14 Apr 2008(Mon)

April 12, 2008: The so-called "Zico Derby" in Japan is off, but there is still a lot very much on in the Champions Leagues of Asia and Europe.

The Zico Derby?

That was going to be Fenerbahce against Kashima Antlers in the FIFA Club World Cup in December, had the Turks won the UEFA Champions League and Antlers the AFC Champions League.

The chances were always remote, of course, and so it proved when Chelsea recovered from their first-leg defeat to eliminate Zico's team at the quarter-final stage on Wednesday night.

But it was an intriguing possibility all the same, and now Japanese fans will have to settle for one of Liverpool, Chelsea, Manchester United or Barcelona coming here in December. Not a bad trade at all.

As for Kashima, they are still in the thick of the battle to win the AFC Champions League, as are Gamba Osaka -- and, remember, Urawa Reds, who have not even played yet but are already in the last eight.

I will never understand how the Asian Football Confederation thinks, but giving the defending champions a bye into the quarter-finals seems crazy to me, missing out on all the publicity and marketing opportunities. But that's another story.

With both Antlers and Gamba leading their groups at the halfway stage, there is a good chance Japan could provide three of the eight teams in the quarter-finals -- and then three in the last four, as clubs from the same country cannot be drawn together in the quarter-finals.

The Antlers-Beijing Guoan match on Wednesday was not a pretty sight. Cold, windy, only 6,487 fans trying to motivate the players...it was a struggle for the home team, and therefore a great three points from a 1-0 victory.

They always say it is the sign of a good team when you can win without playing well, and Antlers did that. Sogahata was my man of the match, not just for his penalty save from the left-footed Tiago, but for his concentration right to the end.

Sogahata's save, with his feet, from left winger Martinez at the death could be crucial, as the group winner will be decided by the head-to-head record of the top two teams if they finish equal on points after six matches.

Let's hope the J.League in Asia can follow the English Premier League in Europe, and provide three of the semi-finalists in the Champions League. The J.League was always stronger than its record in Asia suggested, until last season, and now they can prove it beyond doubt.

ends