The AFC Champions League (ACL) heads into the last matchday of the group stage to be held on 5 and 6 May, and Kashima Antlers and Gamba Osaka will play their respective big match with the knockout stage advancement at stake. Two other Japanese clubs with their destiny determined, Kashiwa Reysol to move on to the round of 16 and Urawa Reds to be eliminated, also play their last group stage match both on the road.

Kashima in Group H welcome FC Soul (KOR) on 5 May

Both clubs are currently tied with six points and leading fourth-placed Western Sydney Wanderers (AUS) by one, but Kashima certainly need one more win to move ahead to the next round. In case of a draw, the outcome of the other match in the group determines who advance out of the group. If Guangzhou Evergrande (CHN), who have already clinched the group’s first place and the round of 16 spot, lost to the last year’s champions Western Sydney, the points of the Australian side will surpass that of Kashima’s, and Kashima will be eliminated.

FC Soul led by head coach Choi Yong Soo, former J. Leaguer, have recorded one win one loss and three ties including the scoreless draw against Evergrande at home on the last matchday. Even in their domestic league, their past three matches have not produced any win only with one loss and two draws, which currently keeps them at tenth place. However, in the past ACL campaigns, FC Soul have never finished worse than at the round of 8: losing at the semi-final last year, at the final in 2013 and at the quarter final in 2011 and 2009.

In the past contests between these two clubs, FC Soul defeated Kashima twice in the regulation and one more time with penalty shootouts including 1-0 win in Korea at the first match of this year’s ACL. The Korean side will miss Kim Jin Kyu due to accumulated yellow cards, but still list several key players such as Brazilian forward Everton Leandro Dos Sant Os Pinto, Colombian midfielder Molina Uribe, and Kim Hyung Sung who has scored two goals in the ACL this year.

On the other hand, considering this upcoming match against FC Soul, Kashima made drastic changes with the starting line-up for the J1 league match against Kofu on 3 May. Defender UEDA Naomichi unfortunately came off the pitch in the first half with an injury, and the match turned out to be a 0-1 loss for Kashima. Yet in the ACL, they have acquired good momentum by beating Evergrande at home and winning an away contest against Western Sydney after three straight losses from the start.

Gamba to take on Seongnam FC

Gamba Osaka in Group F take on Seongnam FC (KOR)

While Seongnam FC, having already secured their place in the next stage with 10 points, look to finish the group stage atop, Gamba are now at second place with seven points and need one more win to avoid the elimination. Third-placed Buriram United (THA) are tied with Gamba point-wise with seven. With their head-to-head result being Gamba’s one win and one draw, if Gamba draw or lose in the next match, they still advance unless Buriram finish with a better result in their next match against Guangzhou R&F (CHN).

When Seongnam won the last FA Cup title, they acquired a spot in this ACL. They are also one of the powerhouses in Asia with seven K League titles and six ACL appearances including this season. The notable finishes in the ACL were winning the championship in 2010 and playing until the semi-final in 2007.

In their domestic league, they have not recorded any loss in the past six matches including four straight draws in the most recent ones. Although defender Yun Young Sun is suspended for the match against Gamba with accumulated yellow cards, their offensive end has the trio of forwards Ricardo Bueno and Lucas Pajeu and midfielder Jorginho in addition to midfielder Kim Doheon who has scored four goals in the nine K League matches this season.

In the last contest between these two clubs in Korea Republic, Gamba conceded a 0-2 loss, which gave the Japanese side the second loss in a row to start the ACL campaign. But after that, Gamba picked up their pace with two wins and one loss as well as the 6-2-1 record and third place in the table in J1 league. Although a suspension to OMORI Kotaro and injuries several players are suffering are a concern, forwards USAMI Takashi, six straight matches with at least one goal scored, and Patric have produced good results recently. They are well targeted at the first knock out stage appearance in the ACL since 2011.

Kashiwa, Urawa both to challenge away match

Kashiwa Reysol, already with a spot in the knockout round out of Group E, face Binh Duon (VIE).

The Vietnamese side have already been determined to go home at the end of the group stage currently with one point resulted from four losses and a draw, but still they are leading their domestic league. Midfielder Nguyen Trong Hoang is not allowed to play against Kashiwa due to amounted yellow cards, Senegalese forward Dieng Cheikh Abass with league-leading eight goals scored and forward Nguyen Tang Tuan with six goals have been in good form.

Meanwhile Kashiwa have midfielder Leandro Montera da Silva and Kim Chang Soon coming back from suspension and midfielder TAKETOMI Kosuke and forward KUDO Msasato have also shown outstanding performance, four goals in five matches and three in six respectively in this ACL campaign. They are looking to add one more win and move past the group stage with a perfect record.

Urawa Reds, with their chance for advancement completely disappeared, will play against Brisbane Roar (AUS) in Australia.

This year’s ACL has not been kind to Urawa and leaving them with no wins, four losses and a draw, but they are the current leaders in J1 league with a perfect record of seven wins and two draws. They certainly want to take their domestic momentum to the last match in the ACL and finish it with some upbeat.

AFC Champions League 2015

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