The 2008 AFC Champions League Final was a two-legged football tie to determine the 2008 champions of Asian club football. Gamba Osaka defeated Adelaide United 5-0 on aggregate to take the title. The first leg took place on 5 November 2008 at 19:00 local time (UTC+9) at Osaka Expo '70 Stadium in Osaka and the second leg took place on 12 November 2008 at 19:30 local time (UTC+10:30) at Hindmarsh Stadium, Adelaide.
This was the first final to feature a club from Australia and the second season in a row that a Japanese club has made it this far. The winners, Gamba Osaka, received US$600,000 prize money and qualified to represent Asia in the 2008 FIFA Club World Cup where they were defeated at the semi final stage by the European champions. Despite losing this final, Adelaide United also qualified for the FIFA Club World Cup by replacing the host country berth, which was provisionally reserved for the J. League champions, and were defeated once against by Gamba Osaka at the Quarter Final stage.
[edit] Format
The rules for the final were exactly the same as for the previous knockout rounds. The tie was contested over two legs with away goals deciding the winner if the two teams were level on goals after the second leg. If the teams could still not be separated at that stage then extra time would have been played with a penalty shootout taking place if the teams were still level after that.
[edit] Route to the final
[edit] Adelaide United
| Opponents |
Round |
H/A |
Score1 |
Adelaide United goalscorers |
 Pohang Steelers |
Group Stage |
A |
2–0 |
Robert Cornthwaite, Bruce Djite |
 Changchun Yatai |
Group Stage |
H |
0–0 |
|
 Bình Dương |
Group Stage |
A |
2–1 |
Diego, Richie Alagich |
| Bình Dương |
Group Stage |
H |
4–1 |
Lucas Pantelis, Travis Dodd (2), Diego |
| Pohang Steelers |
Group Stage |
H |
1–0 |
Diego |
| Changchun Yatai |
Group Stage |
A |
0–0 |
|
 Kashima Antlers |
Quarter Final, Leg 1 |
A |
1–1 |
Travis Dodd |
| Kashima Antlers |
Quarter Final, Leg 2 |
H |
1–0 |
Robert Cornthwaite |
 Bunyodkor |
Semi Final, Leg 1 |
H |
3–0 |
Diego, Fabian Barbiero, Cristiano |
| Bunyodkor |
Semi Final, Leg 2 |
A |
0–1 |
|
1Adelaide United's goals always recorded first.
[edit] Gamba Osaka
| Opponents |
Round |
H/A |
Score1 |
Gamba Osaka goalscorers |
 Chonburi |
Group Stage |
H |
1–1 |
Lucas |
| Chunnam Dragons |
Group Stage |
A |
4–3 |
Takahiro Futagawa, Ryuji Bando (2), Michihiro Yasuda |
 Melbourne Victory |
Group Stage |
A |
4–3 |
Takahiro Futagawa, Baré, Satoshi Yamaguchi, Lucas |
| Melbourne Victory |
Group Stage |
H |
2–0 |
Masato Yamazaki (2) |
| Chonburi |
Group Stage |
A |
2–0 |
Masato Yamazaki, Lucas |
| Chunnam Dragons |
Group Stage |
H |
1–1 |
Takahiro Futagawa |
 Al-Karamah |
Quarter Final, Leg 1 |
A |
2–1 |
Satoshi Yamaguchi, Masato Yamazaki |
| Al-Karamah |
Quarter Final, Leg 2 |
H |
2–0 |
Masato Yamazaki, Roni |
| Urawa Red Diamonds |
Semi Final, Leg 1 |
H |
1–1 |
Yasuhito Endo |
| Urawa Red Diamonds |
Semi Final, Leg 2 |
A |
3–1 |
Satoshi Yamaguchi, Tomokazu Myojin, Yasuhito Endo |
1Gamba Osaka's goals always recorded first.
[edit] Pre-final buildup
Adelaide United considered applying for permission to play their home leg in a stadium larger than Hindmarsh such as Adelaide Oval or AAMI Stadium but the club eventually decided that it would not be right to play such a big match away from their traditional home despite its smaller capacity.[1]
[edit] Final summary
[edit] First leg
[edit] Second leg
[edit] See also
[edit] References
[edit] External links
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AFC club football seasons
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Asian Champion Club Tournament
1967–1971 |
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Asian Club Championship
1985–2002 |
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AFC Champions League
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Pohang Steelers
Changchun Yatai
Bình Dương
Kashima Antlers
Bunyodkor
Chonburi
Melbourne Victory
Al-Karamah
37'
