Club World Cup semi-final
Manchester United 0-0 Gamba Osaka (1030 GMT)
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By Sam Lyon
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606: DEBATE
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"Nice to see Gamba showing United zero respect, taking the game to them and making this a very open game. Ronaldo nearly scored at the end of the move of the match so far, but Van der Sar has made the only meaningful save from Bando, who might have done better."
BBC Sport's Steve Wyeth at the Yokohama Stadium
1050: Right, take a breath everyone. A more frantic opening you won't have seen since Dale Winton cut the opening-day ribbon at my local Lidl's I tell you. The crowd are loving it, mixing a few drum beats in between indeterminable songs and chants - brilliant stuff.
"This game is mad open!"
The Adventures Of Giuseppe Rossi on 606
Man Utd deny Real's Ronaldo claim
1047: Missed opportunity for United as Tevez, eight yards out, fails to square for Giggs or Nani - both unmarked - in front of goal and Osaka clear.
1045: Twinkle-toed dribbling from Ronaldo - sign that man up for Strictly Come Dancing - but the Portuguese winger lashes high and wide after skipping across the Osaka box. That doesn't stop the home crowd deliriously cheering like schoolgirls on a sugar rush, mind, they love him here. Almost as much as the Real Madrid directors in fact.
1042: Erm, not Ronaldo-time - his free-kick is tame and Fujigaya makes a comfortable save - but the same can't be said of Van der Sar who has to pull off a smart low stop to keep out Ryuji Bando's driven effort from inside the box. Best chance of the game so far and Osaka, indeed, are looking anything but a pushover at the moment.
1040: Let-off for United as Lucas's pass looks to have put Yasuda through but he is flagged offside. United up the other end and they have a free-kick. Ronaldo-time?
"I can't believe that the game is this open already."
eirebilly on 606
1037: I tell you what, this is a pacy start from both sides and Cristiano Ronaldo pings an early effort straight at Osaka keeper Yosuke Fujigaya to almost send the crowd apoplectic - their enthusiasm is rather brilliant isn't it?
"Ahhh this takes me back to the heady days of the World Cup in 2002. Mid-morning football is great."
RetroGirl on 606
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1034: United storm up the other end and Carlos Tevez looks to play Ryan Giggs in yards from goal, but the Welshman is caught offside. Osaka reply with another long-ranger from Michihiro Yasuda - have they seen a vulnerability in Van der Sar's technique?
1032: Ooh, it's a busy ol' start from Osaka - who finished 8th in the J-League by the way - and an early effort from Tmokazu Myojin from 25 yards is well saved by Van der Sar low to his right.
1030: And we're under way...
"United coming out to warm up was enough to set the flash blubs off, and have most of the 80,000-odd supporters on their feet, so the reception for the match should be pretty special. Quite a few United songs can be heard around the ground too. Either plenty have made the trip from England, or these Japanese United supporters are quick learners."
BBC Sport's Steve Wyeth at the Yokohama Stadium
1027: The players are making their way out at the Yokohama International Stadium - venue for the 2002 World Cup final - and I just have time for a quick word on United's last appearance in this competiton. They kicked off with a 1-1 opening draw against Necaxa, a match that saw two saved penalties, two goals and a David Beckham dismissal - here's hoping for an equally action-packed match here huh?
"It's another trophy, and permission to call ourselves world champions - of course its worth it! That is, as long as we win, and without other results back home suffering!"
Vic, Durham via text
"Is it churlish to say I'm 100 times more excited about tomorrow's Champions League draw than this World Club Cup exhibition mickey-mouse-don't-get-injured-Fifa-badly-organised-competition?"
Iain, Leamington Spa via text
"I can't really feel too sorry for United's 'jet-lagged' stars... I'm sure they flew in the most unbelievable luxury money can pay for. Try sleeping on a packed economy class Japan Air flight between screaming kids in seats that were designed in a country with an average height of 5'7" before complaining!"
illuma_kid on 606
1016: More then on Ronaldo, who has an immediate opportunity to prove his loyalty to Manchester United following claims from Real Madrid that they have in place an agreement to sign the Portuguese winger in the summer. United have denied these claims vigorously - and rather colourfully - apparently. What do we think?
Man Utd deny Real's Ronaldo claim
"Don't be fooled; I've played against a few teams from these parts of Asia and they are technically very good, with excellent fitness and team work."
Little Devil on 606
"I'm a bit apprehensive about this match... look at all the household names on the Osaka team sheet..."
hescoresgoalsscholes on 606
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"Sam, we become the best team in the world if we win this tournament."
TheOnlyManc on 606
1012: By the way, United are playing for the right to face Liga de Quito in Sunday's final after the Ecuador outfit's win over Mexico's Pacucha 2-0 on Wednesday. I know where my money's at...
1010: So, Wayne Rooney starts on the bench after apparently suffering a minor knock in training on Tuesday, meaning Carlos Tevez starts up front with able support from Cristiano Ronaldo - more on him in a minute - Ryan Giggs, Nani, Paul Scholes and Anderson. All in all, a very strong line-up. Gamba's main threat is expected to come from Yasuhito Endo and Brazilian forward Lucas. But then you knew that already didn't you?
"Good, Nani is getting a game. Also good idea to keep rooney fresh for PL matches."
skillachi on 606
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1007: Before we get into that - a look at the teams...
Man Utd: Van der Sar, Neville, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra, Nani, Anderson, Scholes, Giggs, Ronaldo, Tevez.
Subs: Kuszczak, Rafael Da Silva, O'Shea, Evans, Carrick, Fletcher, Gibson, Park, Welbeck, Rooney, Amos.
Gamba Osaka: Fujigaya, Kaji, Nakazawa, Yamaguchi, Endo, Michihiro Yasuda, Myojin, Hashimoto, Bando, Lucas, Yamazaki.
Subs: Matsuyo, Shimohira, Terada, Futagawa, Kurata, Takei, Roneliton.
Referee: Benito Archundia Tellez (Mexico)
1005: Of course, that's the cynical view - ask Ryan Giggs and he counts United's Intercontinental Cup win over Palmeiras in 1999 (which, contrary to newspaper reports was not the Club World Cup) as "the toughest competition to win" out of all his 19 trophies and that victory in this year's competition in Japan "would be very special". What do you lot reckon?
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1000: I tell you what you probably need when you're already heavily involved in a battle for the Championship, the Champions League, the Carling Cup and with the FA Cup third round on the horizon post-Christmas - a Club World Cup championship on the other side of the world that no-one is really sure how prestigious it is. Enter stage left - Manchester United.
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