Matsunami: Bunyodkor loss doesn't mean it's over

The 2008 Asian champions are bottom of Group E after three losses, but their coach retains hope they can progress despite their poor start.Gamba Osaka coach Masanobu Matsunami says his side aren't out of the Asian Champions League just yet despite slumping to their third defeat in this season's edition after a 3-2 loss to Bunyodkor on Tuesday.The 2008 Asian champions poor early season form continued with the defeat in Tashkent, which left them bottom of Group E with three points, with Adelaide top with nine points followed by Pohang and Bunyodkor on six each.Gamba's final two games are away to Pohang and home to group leaders Adelaide and Matsunami insisted after Wednesday's loss that all hope of progressing wasn't lost."Now we are in last place in the group and it will be very difficult for us, but we will fight to the end. A loss to Bunyodkor does not mean that everything is over for us," he said.Gamba hit the woodwork twice in the match and Matsunami added: "We played well, but we did not have any luck. It was also very difficult to break down the defence of our opponent."It was a difficult game for us and unfortunately we lost. But I am proud of the players as they battled until the last second of the match."Victorious Bunyodkor boss Mirjalol Qosimov said: "It was a very difficult game, but it is good that we were able to achieve a victory.He continued: "I am grateful to the players because they have brought us three points and now our position in the group has improved."