Going into this 5th match of the Asian Champions League group stage Gamba Osaka knew that nothing less than two wins were needed to qualify for the knockout rounds of the tournament this year, and it looked as if the first part of that task was on the way when the home team went 2-0 up early on. But they say it's a funny old game and this match proved that old adage.
Shun Nagaswa's near post header from a corner gave Gamba fans the start they were looking for and Ritsu Doan's superbly-hit strike seven minutes later saw the team 2-0 up after only 13 minutes, with fans wondering how many goals they were going to see.
Things began to unravel for Gamba, though, when Sergio Cirio pulled a goal back just before the break. A psychological blow from nowhere when Jungya Kim slipped over and lost possession!
Nine minutes after the restart Jordan O'Doherty blasted home from distance to bring the match level and stun the home fans into momentary silence. Gamba needed a goal, or the goals, that their possession should have brought much earlier and, in the 77th minute Nagasawa again came up with the goods, flicking home a low cross from Jaesuk Oh after the Korean had skipped past two defenders to find space.
And so, going into additional time all seemed to be on script for Gamba Osaka when the away team were given a soft free kick far out on the right wing. The ball curled in and Babacar Diawara got a seemingly aimless head to the ball in the crowd, but it crept in at the far post and stunned the home team.
Amazingly, with the right results, including a big away win for Gamba, the play-off stage is still not out of reach! And so to Jeju we go!
Team - Higashiguchi, Oh, Miura, Kim, Fujiharu, Endo (Ademilson, 75), Ideguchi, Kurata, Fujimoto (Izumisawa, 67), Doan (Fabio, 90), Nagasawa
Goals:
6' Shun NAGASAWA
13' Ritsu DOAN
77' Shun NAGASAWA
Shun Nagaswa's near post header from a corner gave Gamba fans the start they were looking for and Ritsu Doan's superbly-hit strike seven minutes later saw the team 2-0 up after only 13 minutes, with fans wondering how many goals they were going to see.
Things began to unravel for Gamba, though, when Sergio Cirio pulled a goal back just before the break. A psychological blow from nowhere when Jungya Kim slipped over and lost possession!
Nine minutes after the restart Jordan O'Doherty blasted home from distance to bring the match level and stun the home fans into momentary silence. Gamba needed a goal, or the goals, that their possession should have brought much earlier and, in the 77th minute Nagasawa again came up with the goods, flicking home a low cross from Jaesuk Oh after the Korean had skipped past two defenders to find space.
And so, going into additional time all seemed to be on script for Gamba Osaka when the away team were given a soft free kick far out on the right wing. The ball curled in and Babacar Diawara got a seemingly aimless head to the ball in the crowd, but it crept in at the far post and stunned the home team.
Amazingly, with the right results, including a big away win for Gamba, the play-off stage is still not out of reach! And so to Jeju we go!
Team - Higashiguchi, Oh, Miura, Kim, Fujiharu, Endo (Ademilson, 75), Ideguchi, Kurata, Fujimoto (Izumisawa, 67), Doan (Fabio, 90), Nagasawa
Goals:
6' Shun NAGASAWA
13' Ritsu DOAN
77' Shun NAGASAWA