Melbourne Victory to face Urawa Red Diamonds or Gamba Osaka in the Asian Champions League

MELBOURNE Victory will face one of Japanese powerhouse teams Urawa Red Diamonds or Gamba Osaka in the Asian Champions League group phase.

Kohrogi Shinzoh of Urawa Red Diamonds celebrates scoring their opening goal against Brisbane Roar during the Asian Championship League match played at the Cbus Super Stadium, Gold Coast. Picture: Regi Varghese

MELBOURNE Victory will face one of Japanese powerhouse teams Urawa Red Diamonds or Gamba Osaka in the Asian Champions League group phase.

The pair will meet in Saturday’s Emperor’s Cup final in Japan, with the winner to join Victory, Suwon Samsung Bluewings and fourth South-East Asian team in Group G.

Tadanari Lee, the man who broke Socceroos hearts in the 2011 Asian Cup final, secured a dramatic semi-final win for Urawa over Kashiwa Reysol on Thursday.

Gamba exacted revenge for losing the J. League title to Sanfrecce Hiroshima by winning the other semi-final 3-0, with Takashi Usami scoring a brace.

The final will be played at Ajinomoto Stadium in Chofu.

Kevin Muscat’s side will begin their campaign against that playoff winner at AAMI Park on Wednesday, February 24, before travelling to Japan on March 2 to face the Emperor’s Cup winner.

Victory’s last group game, against the Japanese side at AAMI Park on May 3, is just two days after the A-League grand final.

The playoff winner will be determined on February 9 when Shanghai SIPG hosts either Muangthong United (Thailand) or Johor Darul Ta’zim (Malaysia), both lower credentialed opponents.

Originally published as Melbourne Victory to face Urawa Red Diamonds or Gamba Osaka in the Asian Champions League