Gamba, Cerezo join draw for 2011 AFC Champions League
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Former champions Gamba Osaka and city rivals Cerezo Osaka both qualified for the 2011 AFC Champions League after finishing second and third in the J.League following wins on the final day of the season.
The two Osaka clubs were the latest additions to the draw for the 32-team group stage, which will be held on December 7 at Hilton Petaling Jaya in Kuala Lumpur.
Gamba, who won the 2008 AFC Champions League, beat Shimizu S-Pulse 3-0 away with goals from Brazilian striker Lucas, Takuya Takei and Hayato Sasaki to finish on 62 points, 10 behind champions Nagoya Grampus.
Cerezo, fourth going into the weekend, crushed Jubilo Iwata 6-2 at home to move to 61 points and qualify for the AFC Champions League for the first time, a remarkable achievement after spending the last three seasons in J2.
Brazilian striker Adriano scored four times before compatriot Amaral and Ryuji Bando added late goals for Cerezo.
Kashima Antlers drew 1-1 at Montedio Yamagata to drop from second to fourth and will now aim to win the Emperor's Cup to secure Japan's fourth and final spot in Asia's premier club competition. Kashima play Nagoya in the Emperor's Cup quarter-finals on December 25.
The Antlers have competed in the last three editions of the AFC Champions League and been eliminated in the first phase of the knockout stage each time.
Six of this year's quarter-finalists will return for next year's AFC Champions League – runners-up Zobahan of Iran, semi-finalists Al Hilal and Al Shabab of Saudi Arabia, K-League clubs Jeonbuk Motors and Suwon Bluewings and Qatari champions Al Gharafa.
So far, 29 places among the 32 teams for the group stage, which kicks off on March 1, have been filled. The winners of the Emperor's Cup final on January 1 will book Japan's fourth and final spot in Asia, while the last two group-stage spots are reserved for the winners of the east and west playoffs in mid-February.
At least 16 clubs from this year's AFC Champions League will return for the 2011 campaign and that figure could rise if Kashima qualify from Japan and if Al Ain of the UAE or Al Sadd of Qatar progress from the playoffs.
