Steve Holland mentioned his Yokohama F-Marinos facet have been able to tackle Saudi Arabia’s stars within the Asian Champions League after qualifying for the quarter-finals on Tuesday.
Yokohama beat Shanghai Port 4-1 within the second leg of their final 16 tie to cruise to a 5-1 mixture win and e book their place within the competitors’s ultimate match in Saudi Arabia.
Saudi groups have spent large in bringing in worldwide names similar to Cristiano Ronaldo and so they have dominated the AFC Champions League Elite west zone to this point this season.
However Holland mentioned Yokohama had cause to be assured after ending as runners-up final season and are prepared to check themselves towards the very best of the west.
“Can we beat the groups from the west? That is still to be seen however I believe the crew goes in a great course,” mentioned Holland, whose earlier job was assistant to Gareth Southgate with England.
“They’ve perception and confidence and likewise due to their disappointment final season, they are going to be very motivated. Let’s examine.”
The Champions League turns into a mini-tournament from the quarter-finals onwards, with all video games being performed over 11 days in Jeddah.
East and west groups play one another for the primary time within the competitors.
Yokohama led Shanghai 1-0 from the primary leg in China and so they put themselves additional in entrance with two objectives within the opening half hour of the return fixture.
Shanghai pulled one again however Yokohama scored once more earlier than half-time earlier than including one other after the break.
“Very proud of the efficiency, very proud of the outcome and really blissful that the gamers get the possibility to take part in a really thrilling knock-out match in Saudi,” mentioned Holland.
“I am very blissful as a result of they deserve that.”
– Early setback for Shanghai –
The 2 groups have been going through one another for the third time within the area of a month, with Yokohama popping out on prime every time.
The house facet made a dream begin on a drizzly night in Japan when a Shanghai defensive mix-up arrange Daiya Tono for the opening objective simply over a minute after kick-off.
“We spoke about making an attempt to be courageous right here and be aggressive and press excessive, and after one minute we concede a objective and the evening turns into a lot more durable,” mentioned Shanghai’s Australian coach Kevin Muscat.
Tono hit the publish quickly after as Yokohama saved up the strain and Anderson Lopes doubled their lead a minute in need of the half-hour mark.
Shanghai gave themselves an opportunity when Brazilian Leonardo turned house a flick-on from captain Li Ang to drag one again.
However Yan Matheus restored Yokohama’s cushion with their third objective minutes from half-time after one other fast break ahead.
Lopes hit his second objective 10 minutes after the break after Kodjo Aziangbe had thumped the publish.
It was the top-scoring Brazilian’s ninth objective of the competitors.
“I am very blissful that we’re going to Saudi Arabia,” mentioned Lopes.
“It was robust final 12 months once we misplaced within the ultimate, however now I believe we now have an opportunity to win a title that we’ve not received earlier than.”
amk/pbt