Gamba Osaka 3-2 Urawa Reds
Friday, 23 July 2010 17:07
KobeSamurai
Today saw some exciting events for the Gamba faithful. Firstly, we had the return of Yasuhito Endo - sorely missed in midweek against Kyoto Sanga - to the starting line-up - what n impact he would make later in the game! Next was the unveiling of new forward - the Korean international newly poached from Jubilo iwata - Lee Keun Ho, who started on the bench for today - an inspired acquisition by coach Nishino? We shall see. And we also saw the presentation of flowers at the start of the game to Sota Nakazawa - 100 J.league games and going strong .... it can't be too long before he takes the place of his namesake, Yuji, in the national team!!
Gamba began this game with an adventurous attacking formation, with the youth of Hirai and Usami up front, with Lucas supporting from the left of midfield - as has often been the case this season. As noted, Endo returned to midfield, ably supported by Lucas, Hashimoto and Myojin. Kaji and Michi Yasuda were the usual full backs, and Yamaguchi and Nakazawa controlled the centre of defence. Fujigaya completed the line-up, in goal.
Although it was all Gamba for the first period of play, with Usami twice coming close early on, it was Reds who scored, against the run of play, as Edmilson glanced/mis-directed (delete as applicable!) a header from a right wing cross past Fujigaya to make it 1-0 after 18 minutes. This ddn't get the home team down, though, and Endo and Hirai in particular seemed to be on a crusade to hit a hat trick each, going narrowly wide, or getting thwarted by last minute blocks time and again. Indeed Hirai curled a super shot just onto the bar in the minutes before the break before, finally, Endo's pinpoint pass put Usami through, and he held off a defender before calmly placing the ball wide of the keeper to take Gamba in level at half time.
The 2nd half began with a Gamba onslaught, Reds hardly getting a look-in but no finishing touch was seen. In the 49th minute Hirai and Usami turned provider to Endo, for a change, and his shot was just over. In the 55th minute, after sustained possession and patient passing a pass to Endo saw the national team midfielder beat two defenders with feints to shoot before sending the ball just wide of the post. Moments later and Hashimoto and Lucas combined to send Hirao through and he curled a shot just wide. In the 59th Lucas had a 25 yarder saved, and Kaji got in on the act minutes later, his attempt getting deflected desperately for a corner.
Lee came on for Hirai in the 65th minute and immediately drew a free kick from Tsuboi, who was all over him on the wing. The resulting Endo free kick was pushed away for another corner. In the 67th a dangerous crossfield pass was intercepted by Usami who, in one movement, slipped a side a defender and sent in a shot that was, again just wide of the target. but a minute later, the referee struck a blow for Gamba, as Lucas mis-timed a tackle and was shown a straight red card by the hapless referee - who obviously had never actually PLAYED football in his life, or he would have accepted that it was an unintentional, mis-timed tackle from Lucas. A warning, an apology to the Reds player, who felt no lasting effect, it must be noted, and perhaps a yellow card, but a red? Total over-reaction.
Although down a man now, Gamba were still going for the win and Tsuboi was really being given the runaround by Lee .... 5 or 6 fouls getting no card action from the man in black, unbelievably. Shortly after Lucas had departed the filed, Endo was at it again, spotting Usami running free behind the defence. A superb ball for Endo appeared to be reaching its target until Yamada managed to get a head to it. Unfortunatey this head only directed the ball into the Reds net, and Gamba were deservedly up 2-1 and hoping to hang on a man short! But "hanging on" did not see to be in Gamba's vocabulary as they continued to pass, possess and go for goal. Lee, in particular was now really rubbing Tsuboi's nose in it, and how the Reds defender stayed out of the book, and even on the field demands question!
With minutes to go, Takei and Takagi replaced Usami and Yasuda to shore up the defence / bring on fresh legs / waste some seconds. Meanwhile Tsuboi got in a hack on Lee - again - and still no card but the referee soon got over-excited again when Yamada finished off his already bad day with an early shower, but, again, it was really a case of over-reaction by the referee as Yamada took Lee from behind but, again, to anyone who has played the game, it could be seen it was unintentional. But Yamada got the evening-up red card and the referee earned his bonus!?
So, going in to added time, Gamba were finally feeling the pressure, although, ironically, it was when Reds went down to ten men that the breakthrough came as Edmilson headed his second of the day to bring Urawa level. The home fans were stunned, the away fans "slightly perked up" and figured they were going home with a barely-deserved point ......... but wait ... there was more drama to come.
In the final seconds, Takei took the ball down the left wing and slipped a cool pass through to Lee on the line. he looked up and in one fluid movement perfectly slippedf the ball into the path of Endo 20-plus yards out. He looked up, time stood still, a hush seemed to descend over the ground, even though it was a split second in real time. Keanu Reeves, bullet time, The Matrix .... it was all here - Endo had time to pick a spot, and placed the ball high in the net for a rapturous ending for the Banpaku faithful. 3-2, three points, yatta Yatto!!
Over 20,000 fans were out in force today. of course, there were plenty of Reds gloryhunters in evidence in the main and back stands, but the away fans behind the goal have to be given some credit. They never stopped getting behind their team and must have gone home disappointed after getting that late equalizer, although, a single point for Gamba after this display would not have been justice. Welcome home Mr. Endo - you were missed! But Lee seems a huge addition to the Gamba attacking roster. With the emergence of Usami, Hirai and Otsuka, Gamba's attacking future seems bright. The famed midfield has a few years left in it yet, so, Mr. Nishino, let's look at the back line and aim for a Championship challenge and another ACL win by 2012?!
Shonan Bellmare 1-3 Gamba Osaka
Sunday, 16 May 2010 21:23
Alan Gibson
The referee did his best to give Bellmare a chance but Gamba took it anyway!
Gamba Osaka went into this last game before the World Cup break needing a big win to keep the fans happy and raise confidence after the disappointing, and undeserved (but it's the result that counts!) defeat in the ACL in the week.
The team lined up in a 4-4-2, with the very young, but prolific duo of Usami and Hirai up front. They were supported by attacking midfielders in Futagawa and Lucas, Endo and Myojin doing defensive duties in the middle. The defenders lined up as - left to right - Kaji, Nakazawa, Yamaguchi, Yasuda. Fujigaya was again in goal.
In the opening stages Yasuda was getting plenty of the ball and earned a corner in the 5th, then getting on to the end of the clearance from that corner with a stinging left foot half-volley from 25 yards out which the keeper held with difficulty, low to his right.
In the 9th minute Kaji cut in from the right wing and hit a low shot with his left foot which the keeper got down low to save, but things were looking encouraging for Gamba. And then, as so often happens in this game of football, Abe moved forward for Bellmare, received a long ball across the box and chested it down, let it bounce and blasted it across the keeper for the opening goal!
After the setback Gamba continued to press but knew they had to take the chance when it came. In the 23rd minute Lucas fed Usami, who advanced and sent a wicked swerving, dipping shot from 25 yards that had the keeper in trouble, but it was pushed over for a corner. Futagawa got in on the act in the 39th with a left footer that went low to the keeper, after a nice feed from Endo on a counter-attack ... still no breakthrough, though. But, finally, the 41st minute saw Hirai re-open his account in J1 as Lucas fed him from the PK spot, and Hirai let fly from 20 yards. The ball was sweetly hit, but it also took a deflection, which made sure the keeper had little chance and the scores were level! But, for the second time in a week Gamba suffered from the referee giving a PK against them as Abe fell in front of Kaji - or the more cynical among us will say he dived - TV replays certainly showed no contact WHATSOEVER, but the referee was fooled. But justice was done as the kicker sent the ball well wide of Fujigaya's left hand post! Kaji unfortunately also received an unjust yellow card for the "foul". And so the teams went in for the break at 1-1.
Gamba came out unchanged for the 2nd half, in members anyway, although Lucas and Usami switched roles, and continued their cultured passing, looking comfortable on the ball and hoping for a quick 2nd goal. In the 6th minute a promising breal led to a weak Endo header in the end, after good work from Usami and Lucas was nullified by over-passing, but Gamba continued to have most of the ball and that 2nd goal came soon enough as he appeared to direct a near post header from an Endo corner into the far side of the net, although the last touch came off a defender and it was judged an own goal.
And soon it was 3-1, as Gamba turned defence into attack and the 3rd goal - the 2nd for Hirai as he recieved a quick return ball from Lucas just over the half way line and moved forward and wriggled between four defenders before unleashing an unstoppable drive from 18 yards out. On this form the injury suffered by Hirai a month back stopped him from going to South Africa, without question - even Okada would not have been able to ignore this form if he'd not been out for a month!
Myojin came close to making it 4-1 in the 71st minute, with a sweet left foot half volley but the keeper was sharp enough to react. But Gamba sensed there were more goals in this game and were not relaxing! With 11 minutes to go Yasuda sliped a ball across the box, Lucas allowed it to run through his legs and Hirai hit it first time, probably with thoughts of a hat trick running through his head, but the young Gamba forward didn't hit it sweetly and the save was easy. A minute later Futagawa chipped in a cross for Lucas to head inches wide of the post and then Endo was brought down for an obvious penalty which the referee didn't even consider - replays showed the clumsy foul should have been a definite PK! Quite possibly the most obvious foul of the game!
With seven minutes to go Sasaki replaced Hirai and was immediately in on the action with a superb teasing cross that the keeper just took off the head of a brace of Gamba forwards with a goal in their sights. In the 89th minute it was Sasaki again skimming a low cross from the right which was desperately cleared by the defence as numerous Gamba forwards advanced, and a minute later Sasaki again had the keeper in trouble as he flapped at another dangerous cross.
The game went into added time with Gamba continuing to hold the ball, the 2nd half had been one way traffic with Bellmare hardly getting a sniff, and they should consider themselves lucky that the margin was only two goals. Now, Mr. Okada - is it too late to get Shoki Hirai in for South Africa?!!
At the post-match interview Hirai noted that. although he scored two more goals to bring his tally for the season to 7 goals from 7 games, he was still not satisified with his display, and expected more! Yes please!! What is even more impressive is the stats showed Hirai had scored his five goals previous to this game from only 12 shots (in six games) compared to, for example, Edmilson's five goals coming from a staggering 42 shots (and 12 games). Think about that!
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Seongnam 3-0 Gamba Osaka
Tuesday, 11 May 2010 21:55
Kobe Samurai
Gamba throw it away, only got themselves to blame? or ... referee gives it to Seongnam! Take your pic - personally, I think it's a bit of both!
Looking for a place in the ACL quarter finals, the game began well for
Gamba Osaka, with Myojin - after a perfect set-up pass from Lucas -
forcing a sprawling save from the home keeper on 30 seconds, and Usami
heading, literally inches wide of the post from a Lucas cross moments
later. The 3-5-2 formation looked as if it was going to cause problems
for Seongnam. The back three - as expected - were Nakazawa, Yamaguchi
and Takagi, and the rest of the unchanged team saw Kaji and Yasuda on
the wings, Endo and Myojin anchoring the midfield, Futagawa giving the
attacking options from the middle, and Lucas and Usami up front. Gamba
also had more attacking options on the bench, in the form of the
returning Hirai, as well as Hoshihara, and Sasaki.
Gamba continued to create early chances and a Kaji cross saw Lucas
running in, but his header from the PK spot was straight into the
keeper's arms in the 10th minute. A minute later, Endo sent a through
ball to Usami, who advanced in from the left, rounded a defender but
dragged his shot wide. Gamba were going into this game with an
unbeaten away record in 13 games of ACL play, and were hoping to
continue that run.
In the 17th minute the Koreans had their first real sniff of goal as
Yasuda committed a foul 20 yards out, and the free kick forced a fine
save from Fujigaya. But the ball went straight back up the other end
of the field and a superb lob from Futagawa found Lucas in space, but
he too a touch too much and was robbed before he got off the shot. But
the space being found quite easily, and the confident passing was
raising the hopes of the traveling Gamba fans for sure. The ground did
not seem to be as smooth as Japanese fields, and the grass was very
long - perhaps intentionally to try and nullify the Gamba passing
game, but Gamba seemed to be adapting to this with more quick long
balls and little chips and lobs off the floor.
Radoncic fell over - quite literally with no Gamba player within a
yard of him - in the 24th minute and somehow gained another free kick
from 20 yards but this one was scooped well over - justice was done!
Two minutes later Yasuda fed Endo in midfield and the World
Cup-selected no.7 sent in a blistering shot from 25 yards out that
whistled past a post.
Seongnam came close in the final seconds of the half when a couple of
pinball deflections saw the ball fall invitingly into the path of a
forward who volleyed the perfectly set-up ball just over, when it was
easier to score. A let-off, but totally against the run of play.
Perhaps a warning that Gamba were going to have to take their chances
if they were to win this game.
Gamba came out for the 2nd half with Hirai replacing Takagi, and the
team switching to a 4-5-1 formation, with Hirai at the top, ably
supported by Usami and Lucas. It was more noticeable at the beginning
of the 2nd half how slow the ball was moving on the long grass, and it
had begun raining, also, but Gamba still strung a few good moves
together. In the 55th minute Hirai got through on goal, after a Lucas
pass was left to run by Usami, and the keeper saved with his legs, the
ball found its way to Myojin who also saw his attempt saved as Gamba
piled on the pressure. But still no breakthrough as the game
approached the hour mark. For the next ten minutes the ball left the
home team's half once, when Yasuda misplaced a pass and the Koreans
managed a shot from 30 yards that almost troubled the corner flag but,
for all the possession and pressing - some great recovery work from
unsung hero Myojin in particular, whenever one of Gamba's passes went
astray - they were still no nearer that opening goal as we moved into
65 minutes. Surely it was only a matter of time before the floodgates
opened! And then out of nowhere Hirai hit a shot on the turn onto the
bar and the confidence grew on the field, and the noise from the
Japanese contingent off the field got louder as the fans and the team
sensed a breakthrough was close. Unfortunately, it came at the other
end, and it was made by the referee as he judged Myojin - making a
saving tackle - had fouled the forward, and gave a PK - this was
greeted with incredulity by the Gamba players, with Myojin collapsing
to the ground in disbelief. The PK was almost kept out by Fujigaya,
but the power of it took it past the keeper's despairing left hand.
1-0, and the first shot on target for the Koreans!?
So, were those missed chances to prove costly for Gamba? Or would this
shock wake them up and push them into finding two goals in the final
15 minutes, or at least a goal to take this game into extra time? With
ten minutes to go, Nishino sent on Sasaki in place of Usami, and Gamba
knew they had to go for it. But the gaps were left at the back and
Song found himself in space on the edge of the area. He turned and
Yamaguchi - probably afraid of giving away a penalty to this referee -
didn't go for the tackle but tried to push him wide. But Song pulled
the ball back across Fujigaya with his left foot and Gamba were 2-0
down with less than seven minutes to play. And the referee - who'd
done little of consequence wrong up until the PK - was back in the
action with three minutes left as Nakazawa made a superb tackle in the
right back position, to gain what he thought - quite rightly - was a
throw-in, only to see the referee give a foul to Seongnam, and, in the
90th minute it was Yamaguchi's turn to fall foul of the referee, as
his excellent tackle was also given as a foul and, to rub salt into
the wound, Mauricio put it in at the near post for the third goal.
And so Gamba failed at the Last 16 stage for the second year running
and, while they had the chances, they didn't put them away and then a
single decision by the referee changed the game. How often does that
happen, though? And what can be done except for cameras and replays to
help the officials - something not many of us in the game want to see?
The turning point for this writer came as early as the 4th minute when
Usami headed wide - if that had gone in, the goals could well have
flowed ... and then the dubious penalty decision turned the game and
forced Gamba to leave gaps at the back and it was all over. It is
tragic how a game can be so influenced by one decision.
Gamba Osaka 4-4 Kawasaki Frontale
Friday, 07 May 2010 13:16
Alan Gibson
Gamba Osaka went into this game with one eye on the ACL knockout stage next week in Korea, and were up against Kawasaki Frontale, already ejected from the ACL in the group stage. Gamba were still missing their new ace, Shoki Hirai - who noted to jsoccer.com before the game that he hoped to be on the field in Korea next Tuesday - but the other up-and-coming youngsters - Usami (starting), Otsuka and Hoshihara (bench) - were present and correct.
The game started quietly, Gamba in a 3-5-2 formation with Kaji and Yasuda taking the wing-back roles, and Nakazawa, Yamaguchi and Takagi in a flat three at the back in front of Fujigaya. Endo and Myojin were the defensive-looking midfielders, with Futagawa adding to the attacking options of Lucas and Usami.
The quiet start, with Gamba pushing their patent possession and passing football belied the action that was to come. The game exploded into life on a long clearance - one of many that Frontale were limited to in the 1st half, as Gamba pressed and passed their way through, while Kawasaki booted the ball long and hopeful upfield - Nakazawa coming in to distract Kurotsu on his final shot when he seemed clear. Fujigaya still made the fine save, also.
Then the Gamba attack finally started getting on the nd of some of those passing moves, with Lucas coming close twice - once into the keeper's hands, although he couldn't hold it, and once narrowly wide of the post with the keeper scrambling. In the 16th Futagawa sent Usami through with the sweetest of many superb passes today. Usami was called offisde, but the call was very debatable from up in the stands! Yasuda was seeing plenty of the ball on the left wing, managing a few decent crosses and a couple of shots, though nothing that posed any danger. And then the deserved, and expected breakthrough came, as Endo latched on to a bouncing ball out the right wing and, in one movement hit a sweet half volley cross onto the head of the onrushing Usami, who bulletted it into the top right corner, 1-0, more to come, surely!
Frontale were still being limited to long, desperate balls out of defence as Gamba continued to pressure high up the field but, finally, when Gamba looked on top of the game, there was an exchange of passes on the right wing, that allowed Mori to slip past Yasuda, and his shot in at the hear post eluded Fujigaya, who was possibly expecting a cross. Half time, 1-1.
Frontale came out for the 2nd half in a much more composed frame of mind and began to pass more, instead of resorting to long balls upfield, although, after Nakamura had hit the bar from distance, and Lucas had put a good chance straight at the keeper, it was back to business for Gamba as Futagawa and Lucas combined with short passes to split the defence wide open, although the final ball to Futagawa came off a defender who managed to get a foot in as Lucas tried to slip it back to the Gamba no.10. Futagawa took the gift and slipped it low past the keeper's right hand, 2-1! Moments later, it was 3-1, as, ironically, it was Gamba who profited from a desperate clearance, as Yasuda whacked the ball anywhere to ease the pressure. The high ball was inadvertently back-headed over his own defenders but a Frontale midfielder and into the path of a grateful Lucas, who advanced the 40 yards to goal, holding off pressuring defenders, before coolly slipping the ball over the outcoming keeper, 3-1! Looking good! Famous last words!
The Kawasaki coach made a change that was to turn the game completely, as he brought on Junpei Kusukami with less than half an hour to go. In the 74th minute Renatinho fired in a shot which Fujigaya parried, but could not hold and Kusukami made it 3-2 with a simple follow-up. And soon it was level-pegging, as Takagi was robbed from behind as he advanced out of defence. Kusukami moved forward and fired off a speculative low drive from 20 yards out which sneaked in at the far post, 3-3!
Yet it wasn't over yet. Gamba continued to push players up - leaving dangerous gaps at the back while doing so - and Lucas and Endo exchanged passes to free the Brazilian who, instead of shooting, touched the ball delicately into the path of the speeding Myojin who hit the ball like a rocket from almost 30 yards out. Unfortunately for the away team, it took a huge deflection and ricocheted into the net with the keeper fooled and it was suddenly 4-3 to Gamba. Surely the point were safe!?
Into injury time and Frontale pressured Gamba more than they had the whole game, and Gamba sat back and tried to soak up the pressure, but perhaps too many cooks spoiled the broth, as a ball bounced around the edge of the area and then came off the head of Yamaguchi into the path of Kusukami who smelled his hat trick right there! The ball bounced, he headed it point blank and Fujigaya made the save, but the Kawasaki youngster got to the free ball first and chested it down and tapped it into the empty net to break the hearts of the Gamba faithful and make the score 4-4 - an inspired substitution, it must be said! Just the point for Gamba then, from an exciting 90 minutes.
The emergence of Usami, Hirai, Hoshihara, Otsuka and Takei so far in this inconsistent season are bright spots. Add Shimohira, Yasuda, Uchida, Suganuma, Yokotani, and even un-tested, but highly-rated goalkeeper Kawata into the mix, and the future looks bright for young Gamba Osaka - but for now, let's concentrate on this season, and the games really need to be finished off to keep challenging for the 2010 Championship.
Gamba Osaka
GK: Fujigaya
DF: Nakazawa, Yamaguchi, Takagi
MF: Kaji (Sasaki, 85), Endo, Myojin, Futagawa, Yasuda
FW: Lucas, Usami (Hoshihara, 71)
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