Kashiwa Reysol met Guangzhou Evergrande from China PR, who won the championship in 2013, for the 1st round of the quarterfinals in the AFC Champions League 2015 at Hitachi Kashiwa Soccer Stadium on 25 August. Although Kashiwa scored a goal towards the end of the match, they lost the game 3-1.

Kashiwa, who had won three consecutive games in J.League Division1, wanted to put in a strong performance against the same opponent they met in the quarterfinal back in 2013. However, the team conceded an own goal from a free kick after five minutes.

Guangzhou with a one-goal lead took the initiative with two key midfielders, PAULINHO, who played for the Brazil national team, and ZHENG Zhi, who played for the China National Team.

They passed the ball up front to Ricardo GOULAR, the former Brazil national team player, and the forward GAO LIN, while they defended solidly to shut down Kashiwa’s passing.

The midfielder OTANI Hidekazu and the defender WAKO Naoki were not playing due to injuries, and Kashiwa could not pick up their pace either in attack or defence. After 40 minutes, Paulinho struck a goal into the right-hand corner directly from a free kick, which was taken from approximately 35 metres away, adding more insurance. Then in the 55th minute, CRISTIANO from Kashiwa took a shot from a free kick, only for it to go slightly wide.

Guangzhou continued with GOULART’s counter attack, and earned a corner kick in the 58th minute. GAO Lin reacted to a cross in front of the goal and headed in a shot for their third goal.

Kashiwa, on the other hand, switched TAKETOMI Kosuke’s position in the 2nd half from up front to the midfield, and started to initiate attacks from the centre. The forward EDERSON, who came off the bench in the 62nd minute, sent a cross to the centre after four minutes.

Cristiano, who ran to the centre and reacted to the cross, made the opponent’s defender clear the ball for a corner kick to Kashiwa. In the 70th minute, Ederson aimed at the goal with a floating ball, but the opponent’s goalkeeper saved it. Then after 79 minutes, the forward OTSU Yuki came off the bench to create more attacking opportunities.

Kashiwa stayed ambitious for goals. Just before the final whistle, in the 89th minute, Taketomi’s shot hit the cross bar and was cleared by the opponent’s defender, which let Kashiwa earn a corner kick.

The forward KUDO Masato ran toward the far side to react the ball from the defender SUZUKI Daisuke, who changed the course of the corner kick, and slotted it into the goal. Kashiwa lost the game 3-1.

See more match details (Japanese version only)

The 2nd round will be held in Guangzhou, China PR on 15 September.

Gamba Osaka, the other team from Japan, will play an away match against Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (Korea Republic), on 26 August. 

Coach and Players' Comments

YOSHIDA Tastuma, Coach (Kashiwa Reysol)
I feel very frustrated, as we lost the 1st round 3-1 from three set pieces. Having said that, I’d like to point out that the team showed their quality and courage. In the 1st half, the players sometimes couldn’t get through the opponent due to mental pressure.

However, I told them to play calmly to pass the ball around, and they refreshed their mind in the 2nd half. Even though the opponent scored three away-goals, I haven’t abandoned hope at all. We’d like to prepare ourselves for the away match in September with confidence and courage, which we earned from the goal we scored in the end. Today we couldn’t play our style, keeping possession. So we’ll practice to be able to do so.

FW KUDO Masato (Kashiwa Reysol)
We have only finished the first 90 minutes. We have to admit the opponent’s ability – how they led the game and the fact they scored superb goals in an important game. Having said that, I think we can do the same. A score of 3-1 is not good, but I think we can make something happen from there. Our first goal gave us some hope. I’d like to score in the away match as well to show our ability.

DF SUZUKI Daisuke (Kashiwa Reysol)
It wasn’t good at all for the first round, but Kudo did score for the team. I meant to send the ball to the near side during the set piece, and I think EDERSON also aimed the same.

Although it might be difficult to strike three goals in an away game, we did have more than three goal-scoring opportunities today, and we could handle the opponent better than the last time two years ago. I’d like to show them in the next match. We have another game to play. I would like to think it’s a 180-minute-game.

LUIZ FELIPE SCOLARI, Coach (GUANGZHOU EVERGRANDE)
It was an excellent match between two competitive teams. It was my very 1st game in the ACL, and I’m very pleased that we won it. We’ve analysed Kashiwa beforehand to prepare ourselves, sharing all the information to win with the players. Every day’s practice led us to those three goals.

I am confident with my own team, but I do respect Kashiwa. They were the strongest among the 12 teams we’ve played since I came to Guangzhou. Today’s result is not everything. As I know the team has lost the game in the second round in the past, we don’t know what might happen.

AFC CHAMPIONS LEAGUE 2015

Quarter-Final
Wed. 26 August 2015 Kickoff 19:00 (subject to change)　Jeonju World Cup Stadium
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (Korea) vs Gamba Osaka (Japan)
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