Defending champion Urawa Red Diamonds and J-League rival Gamba Osaka set up a clash in the semifinals of the Asian Champions League with quarterfinal victories Wednesday. The Japanese sides will meet in the last four, while the other semifinal will see Australia's Adelaide United take on Uzbekistan's Bunyodkor. Adelaide prevented three Japanese sides making the last four, with a single goal at home Wednesday giving the Australian club a 2-1 aggregate victory over Kashima Antlers. Bunyodkor - boasting former Brazil star Rivaldo - crushed Iran's Saipa 5-1 for a 7-3 aggregate. Urawa progressed with a 2-0 home win over Kuwait's Al-Qadsia to reverse the result of the away leg and win 4-3 on aggregate. In the semifinals, to be held on Oct. 8 and 22, Urawa will face Gamba, whose also won 2-0 on Wednesday for a 4-1 aggregate victory over Syria's Al-Karama. Trailing 3-2 from the away leg, Urawa went ahead on the away goals rule in the 31st minute when midfielder Soma picked up a loose ball and fired home from the top of the area. Tulio put Urawa up 4-3 on aggregate nine minutes into the second half when he was left unmarked at the side of the net and slotted home off a free kick. “We knew it wasn't good to sit on a one-goal lead and the team did a good job in the second half,” Urawa coach Gert Engels said. Holding a 2-1 advantage from the away leg last week, Gamba made sure of its semi berth in the 83rd minute when substitute Yamazaki fired home from a narrow angle, and he set up Brazilian Roni two minutes later to put a seal on the victory. Robert Cornthwaite redeemed his horror own goal from the away leg with the 73rd-minute winner as Adelaide United edged Kashima. Cornthwaite charged into the area and headed a cross from the left by Cassio. The Kashima goalkeeper got his hands to the ball but was unable to prevent it finding the net. Adelaide will take on Bunyodkor, formerly known as Kuruvchi, in the last four, reprising the clash between the Australian and Uzbek national teams in World Cup qualifying earlier this month.
