They thought it might be all over … not at all. Gamba Osaka and Kashima Antlers played themselves back into contention to progress from the group stage of the Asian Champions League, while Kashiwa Reysol will probably be wondering how they didn’t win in an eight-goal thriller. Urawa Reds were held to a 1-1 draw and are all but mathematically out of the competition now.
Yasushi Endo (above) helped Antlers to the last-gasp away win to raise hopes of qualification!
Lins (below, right) finished with aplomb to give Gamba hope, while Koki Yonekura (above) supplied the one-touch volley cross to set up Keitaro Omori for Gamba’s winner.
Leandro was instrumental in Reysol’s goal-fest and could have won it for the away team near the end.
Tomoaki Makino (below) grabbed Reds’ goal but it was not enough for the win.
Pictures courtesy of World Sport Group
Below: all the results from Matchday 4 in the ACL Group stage.
Gamba Osaka are in Thailand looking for a win on Tuesday night (April 7th) against Buriram FC after conceding a classy free kick to give the Thai team a point in the corresponding “home leg” two weeks ago (pictured below – Horoki Fujihara, newly-minted Samurai Blue)..
Chinese champions Guangzhou Evergrande face Kashima Antlers in the AFC Champions League on the same night, with the former winners looking to cement their place in the knockout stage, while the J.League side are under pressure to claim their first points of the campaign in Group H.
Following their action-packed encounter last month in southern China as Guangzhou edged a seven-goal thriller to maintain their 100% record, the 2013 champions are currently five points clear of defending champions Western Sydney Wanderers of Australia and 2013 runners-up FC Seoul.
Kashima, though, are a further four points off the pace after also losing to Western Sydney and FC Seoul and Toninho Cerezo’s side are in danger of missing out on securing a place in the last 16 for the first time since 2011.
“Although we lost the game, we were able to give a good match and play beautiful football. This is the charm of the sport: even if you don’t win you can give good matches,” said Cerezo following the 4-3 defeat in China a fortnight ago. Our pictures show Mu Kanazaki (above) and Gaku Shibasaki (below).
“I didn’t see any big differences between my players and the Guangzhou players. We just couldn’t convert our chances into goals so we may need some good strikers.”
Also in Group H, Western Sydney entertain FC Seoul after the pair shared a goalless draw in Korea Republic a fortnight ago.
In Group F, bottom side Gamba Osaka will take on undefeated leaders Buriram United of Thailand, with the Japanese champions needing to secure maximum points to claw back some of the six point margin that separates the two sides.
Having only scored once in their three group matches this season, former champions Gamba are further hampered by the suspension of Brazilian forward Patric (pictured above), a pivotal member of their treble-winning side in 2014.
On Wednesday night Kashiwa Reysol (above, Daisuke Suzuki in action) are away at Shandong Luneng, who they beat 201 two weeks ago, sitting atop the group with seven points – alongside Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors – while Urawa Reds (pictures below) – with no points to their name in Group G – entertain Beijing Guoan, who sit prettily on top of the group with maximum points after three matches.
Some teams may well have decided their fate by the end of this round. Or had their fate decided for them. Watch this space!
Gamba Osaka went down to their second loss of their 2015 ACL campaign with this away defeat to Korean FA Cup winners Seongnam FC. Ricardo Bueno converted an early penalty and Hwang Ui-jo wrapped the game up 22 minutes from time to put Gamba on the bottom of Group F.
Changes for Gamba saw Oh Jae-suk replacing Hiroki Fujiharu and Kim Jung-ya at centre back for the injured Keisuke Iwashita, while Shu Kurata started in midfield – which also saw Shohei Ogura alongside Yasuhito Endo in a defensive midfield pairing. Takashi Usami was on the bench, with LIns getting the start alongside Patric up front.
Ogura was at fault for the early opening goal, dragging down Hwang on the corner of the area for an obvious penalty. The former F•Marinos midfielder can be thankful that referee Mr. Irmatov didn’t yellow card him, too, although that did not stop him being replaced at half time.
Brazilian forward Bueno slotted home the penalty easily, with just eight minutes on the clock before Hwang doubled the advantage and sealed the points on 68 minutes. Gamba had looked to be getting back into the game when an aimless high ball was flicked on by Kim Tae-Youn to Hwang. The ball was controlled and then the player slipped the ball to the right to beat the challenge of centre back Daiki Niwa and Hwang curled the ball around the keeper with his right foot.
Gamba had seen plenty of possession but, as in last week’s game, could do little with the ball when it mattered. There was a free kick chance before the break which saw Endo beat the wall but the keeper saved easily, and then Hiroyuki Abe and Patric exchanged passes to give Abe the shot but, again, it was easy for the Seongnam keeper.
Patric was denied twice in the closing minutes, as Gamba woke up and gave too little, too late, while late substitute Takashi Usami also showed promise but no end result for the visiting team.
Team – Higashiguchi, Oh, Niwa, Kim, Yonekura (Fujiharu, 70), Endo, Ogura (Myojin, 46), Abe (Usami, 70), Kurata, Lins, Patric
With a local time of 18.00 for kick off in Australia, the air was warm, but not too hot – a balmy 27 degrees C, and a slight spatter of rain to add a little zip to the surface – at Hunter Stadium, Newcastle, New South Wales for Japan’s opening match of the Asian Cup, against tournament debutants Palestine.
It was, in the end, a walk in the park for Japan – the Group D favourites – against Asian Cup first-timers Palestine, with Yasuhito Endo, Shinji Okazaki, Keisuke Honda and Maya Yoshida all getting on the scoreboard to open the Samrai Blue defence of the trophy confidently – and with a clean sheet.
Japan celebrate Endo’s opener!
Javier Aguirre chose experience over youth – as I’d expected – with Endo and Makoto Hasebe starting in the middle of the park, despite some critics’ dismissal of both players’ selections for this tournament. With Gaku Shibasaki a little behind in fitness after joining the squad late, due to a flu infection, his non-inclusion was not a surprise anyway, so the veteran pair selected themselves.
Takashi Inui – who had been in a rich vein of goalscoring form in friendlies before the tournament proper – was given the nod over Muto, or Kiyotake, depending on your outlook and Gotoku Saki was looking to make the right back spot his own.
It was no surprise to see Eiji Kawashima between the posts and, of course, this game was never going ahead without Honda, Shinji Kagawa and Okazaki.
Honda beats his man, again!
Life will be a little harder for Japan in their remaining Group D fixtures against Iraq (Friday) and Jordan (Tuesday).
Palestine had qualified for this – their first Asian Cup appearance – through the AFC Challenge Cup, and questions will probably be asked about their winning of a place over more qualified national teams who went through the qualifying process unsuccessfully.
Endo’s opener was a speculative – possible even mis-hit – grass-cutter from about 25 yards that escaped the keeper’s fingertips after he seemed to dive too early. The reigning champions then doubled their lead in the 25th minute when Inter Milan’s left back – said to be on the radar of Premier League West Bromwich Albion – attacked down the left. His cross was forced out, but the bouncing ball fell to Kagawa, who saw his blast headed home from close range by the lightning reflexes of Okazaki.
Palestine had made a habit of pushing and pulling the Japanese players and this came home to roost when Mus’ab Al Battat was judged to have bundled Kagawa over in the penalty area. Honda stepped up to place the ball past the keeper with some ease and it was 3-0 at the break.
Japan made their first change as the second half began, with Hiroshi Kiyotake replacing Takashi Inui as the teams came out for the restart.
Japan added their fourth goal when Kagawa received a short corner in the area, twisted one way, slipped back the other and lobbed a deep far post cross for Yoshida to head home with aplomb. Still lels than 50 minutes on the clock and Japan were cruising in second gear, if that.
Palestine then raised the physical aspect of their game with more and more fouls and started to lose any friends that they might have gained by making it this far. This rough play saw Japan’s second sub, Yoshinori Muto – on for Endo – get a high boot in the stomach (or worse!?) moments after entering the field. His assailant escaped with just a yellow card.
Ahmed Harbi was not so lucky and saw his second yellow in the 73rd minute, and yet, as Palestine went down to ten men, Japan seemed to lose momentum, or desire, or just slip down into a lower gear, their job done.
After earlier flailing – and missing – at the one cross that came his way, Kawashima then saw a free header from a right wing free kick fly past his post as Al Bahdari was given space to attack the ball.
Yohei Toyoda made a late appearance for Japan but did little as the Samurai Blue settled back for the easy win, yet, as additional time wound down it looked as if Japan would get another. Kiyotake saw his shot saved, and then the ball ricocheted around the box and four goal attempts were blocked within ten seconds before the final whistle sounded.
Summary? An easy win against a team that were out of their depth and got more physical as the game progressed. A clean sheet, no yellow cards and, hopefully, no injuries is more than a decent start to the campaign. Bring on Iraq!
Here’s a few of the magazines that arrived and are being prepared to go out … get yours via the links on these pages, or just directly send $13.80 including worldwide shipping (or $11.80 for shipping within Japan) to Paypal or Skrill – alan@jsoccer.com !
And why the cover? Of a player that hardly kicked a ball this year due to injury? A player who is not a star by any means? A player who is actually wearing the 20134 season shirt?
Well … why not!!? What a great picture it is! Of a true professional who will – next season – hit an age that is the same as the number he is wearing … and he plays for the team that is our main (or, hey, COVER) story… and, if, and that’s IF he announces retirement – – a fitting tribute indeedf
Yukio Tsuchiya – sterling service to Ventforet Kofu, Tokyo Verdy, Omiya Ardija, Kashiwa Reysol and Vissel Kobe.
Masaaki Higashiguchi (Gamba) – transformed a team that was known for leaking goals into a trophy-winning team with a tight defence.
DEFENCE:
Koki Yonekura (Gamba) – filled Akira Kaji’s shoes, and more. Created, scored, worked hard. Many years ahead of him, too!
Tsukasa Shiotani (Sanfrecce) – Burst onto the scene as a goalscoring defender who proved that he can play in a Japan NT back four, also. Hope Sanfrecce keep hold of him for a season or three more!
Daisuke Nasu (Reds) A rock between two hard cases (Moriwaki and Makino). Often the only glue that held those boys together. With the attacking tendencies (and referee/opposition-baiting tactics) of his co-defenders, he was the one that stood tall.
JaeSuk Oh (Gamba) Covered right back when needed, but mainly displaced Hiroki Fujiharu at left back, who had been ever-present for two seasons in the Gamba back four.
MIDFIELD:
Yasuhito Endo (Gamba) – The name is enough!
Gaku Shibasaki (Antlers) – Endo’s heir apparent in the national team and Ogasawara’s long-term replacement at Antlers.
Yasushi Endo (Antlers) – Chimed in with goals to back his flair and workrate. Deserves a shot at the national team, too?
Hiroyuki Abe (Gamba) – Unsung hero of Gamba’s attacking bunch. In particular, his early-season goals were important, but his overall workrate up and down the right wing is phenomenal. Another one who deserves Aguirre’s attention.
FORWARDS:
Takashi Usami (Gamba) – Simply changed Gamba’s season (along with Patric’s arrival) upon his return from injury about ten games in!
Yoshito Okubo (Frontale) – Goalscoring phenomenon, and a player everyone hates playing against their team!
Let me take you back to the final game of the 2005 J1 (single stage, thankfully) season … with less than a minute to go in normal time at Nagai Stadium, Cerezo were top of the league and cruising towards a J1 title, leading FC Tokyo 2-1.
The table looked like this as we went into the final 90 minutes:
Going into the final day both Cerezo and Gamba in Osaka, Urawa Reds, JEF United AND Kashima Antlers ALL still had a chance to win the league!
I personally watched a guy in a suit put on his white gloves and take out the (a) J1 trophy from a box, place it on a display pedestal and begin decorating it with pink ribbons. Holding a press pass I was able to be pitch-side as the game approached its conclusion. 1988 was the year I first watched Matsushita Denki, “chosen” as they were the closest team to my new home in Kobe at the time – I VERY much believe in supporting your local team. So, as a long-term Gamba Osaka watcher it was with mixed feelings that I was also watching as a long-term J.League writer – someone who SHOULD be neutral – and seeing Cerezo Osaka about to pick up the trophy. On the field were some friends – some of whom I am still in touch with on a regular basis, including Hiroaki Morishima – still at Cerezo as a team Ambassador.
There were 43,927 packed into the stadium on a bright, sunny day of 12 degrees C. The referee was Toru Kamikawa, and he had signaled that the game was going into additional time.
I looked at the clock, I looked at the trophy and … well, let’s go back a little!
Gamba Osaka had gone ahead 3-2 at Kawasaki Frontale through a Yashito Endo penalty kick with 11 minutes to go. Meanwhile Kashima Antlers were cruising against Kashiwa Reysol, but were not going to become champions unless both Osaka teams lost.
Cerezo had gone ahead through Akinori Nishizawa, before conceding an equaliser to Norio Suzuki and it was level at the break.
Nishizawa scored his second and put Cerezo on top of J1 in the 48th minute … and so back to what I was looking at with seconds to go in the season.
… an FC Tokyo corner in the 90th minute came across. The shot was well-saved by Motohiro Yoshida in the Cerezo goal. The “second ball” fell to Konno who hit it on the bounce, his left foot shot finding its way through a forest of legs to make the score 2-2 and, with one swing of a leg Cerezo dropped from 1st to 5th and Gamba – who eventually won 4-2 at Frontale – were champions.
I looked at the stadium clock as the ball went in – 89 minutes 57 seconds – and then I looked at the man in the suit who had put his white gloves back on and put the trophy back in the box!
Later that night the party arrived at Banpaku…
Beer was sprayed, my shirt was signed, and I still have the “parka” 8and the signed shirt) from that night!
I’ll be in Tokushima tomorrow, looking forward to another waste of beer! But there’ll be no enumeration of as yet unborn poultry … a win and the J1 Championship is Gamba’s. Period. But a draw or a loss, and that man in the suit, wearing the white gloves may yet be cursing his luck again!
