Shimizu S-Pulse 0-2 Gamba Osaka
Gamba kicked off this away game basically sure of making the AFC Champions league in 2010 with a win, and the three points would also keep them in the hunt for the Championship, especially with a game at Kashima next week. Six points from these two games would bring the season down to the wire on the last day, especially as our old friend Fernandinho pulled a rabbit out his hat and scored the winner for Oita against Kawasaki Frontale today!

And so it was off to Shizuoka with high hopes and ... a return with even higher hopes, as this turned out to be a stroll in the park for the boys in blue and black. Goals from Lucas and Cho sealed the points and sent the Gamba faithful home happy.

Lucas opened the scoring in the 14th minute after a pinpoint left wing cross from Takagi was controlled brilliantly on the first touch by the Brazilian, and then he left Kodama - ex-Gamba defender - for dead as he turned and slid the ball across the keeper and in at the far post. Up to this point it had been the patented passing and possession of Gamba dominating the game, and Futagawa could well have opened the scoring already by the time Lucas made it 1-0.

Sasaki was looking more and more the creative midfielder that we know he is, as he took Endo's normal role, with Endo dropping a little in the middle to cover the gap left by the hamstring injury to Hashimoto - something that will probably keep him out for the season, certainly the J.League season, if not the Emperor's Cup.

Sasaki and Endo continued to create and Futagawa came close again before half time, but the score remained at 1-0 to the away team as the players went in for the break.

Just after the hour mark, Endo received the ball, after a few ricochets in the area, about ten yards out and feinted to shoot - taking one defender out - and the goal opened up. his almost perfectly-placed side-footer narrowly missing the far corner with everyone stranded.

In the 68th minute, South Korean forward Cho Jae Jin came on for a cameo appearance, his time being very limited in recent months, and, two minutes after his entrance he made it 2-0 and sent a message to Gamba coach Nishino that, as well as Yamazaki and Bando being "super-subs", he could do that job, too!

The goal came as Endo sliced the defence open with a through ball to Futagawa on the left wing.... he moved in to the goal line and from the edge of the area, his chipped cross found Co challenging the keeper and winning the header. The ball dropped invitingly on the line and as it bounced Cho beat the S-Pulse defence to it and blasted it into the net from a few inches out!

The rotund female began warming her vocal chords and wondering what song to sing as the final whistle approached and Gamba were pretty much assured of that ACL place in 2010, as well as finding that the fate of the J.League Championship is also in their hands with that trip to Kashima on Saturday 28th November. Bring it on, Antlers!


Posted by Alan on 27 Nov 2009