Australia 3 Qatar 0

Australia has made a successful entry into the Asian Football Confederation 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifiers at Telstra Dome in Melbourne tonight.

In front of a capacity crowd of almost 51,000, the Socceroos dominated from the kick off with Qatar relegated to little more than spectators during the first half. The three goal scorers for the Aussies were Josh Kennedy (10'), Tim Cahill (17') and Marco Bresciano (33').

Qatar played a defensive game however were unable to stop the Aussie onslaught. It was not until the second half that they showed any signs of attacking football however by this time it was too late.

This was the first match of the of the AFC round 3 World Cup qualification. China and 2007 AFC Asian Cup champions Iraq make up the so called 'Group of Death'. The top two teams will progress to the next round of qualification.

Gamba Osaka Pre-Season Training

After a short off-season, Gamba Osaka has started its preseason training camp in Guam. Their modest aim for the upcoming season is simple, to win three titles. But before they compete in the AFC Champions League and the J.League, they first have a shot at the inaugural Pan-Pacific Championship.

Although a number of important players are still absent from the preseason camp due to national team duty, Gamba welcomed nine newcomers in the off-season. The recent additions include Japanese national team defender Hiroki Mizumoto, 29-year old Brazilian striker Lucas Severino, and a tantalizing prospect in defender, Yohei Fukumoto, who captained Japan's Under-20 national team at the FIFA Under-20 World Cup last summer.

But while there is change on the roster, a steady hand remains at the helm. In Guam, Akira Nishino opened his seventh camp as Gamba Osaka’s head coach. We spoke to the seasoned veteran about his expectations for the new team and the upcoming Pan-Pacific Championship.

Q. With the numerous off-season player changes, how has the preseason training helped to solidify team unity?

We cannot expect this new team to be the same as last year because we have nine new players. I hope these new players will put new energy and impact into our entire organization. We are spending a great deal of time together during the Guam camp. Getting to know each other will bring strong unity to the team, leading to better overall performances.

Q. As head coach, what do you hope to accomplish in these last few training sessions both in Guam and Hawaii?

We are building a base so that we can get through the busy season this year. We are continuing good things for Gamba, including strong offense and a fluid passing style. I also would like to add some spice to the team, utilizing the techniques and abilities of the new members.

Q. What should fans in Hawaii expect to see when the "new" Gamba Osaka takes the field?

We hope to show powerful, offensive soccer. This is our style. Because we now have good players in the positions in which we felt we needed to strengthen from last year, I really look forward to starting the new season. As for the Pan-Pacific Championship, I am much honored to be present at this international tournament in Hawaii as a representative from J.League. It should definitely be a good experience for the team and again, we are very excited about starting the new season with this prestigious event.