Experience key for Guangzhou-Huang Bowen
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E-mail China.org.cn, September 25, 2015
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Midfielder Huang Bowen scored last week as 2013 winners Guangzhou Evergrande from China shared a 1-1 draw with Japan's Kashiwa Reysol to complete a 4-2 aggregate victory in their AFC Champions League quarter-final. |
Midfielder Huang Bowen believes Guangzhou Evergrande's experience of winning the 2013 AFC Champions League can be the key in propelling the Chinese Super League champions to a return to the continental final ahead of next week's semi-final first leg against Japan's Gamba Osaka at Tianhe Sport Centre Stadium.
Huang scored a stunning volley in last week's quarter-final second leg against J.League side Kashiwa Reysol as Luiz Felipe Scolari's Guangzhou earned a 1-1 draw at home to seal a 4-2 aggregate victory and set-up a meeting with Japanese treble winners Gamba, who edged out Korean champions Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 3-2 on aggregate.
The 28-year-old is one of seven who started against Kashiwa that also lined up against FC Seoul in the 2013 final, compared to just three of Gamba's 2008 winners remaining in the current squad.
"The experience of taking part in the 2013 AFC Champions League semi-final and final can give our players a lot more confidence ahead of this game with Gamba, and I hope that such confidence will play an important role in the semi-final," said Huang having started in both legs of the 2013 semi-final and final.
"Gamba is a tough team and the semi-final is going to be difficult. It is imperative that we stay focused throughout the game, have faith in our performance, and I believe that the most important factor in securing victory is teamwork.
"We will do our best to win in the first leg, as it is a home game, and try not to let our opponent score."
Having not lost in any competition since the end of May, four-time Super League champions Guangzhou also currently top the domestic table by two points from Shanghai SIPG having beaten Guangzhou R&F 2-1 on Monday.
Guangzhou also faced Japanese opposition in the group stage of this year's AFC Champions League after beating Kashima Antlers at home before losing the return fixture in Japan, although the Chinese champions have never faced Gamba in the continental tournament.
"Gamba were the winner of the J.League last year and they have gone farther than the other Japanese teams in the AFC Champions League this season, therefore I think Gamba is a much stronger proposition than the two Japanese teams Guangzhou has faced so far," said FIFA World Cup winning-coach Scolari, who replaced Fabio Cannavaro as coach in the summer.
"There are no weak teams at the semi-final stage and we respect every team. We need to stick to our style and control the game.
"The team spirit of Gamba is something worthy of respect, and their players execute their coach's strategy very well. It is sure to be an exciting and intense match."
Following Wednesday's meeting in Guangzhou, the second leg will take place at Osaka's Expo '70 Commemorative Stadium three weeks later, with either 2014 runners-up Al Hilal from Saudi Arabia or Al Ahli from the United Arab Emirates awaiting in the final.
Al Ahli travel to Riyadh's King Fahd International Stadium on Tuesday to face two-time Asian champions Al Hilal, who lost to Australia's Western Sydney Wanderers in last year's final, ahead of the return fixture three weeks later in Dubai.
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