins.
“There are 180 minutes of football to come, and at this stage, all teams are strong.
Our target is to win the AFC Champions League. Of course we have experience of winning in the past, but there have been a lot of changes since. The new players now have the challenge of trying to become the best in Asia.”
Gamba, who currently sit in second in the J.League, are unbeaten in their last three games in all competitions and earned their place in the last 16 after beating K-League Classic side Seongnam 2-1 at home earlier this month.
“It was a tough battle for us to come through the group stage, but that has just made us more competitive,” added Hasegawa.
“We came to Korea Republic in the group stage and lost 2-0 to Seongnam, but that experience will help the players adapt to this test in Seoul.”
The visit to Seoul World Cup Stadium evokes happy memories for Gamba midfielder Yasuhito Endo, who made his 100th appearance for Japan in the Korean capital in 2010.
“To become champions is our goal, but there is a long way to go before that,” said veteran playmaker Endo, who won the AFC Champions League with Gamba in 2008.
“We have to think about tomorrow's game and the second leg too. There is always talk of rivalry between Japanese and Korea Republic teams in the media, but either team can win or lose.
“We can be sure of one thing; it will be a tough game.”
Photo: WSG