China’s Guangzhou Evergrande will face UAE's Al Ahli in the AFC Champions League final after a goalless draw in Wednesday’s semi-final second leg with Japan’s Gamba Osaka sealed a 2-1 aggregate triumph.
Chinese Super League (CSL) champions Guangzhou enjoyed the better chances of the first-half and while the visitors could not add to last month’s 2-1 home win, 2008 ACL winners Gamba began to struggle.
And after Al Ahli claimed a dramatic 3-2 home win over Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal on Tuesday to win their semi-final 4-3 on aggregate, Guangzhou will travel to Dubai on November 7 before hosting the crucial second leg two weeks later.
While it was Gamba who started the contest brightly, it was Guangzhou who enjoyed the better of the early chances, with Zheng Long sending a rising shot over the crossbar from just outside the penalty area after nine minutes.
Gamba stopper Masaaki Higashiguchi kept his team in the contest when Brazilian striker Elkeson tested him in the 24th minute before a shot from compatriot Ricardo Goulart – but the goalkeeper was up to the challenge on both occasions.
Higashiguchi was once again called into action minutes before the break with a superb save to push away Elkeson’s angled shot from just outside the six-yard area.
Guangzhou continued to dominate the second half but Elkeson lifted his 51st minute shot tamely over the crossbar in what was a very good chance on goal.
With Gamba needing to score, coach Kenta Hasegawa introduced Usami at the expense of midfielder Hiroyuki Abe in the hope of joining with Brazilian Patric and Shu Kurata to create a more attacking platform
Guangzhou continued to create chances and three minutes later Higashiguchi was needed once more to save Paulinho’s low shot from the edge of the penalty area before Goulart flashed an effort just over soon after following a strong run into the box.
Usami then lifted an effort just beyond the far post from the edge of the area as the contest entered the closing stages with the home side still needing to score.
And the Japan striker again went close with six minutes remaining as Usami guided another effort just wide, although Guangzhou goalkeeper Zeng Cheng remained untroubled.
But despite Gamba spending the virtually all of the final 10 minutes on the edge of the Guangzhou penalty area, the home side were unable to find the breakthrough they needed.
