Suwon Blue Wings 0-0 Gamba Osaka
Gamba Osaka opened their 2010 season with this AFC Champions League group
match in Korea against Suwon Blue Wings, before jetting straight to
Tokyo to prepare for the Super Cup match against Kashima Antlers on
Saturday.

With Yamaguchi injured, Takagi was drafted in to centre back and
Michihiro Yasuda took over the left back role that Talagi had been
controlling in the latter stages of last season . Despie the retaining of
Cho - and the reported improving of relations between him and Gamba
coach Nishino - and the signing of two other strikers in Brazilians Dodo
and Ze Carlos, it was Hirai who got the start up front alongside Lucas
and, if reports from in the Gamba camp were anything to go by, this
would be Nishino's preferred top two for the coming weeks.

Fujigaya - with the retirement of Matsuyo - now firmly camped in the
goalkeeping position, saw Kaji, Nakazawa, Takagi and Yasuda line up in
front of him. The expected midfield four of Myojin and Endo as the
defensive-looking pair, and Hashimoto and HashimotoFutagawa and Endo
made up the starting members.

Kaji was soon in the wars as he was hacked down from behind and needed
treatment in the 2nd minute and, a minute later, after his return to the
field of play, he picked up an early caution as he exacted a little
revenge on the Korean goal line.

Kang Min Soo picked up a yellow in the 13th minute for a dangerous
two-footed tackle on Myojin. The free kick went long and Hirai showed
his potential with a smart move and a volley that beat the keeper but
went across the goal. But Gamba's tails were up and two minutes later,
Futagawa found Hirai with a through ball, but the young forward's shot
was weak and straight at the keeper. But the signs were promising for
the Japanese team.

The game progressed with midfield play from both teams and little
penetration from either team and Gamba's plans were disrupted somewhat
when Nakazawa had to leave the field just before half-time, to be
replaced by rookie Suganuma. It was looking as if Gamba might be without
both first choice centre backs for the J.League season opener Super Cup
at this point!

Kaji and Yasuda saw more of the ball in an attacking capacity over the
last minutes of the half but the session ended with no score. Half time
0-0.

In the 3rd minute of the 2nd half, Myojin and Yasuda combined well on the
left to put Hashimoto through but the midfielder scuffed his shot whole
with the goal to aim at. Seconds later Lucas was caught offside when
seemingly through and, once again, things looked promising for Gamba,
with gaps starting to appear in the home defence. In the 54th minute
Yasuda got down the left again and his cross was met by Hashimoto who
saw his shot hit the post and bounce across the goal, but it was
beginning to look like Gamba's game as they put more and more passes
together and started to find openings. But it was Suwon who came close
after Suganuma gave away a free kick 35 yards out and the shot came in
low and hard to force Fujigaya into and awkward save and a corner ensued.

Then there were chances at both ends within seconds of each other as
Fujigaya made a smart save with his right foot anf the ball was soon up
the other end for Hirai to be stopped with a last gasp interception as
he pulled the trigger. Seconds later Futagawa found Hashimoto running
through with a superb looping pass and Hashimoto's lob over the
onrushing keeper was inches wide of the post - the game was opening up
and it seemed only a matter of time before Gamba opened the scoring, and
Hirai was given the opportunity again in the 68th minute as another
superb through ball from Futagawa put him through but his shot was
wayward and over.

In the 71st minute expectations were raised as Hashimoto was taken down
just outside the penalty area and Endo got his first chance to show what
he could do from 25 yards out ... but the way fans were disappointed as
his shot flew a yard over the goal. In the 78th minute Nishino played
his hand, replacing Hashimoto and Hirai with Cho and Usami, and adding a
little more bite to the attack. Cho was nursing a broken bone in his
hand but was keen to show the Korean fans what they were missing, and
Usami was soon in action as he played a smart wall pass with Lucas, and
looked to be through, only to be brought down cynically on the 18 yard
line. Endo's free kick cleared the wall but was easily scooped up by
the keeper to keep the away team frustrated.

Myojin was now in obvious pain, after a knee in the side on a reckless
challenge, but all three subs had been used and Gamba had to be careful
not be left exposed in the middle, but they were still going for it as a
Kaji cross was headed back across the goal by Cho and Usami's shot was
just over. Soon after, though Gamba were down to ten men as Myojin had
to leave the field and the home team piled on the pressure in the dying
minutes. But the game remained scoreless and Gamba Osaka would probably
be satisfied with an away point against their biggest rivals in the
group.

Nishino noted that, for an opening game it was not too bad and Gamba
seemed to control good portions of the game and he was reasonably
satisfied with the performance.

Gamba Osaka:
GK - Fujigaya
DF - Kaji, Nakazawa (Suganuma), Takagi, M. Yasuda
MF - Myojin, Endo, Hashimoto (Cho), Futagawa
FW - Hirai (Usami), Lucas


Posted by Alan on 24 Feb 2010