Bonacic laments cautious approach

AFCCL – Sepahan coach Luka Bonacic admitted his cautious approach in the first half of the second leg of the AFC Champions League final against Urawa Reds may have cost his side the title.

The Iranian side lost 2-0 to the J.League champions on Wednesday evening in front of almost 60,000 fans as Reds completed a 3-1 aggregate win to become the first Japanese winners of the continental competition since the format changed in 2002.

"Maybe I made a mistake, maybe from the first minute I should have gone 3-4-3 like in the second half," said the Croatian. "But now it's too late."

By half-time, Sepahan trailed Reds as a result of Yuichiro Nagai's 22nd minute strike while Bonacic's plans were further hampered eight minutes later when he was forced to withdraw Iraqi striker Emad Ridha, who limped off injured.

But the Iranians presented a serious threat at the start of the second half following another change - when Hossein Papi replaced Mohsen Hamidi - and within six minutes Moharram Navidkia almost capped a fine move when his shot from the edge of the area fizzed just wide of Ryota Tsuzuki's left upright.

Despite the improved performance, though, Sepahan slipped further being in the 71st minute when Yuki Abe headed in from close range to seal Urawa's win.

Sepahan's performance showed a marked improvement from the last time they faced Japanese opposition in Japan, when they eclipsed Kawasaki Frontale in a penalty shootout in the quarter-finals, but in the end it was not enough.

"The last three or four weeks we have done some excellent work with Emad Ridha and we had much better fitness, mentality and tactics than against Kawasaki," said Bonacic.

"Against Kawasaki my team was without good physical condition."

Victory for Reds, though, has not denied Sepahan the opportunity to play at the FIFA Club World Cup in December, when the Iranian side will face off against Waitakere United from New Zealand in the tournament's opening match.

"It's true I'm disappointed but it's not too much after this evening," he said.

"First of all we must play against a team from New Zealand. I don't expect too much against the New Zealanders, they have the same quality as us. Last year it was Auckland FC and this was my club for 18 years as a player and a coach, but now I don't know which team is coming for us.

"But it will be a great experience and we will make a job for this."