South Korea’s Pohang Steelers’s Song Chang-ho, right, is tackled by Qatar’s Umm Salal’s Ben Askar during an AFC League Semi Final first leg soccer match in Pohang, South Korea, Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2009. AP Photo/Yonhap, Lee Sung-hyong
Let’s get the negative stuff out of the way first: hosting the final of the Asian Champions League as a one-off clash at the National Stadium in Tokyo is a mistake. No matter how much officials wish otherwise, Asia and Europe are not the same.
The Asian Football Confederation’s decision to revert to a one-off Champions League final at a neutral venue – based mainly on the fact that it’s how things are done in Europe – smacks of an inferiority complex.
Blind Freddy could have pointed that out, but for good measure I did likewise in an editorial for Goal.com way back in December of last year.
However, apart from the decision to switch from a two-legged final to a one-off Tokyo showdown, the match itself has all the ingredients for a fascinating affair.
For all the recent talk of Japanese teams dominating Asian football, perhaps it’s time to credit Saudi side Al-Ittihad, who are making their third appearance in the final of the rebranded AFC Champions League.
Led by the redoubtable Mohammed Noor, Al-Ittihad charged into the final on the back of an 8-3 aggregate thrashing of Nagoya Grampus in the semi-finals.
Admittedly the complexion of that tie changed dramatically when Nagoya defender Akira Takeuchi was sent off just seven minutes into the first leg in Jeddah, but Al-Ittihad still had the wherewithal to make the tie safe by trampling ten-men Nagoya in the second half.
Meanwhile, few expected Korean Republic side Pohang Steelers to reach the final – although as regular Roar reader Ryan Steele has pointed out, perhaps that was a harsh assessment.
Pohang are regular trophy winners in South Korea – lifting the K-League as recently as 2007 – but with the likes of big-spending FC Seoul, Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma and regional heavyweights Suwon Samsung Bluewings all possessing star-studded squads, Sergio Farias’ team have slipped under the radar.
With seven-goal Brazilian striker Denilson up front and tenacious skipper Hwang Jae-Won at the heart of the defence, the club from the coastal town of Pohang aim to become the second South Korean side since Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors to lift the new-look Champions League crown.
Much has changed since Jeonbuk won the Champions League back in 2006, in a year in which they originally tried to pull out of the competition – citing the high cost of competing.
The Champions League still has plenty of critics, with the sheer distance teams are forced to travel for midweek fixtures the most obvious complaint.
Nevertheless, there’s little doubt that the tournament has grown in prestige, and the inclusion of Australian teams has played its part.
It’s a shame that so much of the focus of this year’s final will be on the attendance, although that’s no surprise given that only around 5,000 tickets had been sold at the time of writing.
Officials will also hope that the pitch holds up for this showpiece occasion, after the National Stadium hosted not only Australia’s Bledisloe Cup match against the All-Blacks on October 31, but also Japan’s domestic League Cup final on November 3.
Whatever the playing conditions, Al-Ittihad will be out to restore some local pride – after the Saudi national team missed out on qualifying for the World Cup finals for the first time since Italia ’90.
They won’t have things all their own way against a battle-hardened Pohang, in what could prove a classic case of east versus west, as the industrious Steelers look to match up against their physically imposing Saudi opponents.
The nature of knock-out football ensures that it’s not always the most consistent sides that reach the final.
But in this case, few could argue that At-Ittihad’s match-up with Pohang represents a fitting finale to this season’s Asian Champions League.
Matsu
Guest
To be sure, there is some good to be gained from the international exposure. For many young players with NT ambitions, in particular, there is much they can learn from a long trip overseas and a few days playing and practicing on "hostile territory". But as a clone of the UEFA Champions League, the ACL is never going to succeed. Its just too exhausting and too inconvenient. I would love to see a compact tournament-style competition organized in some warm-weather locale (Australia?) in January or February. That would provide the exposure and the international experience without playing havoc with teams' conditioning in the middle of the season. Lets face it though . . . . when even Nishino starts letting comments slip about "maybe its better if we DONT qualify for an ACL berth next season", you know that the momentum behind the thing is turning the other way. I may turn out to be wrong, but I just cant see the ACL ever developing into a real "highlight" competition, unless it gets redesigned dramatically along regional lines. Thats my two yen. And speaking of yen . . . the check's in the mail (^c,~)
Mike Tuckerman
Expert
The fact of the matter is that it simply has to start somewhere. Prize money or sponsorship will never improve by simply getting rid of the tournament (and, for the record, Pohang are still on track to claim an ACL - K-League double!). It might be a sideshow: but if it's a sideshow that gets Australians more interested in Korean football, or Saudi fans travelling to the Japanese capital, then I'm all for it. The tyranny of distance is the most obvious problem, the lack of a co-ordinated Asian football calendar another. And since we've seen the 'Champions League' format re-jigged in Asia on numerous occasions, eventually it may all go the way of the dodo (or Steve Perryman) should sponsors tire of investing their lucre with little to show for it. But, for now it's the best we've got, and hopefully the match will prove as absorbing as Tuesday's fare - even if the choice of venue is a monumentally stupid one.
Matsu
Guest
Come on Mike. Lipstick on a pig ? ? ? The simple truth is that the finalists every year are the teams that have the least interest (and invest the least effort) in their own domestic competitions. That has been obvious ever since last-place K-League laggards Seongnam won the ACL in 2004, but if you look at the league performances this year of teams like Gamba, Frontale, Suwon and FC Seoul etc. AFTER they were eliminated, it clinches the deal. Meanwhile Pohang is in line to miss out on an ACL berth next year, as is Nagoya. Until they invent a way to get from Tokyo to Singapore or Sydney to Damascus in 2 hours, thats the way it will stay. Its an entertaining sideshow, but a sideshow is all it is, and most likely all it ever will be. When a modestly successful cup team like FC Tokyo can pick up the same prize money as the ACL champs, without ever even getting on a plane, you know that there is no incentive to focus on so-called "Asian Glory" . And that despite the largest bureaucratic and corporate support for the ACL, ever. If you honestly think that the same sort of financial backing is going to continue next year, after 15,000 show up for the final next week, youre a far more optimistic man than I. . . . .
Kazama
Roar Guru
I think in terms of giving the fans a chance to see their team the two-legged final is the best way to go. Asia is not Europe, you aren't going to get 15,000 AU fans heading to the UAE if Adelaide qualify for the final. Also the crowds will be much healthier - even though we were already 3-0 down for the second leg with little hope of winning Hindmarsh was packed.
Ben of Phnom Penh
Guest
Pohang is an interesting one and makes me think of Adelaide in-so-far that form is one thing however experience in traveling and getting results in hostile foreign environments is another. If this wasn't the case then no doubt a Bunyodkor-Kashima battle would be on the cards. Pohang have done well and will benefit from their ability to travel though Al-Ittihad are looking irresistible at the moment. I'm betting the 5000 tickets are primarily from Koreans in Nippori. One thing for sure, it will be a match to watch.
dasilva
Guest
I wouldn't mind a one-off final if the final was held at one of the two teams country. Like a coin toss to decide which participants get the final. Or who scores the lost goal or lost the least matches, get to host the finals. In any case, I have no problem with 2 legged finals. Yeah I was there at hindmarsh and it wasn't fun seeing the opening goal in the first 10 minutes and then sitting another 80 minutes knowing the game is up. However that's the risk of all two-legged finals. Also if Adelaide scored an early goal and made a spectacular comeback (or if we didn't played so poorly in the first leg) I don't think we would have complained about whether the final is two legged or not.
Timmo
Guest
COME ON A ONE-OFF FINAL IS THE WAY TO GO! Hey it wasn't fun at Hindmarsh last year in a second leg final down 3-0 and with 2 goals in first 10 minutes knowing the game was lost and you had to sit through 80 minutes of pain. that was hard. At least with a one-off final it gives a chance for the host city to put itself on the Asian map. If The ACL final came to Australia I would support it. 2-legged finals suck!
AndyRoo
Roar Guru
The Japanese may find some way to fill the stadium but Australia is bidding for it in the future.... I really don't know how the FFA would sell such an event to the public. And go Pohang!
Mike Tuckerman
Expert
I agree, it's not a good look, Andyroo; not the least because this afternoon's League Cup final between FC Tokyo and Kawasaki Frontale was declared a 'sell-out' about twenty minutes after tickets went on sale.
AndyRoo
Roar Guru
The empty stadium is going to be a big downer though. Every man and his dog knew this as soon as it was announced but they did it anyway. They are also lettting the UAE keep 4 spots despite one of their teams pulling out midway through the comp. Could take a long time before the competition unlocks it's potential.
Mike Tuckerman
Expert
Chermiti certainly looked Etoile's most dangerous player when I saw him at the 2007 FIFA Club World Cup in Japan. Al-Ittihad have a decent strike force, with the Moroccan international Aboucherouane up front as well.
cab711
Guest
Young Chermiti is fantastic at Al-Ittihad, I hope he stays longer. Could be the makings of a decent match. I find the travel and climate plays a big role in the ACL match ups. I wonder if Gary Lineker and Wenger could have made the difference for Grampus.