Gamba Osaka 2-0 JEF United Chiba Ichihara whatever ...
A sellout crowd of over 20,000 fans were at Banpaku to see Gamba's last game of the J.League season, although most of the gathered throng will be hoping that Gamba's season will still be running until January 1st, of course - the Emperor's Cup Final!

Today, most fans knew that they would be seeing effervescent forward Bando and steady keeper Matsuyo for the last time and both players were on the bench, but hoping for some time on the field to show the fans their gratitude.

The game kicked off with Gamba in a usual 4-4-2 formation.... Fujigaya in goal, behind Kaji - on the right), Nakazawa and Yamaguchi - centre backs, and Takagi on the left. Futagawa, Endo, Sasaki and Myojin in a nicely revolving midfield, and Yamazaki and Cho go the nod up front in the absence of Lucas and Pedro Junior.

Cho got a close header in early on, and Gamba had all the play... the ball rarely leaving the JEF half in the opening quarter or so. Early on in the game, Arai took out Nakazawa with a late tackle, and there was cause for concern on the bench as he received treatment on the far side of the field for a few minutes but it was not this that took Nakazawa out of the game in the 28th minute, but a case of dizziness after a knock on the head that saw the centre back carried off the field and replaced by Yasuda. Takagi moved in to cover at centre back, and the change was seamless.

Yamazaki came close after a superb headed knock-on from Cho, but, under pressure he sent a weak shot straight at the keeper when he appeared to be through and coasting. But it wasn't long before the opening goal came along and it was from a superb Endo free kick - but not the usual corner placed special but a sneaky, low curling shot from the right wing area, around the one man wall, fooling the keeper who moved for the cross. 1-0!

Cho came close again in the 41st with a left foot volley after good work from Sasaki, and Futagawa took a quick free kick that sent Endo clear into the area. After rounding the keeper the angle was too acute and he took too much time to get the ball across the goal with the keeper out of the way, eventually getting it to Yasuda on the other side of the area who shot hard and low back across the goal, but wide.

Gamba game out unchanged and continued the passing and pressure and, in the 53rd minute, Yamazaki dribbled in and out of three defenders before being upended by Fukuomoto in the area. Endo stepped up and firmly slotted the ball home for the 2nd goal.

Soon after Bando replaced Sasaki to rousing cheers from the home fans and the Gamba forward did his best to finish his Gamba career with a goal, coming narrowly close twice in the closing minutes. but for fine saves from Okamoto in the JEF goal, we would have had a goalscoring finish to Ryuji Bando's time at Gamba - but it was not to be! In the 75th minute he let off a screaming left footer from over 20 yards which the keeper got a hand to and, in the dying minutes Bando found himself through on goal with just the keeper to beat. The anticipation could be felt around the ground, and the disappointment was to be heard as the keeper again denied our hero!

In the 84th minute, Fujigaya made way for Matsuyo to play a last few minutes in front of the Gamba fans, a nice gesture from coach Nishino which was appreciated by many.

So, a final score of 2-0, three more points and the AFC Champions League to look forward to in 2010. The evening finished with Bando leading the crowd in chanting, jumping int the crowd and leading some songs, and getting tossed into the air a few times, then Matsuyo making a sayonara speech, the players firing signed balls into the crowd and, finally, a tear-inducing speech from ex-Gamba defender Daisuke Saito, who had just played for JEF in his final game. A wonderful moment as both sets of fans chanted his name as he bid farewell to both teams and everyone in the stadium.

Good luck to all of those players who are retiring or moving on. Our thanks to you!
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Posted by Alan on 10 Dec 2009