5 Nov 2008(Wed)

After a weekend of talking points that saw Oita Trinita pick up their first ever trophy, and the footballers of Kokushikan University twice going ahead against J1 leaders Kashima Antlers in the Emperor’s Cup before suffering defeat on penalties, the attention of Japan and indeed Asia will now be drawn to Suita in the suburbs of Osaka. Having defeated fierce rivals Urawa Reds in the first all-Japanese match-up in AFC Champions League history, Gamba Osaka will attempt to move a step closer to the continental crown when they host the first leg of the final this Wednesday. Coming from behind in Saitama to secure a final berth will already have ranked amongst the club’s finest hours, but Gamba now have the chance to underline the J League’s domination of Asia by ensuring that the ACL trophy remains in Japan for a second year.

 

Their opponents in the final will be Adelaide United, whose success is attracting attention in sports coverage throughout the English-speaking world. United were only formed five years ago following the withdrawal of Adelaide City from the now-defunct National Soccer League, but their rapid rise has mirrored that of Australian football as a whole. The inaugural season of the new A-League in 2005-06 coincided with the national team’s first successful qualification for a World Cup in 32 years, and as founding members, United went on to be crowned as the first ‘premiers’ by finishing top in the regular campaign. Since the Football Federation Australia joined the AFC (Asian Football Confederation), Adelaide have qualified for the ACL in two consecutive seasons, and clinched a place in this year’s final after beating both Kashima and Rivaldo’s new Uzbekistani side Bunyodkor.

 

Both teams have reached the ACL final at the second attempt, but neither can expect to return to the competition next year unless they win the thing outright. Gamba set their sights high at the start of the year, targeting a league and ACL double, but injuries and unexpected departures robbed the side both of balance and of goals for much of the campaign. These problems have likely put paid to Gamba’s league title hopes, but since the beginning of autumn, Akira Nishino’s men have rediscovered their attacking rhythm just in time to keep their hopes alive on the Asian stage. Although hardly steeped in history, the club have developed a taste for success in recent years, and followed up the first league title they achieved in 2005 with victory in the Nabisco Cup last year. If Gamba can add the ACL trophy to their cabinet and set up a potential meeting with Manchester United in the Toyota Cup, they will confirm their status as a major footballing player – at least on the field – in this part of the world.

 

Gamba Osaka’s place in the final and the further treats that may lie in store could have great significance not only for Japan, but for football in the Kansai area in particular. The timing of Gamba’s 2005 championship was wretchedly unfortunate in that it was overshadowed entirely by a Central League pennant for the Hanshin Tigers the same year. This season, however, Hanshin’s failures both in the pennant race and in the Climax Series have now cleared the stage for Gamba to restore sporting pride throughout the region. It is a shame that the Japan Series – being contested between two teams from Kanto – will clash with the first leg of the ACL final, but the baseball will at least be all over come the second leg in a week’s time. The team may not yet share Urawa’s nationwide popularity amongst the public and the media, but the day for Osaka and Gamba to be the centre of national sporting attention has been a long time in coming.