Video: Adelaide United & Gamba Osaka Advance to Asian Champions League Finals (Highlights)

In an all J-League battle, Gamba Osaka stunned defending AFC Champions League holder Urawa Reds 3-1 away to reach their first Asian Champions League final today.

Gamba will face Adelaide United in next month’s final after the Australian side completed a 3-1 aggregate victory over Zico’s Bunyodkur in Tashkent in the other semi-final.

The AFC Champions League final takes place over tow legs on Nov. 5 and 12. The winners qualify for December’s FIFA Club World Cup in Japan.

Match Details
Bunyodkor/Kuruvchi 1 (Bahodir Pardaev 78’)
Adelaide United 0

Crowd: 17,000 @ MHSK Stadium, Tashkent
Referee: Ali Hamad Al Badwawi (UAE)

Adelaide United: 30.Eugene GALEKOVIC (gk), 4.Angelo COSTANZO, 6.CASSIO, 10.CRISTIANO (16.Daniel MULLEN 73’), 13.Travis DODD (Captain), 14.Scott JAMIESON, 18.Robert CORNTHWAITE, 22.DIEGO, 24.Paul REID (7.Lucas PANTELIS 59’), 26.Fabian BARBIERO.

Substitutes Not Used: 5.Michael VALKANIS, 8.Kristian SARKIES, 20.Mark BIRIGHITTI (gk), 25.Robert YOUNIS.

Yellow Cards: Nil
Red Cards: Nil

Bunyodkor/Kuruvchi: 25.Bugalo PAVEL (gk), 4.Hayrulla KARIMOV, 5.LUIZAO, 6.RIVALDO, 13.KHVOSTUNOV (20.Anvarjon SOLIEV 74’), 17.Jose Luis VILLANUEVA (24.Bahodir PARDAEV 37’), 19.Jasur HASANOV, 23.Sakhob JURAYEV, 26.Azizbek HAYDAROV, 29.Timur KAPADZE, 30.Server DJEPAROV (Captain).

Substitutes Not Used: 2.Bakhtiyor ASHURMATOV, 12.Murotjon ZUKHUROV (gk), 14.RAIMKULOV, 22.Victor KARPENKO, 27.Anvar RAKHIMOV.

Yellow Cards: Nil
Red Cards: Nil

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FIFA 2010 World Cup African Qualifying & Africa Cup of Nations Final Round Draw

The draw for the final round of qualifying for the 2010 World Cup and Africa Cup of Nations was completed in Zurich on October 21, 2008.

The 20 African nations remaining were drawn into five groups of four teams each.

Wigan Athletic sensation Zaki will feature for Egypt

The five group winners qualify directly for the FIFA 2010 World Cup finals. The top three teams in each group will qualify for the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations. South Africa qualify for the World Cup as hosts.

The final round of qualifying matchess begin in March 2009.

Here are the groups for the final round of quaifying. While Africa is now more competitive than ever, Groups A and B appear to be the most difficult.

Group A
Cameroon
Morocco
Gabon
Togo

Group B
Nigeria
Tunisia
Kenya
Mozambique

Group C
Egypt
Algeria
Zambia
Rwanda

Group D
Ghana
Mali
Benin
Sudan

Group E
Ivory Coast
Guinea
Burkina Faso
Malawi

How David Beckham would look in an AC Milan shirt

Based on information from the world’s news agencies and AC Milan, LA Galaxy and England midfielder, David Beckham is about to sign a loan move with Italian giants AC Milan. Earlier today, AC Milan President Adriano Galliani told acmilan.com:

“Will he arrive? Yes, I think so. He will stay at Milan on loan for some month, we are talking about it with his agent. We shall register him for some months and then he will leave. Beckham has chosen Milan. Our team is very competitive and will remain so, but Beckham is something different and intriguing. Milan is not collecting cards, Milan is very proud of the policy it has. We are the only club going against the current: the people go to the stadium to watch Milan. It’s not a coincidence that 65,000 people go to watch Milan-Sampdoria. If the 65,000 go to the stadium, it means that Milan is a product which they like. Beckham will most likely bring more fans rather than fewer ones to the stadium.”

So, in an act of utter creativity, our friends at mirror.co.uk have rendered an image of Becks in the 2008/08 AC Milan adidas home kit. Unfortunately, they forgot the tattoos and chose a torso with arms and a neck that are bigger than Becks’. Here it is.

Now it remains to be seen:
- What will Beckham’s role AC Milan be?
- How much time will he spend on the catwalks of Milan?
- Will Posh get any attention in Milan? She seemed ignored by the paps in LA
- What will Beckham’s shirt number be?
- Was this a marketing or a footballing move by Milan?

Here are the AC Milan adidas 2008-09 Home, Away and Third Kits.

Southend United FC Nike 2008/09 Third Kit / Jersey

Southend United are pleased to announce the return of the yellow shirt following an absence of eight years.

The colour, which still remains popular with Southend supporters, was worn on October 2, 2008 against Scunthorpe United and is available for fans to purchase online at Blues Direct.

The Club Shop anticipates a high demand for the third strip, which will go on sale from 9:30am today.

You can also customise your third shirt with Blue printing for £10 and Coca-Cola patches for £6.

Click on this Football Fashion link to see Southend United’s 2008/09 Nike home and away kits.