Toke-E-Yo
11-14-2007, 04:50 PM
Urawa Reds are the champions of Asia after defeating Sepahan of Iran 2-0 in the second leg of the Asian Champions League final to take the tie 3-1 on aggregate.
Urawa Crowned Champions Of Asia
After the first leg in Iran finished 1-1, Urawa did the business in front of their home supporters.
A goal in each half from the J-League title holders sent the vast majority of the 61,000 fans packed into Saitama Stadium wild with delight as the Reds became the first Japanese team to win the continental competition since the format was revamped in 2003.
Fit-again defender Marcus Tulio Tanaka almost put the Reds ahead after just seven minutes but his close-range header from Robson Ponte’s floated free-kick from the left was palmed away by the diving Abbas Mohammadi in the Sepahan goal.
Urawa’s unsung hero Yuichiro Nagai took advantage of some poor Iranian defending to open the scoring for the hosts midway through the first half.
A low pass forward from Ponte in the Japanese midfield looked innocuous enough but somehow Sepahan centre-back Jaba Mujuri misjudged it.
Nagai latched on to the loose ball and fired into the roof of the net from the right corner of the area beating the Sepahan shotstopper for sheer pace
Urawa continued to have the better of the game and placed a big hand on the trophy after 72 minutes when Yuki Abe paid back a sizeable chunk of his $3 million transfer fee.
Nagai was again involved. His shot was saved by Mohammadi but Abe headed home the rebound.
From then on, despite the best efforts of the visitors, there was little doubt that Urawa would become the winners of the 2007 Asian Champions League.
:rolling:
They beat 3 of the best teams on the continent, respect is due.
Urawa Crowned Champions Of Asia
After the first leg in Iran finished 1-1, Urawa did the business in front of their home supporters.
A goal in each half from the J-League title holders sent the vast majority of the 61,000 fans packed into Saitama Stadium wild with delight as the Reds became the first Japanese team to win the continental competition since the format was revamped in 2003.
Fit-again defender Marcus Tulio Tanaka almost put the Reds ahead after just seven minutes but his close-range header from Robson Ponte’s floated free-kick from the left was palmed away by the diving Abbas Mohammadi in the Sepahan goal.
Urawa’s unsung hero Yuichiro Nagai took advantage of some poor Iranian defending to open the scoring for the hosts midway through the first half.
A low pass forward from Ponte in the Japanese midfield looked innocuous enough but somehow Sepahan centre-back Jaba Mujuri misjudged it.
Nagai latched on to the loose ball and fired into the roof of the net from the right corner of the area beating the Sepahan shotstopper for sheer pace
Urawa continued to have the better of the game and placed a big hand on the trophy after 72 minutes when Yuki Abe paid back a sizeable chunk of his $3 million transfer fee.
Nagai was again involved. His shot was saved by Mohammadi but Abe headed home the rebound.
From then on, despite the best efforts of the visitors, there was little doubt that Urawa would become the winners of the 2007 Asian Champions League.
:rolling:
They beat 3 of the best teams on the continent, respect is due.