GAMBA OSAKA

Lee Seung Yeoul signs

GAMBA OSAKA — 2012-02-02T17:01:16+09:00

Gamba are pleased to announce to acquisition of Korean international forward - Lee Seung Yeoul - from FC Seoul. Lee is just 22 years old (born March 6th, 1989) and has made 85 appearances in the K-League, scoring 16 goals in the process. A tall - 182cm - forward with a knack for goal, he was K-League Rookie of the Year in 2008 and has established himself as a regular in the Korean national team, after representing his country at all levels from aged 12. Gamba fans will be hoping he is as prolific as his departed namesake, Keun-Ho!

ACL Schedule, Nabisco Cup Notes

GAMBA OSAKA — 2012-02-02T17:00:38+09:00

For those Gamba fans interested in the Nabisco Cup schedule. No need to consider it until the knockout stage as Gamba are given a bye from the Group Stage due to their ACL commitments.
Group games will be played - over 7 match-days, from March 20th until June 26th.

In the AFC Champions League Gamba find themselves in group E, drawn with Adelaide United of Australia, Bunyodkor of Uzbekistan, and the winners of a final play-off game between Pohang Steelers of Korea and Chonburi of Thailand - to be held on February 18th.

Gamba's schedule looks like this:

March 6th - home to the winners of the Feb.18th play-off
March 20th - away to Adelaide United
April 3rd - home to Bunyodkor
April 18th - away to Bunyodkor
May 2nd - away to winners of the play-off
May 16th - home to Adelaide United

The Round of 16 will be played on May 29th and 30th in a single game, while the quarter final, and semi final will be held over two legs.

Plan Your Gamba Season 2012 - J1 Fixtures in English

GAMBA OSAKA — 2012-02-02T13:29:04+09:00

3/11 - 14.00 - Vissel Kobe - Expo'70
3/17 - 14.00 - Cerezo Osaka - Nagai
3/25 - 19.00 - Jubilo Iwata - Expo'70
3/31 - 16.00 - Albirex Niigata - Tohoku Den
4/7 - 19.00 - Hiroshima Sanfrecce - Big Arch
4/14 - 19.00 - Kawasaki Frontale - Expo'70
4/22 - 19.00 - Shimizu S-Pulse - Expo'70
4/28 - 15.30 - Kashima Antlers - Kashima
5/3 (game scheduled moved to 6/27 v. Nagoya Grampus 19.00 - Expo'70 due to ACL)
5/6 - 16.00 - Omiya Ardija - Nack 5
5/12 - 19.00 - Vegalta Sendai - Expo'70
5/19 - 14.00 - Yokohama F.Marinos - Nissan
5/25 - 19.00 - Sagan Tosu - Expo'70
6/16 - 19.00 - Urawa Reds - Expo'70
6/23 - 14.00 - Consadole Sapporo - Sapporo Dome
6/27 - 19.00 - Nagoya Grampus - Expo'70 (from May 3)
6/30 - 19.00 - Kashiwa Reysol - Expo'70
7/7 - 18.30 - FC Tokyo - Ajinomoto
7/14 - 19.00 - Yokohama F.Marinos - Expo'70
7/28 - 19.00 - Vissel Kobe - Home's
8/4 - 19.00 - Omiya Ardija - Expo'70
8/11 - 19.00 - Cerezo Osaka - Expo'70
8/18 - 19.00 - Nagoya Grampus - Toyota
8/25 - 19.00 - Consadole Sapporo - Expo'70
9/1 - 19.00 - Sagan Tosu - Best Amenity

The following games kick-off times have yet to be confirmed:
9/15 - Albirex Niigata - Expo'70
9/22 - Urawa Reds - Saitama
9/29 - Kashima Antlers - Expo'70
10/6 - Vegalta Sendai - Yurtec
10/20 - Kawasaki Frontale - Todoroki
10/27 - Sanfrecce Hiroshima - Expo'70
11/7 - Kashiwa Reysol - Kashiwa
11/17 - Shimizu S-Pulse - Outsourcing
11/24 - FC Tokyo - Expo'70
12/1 - Jubilo Iwata - Yamaha

New Players, New Numbers - Yakudo!

GAMBA OSAKA — 2012-01-20T10:28:38+09:00

Gamba Osaka held a "new season" day today, January 19th and made some announcements for the fans.

Following the departure of Satoshi Yamaguchi to JEF United, Yasuhito Endo was installed as Vice Captain. Tomokazu Myojin kept his position as Captain.

Gamba announced their slogan for the new season - Yakudo!

Incoming players were unveiled, along with their new squad numbers, as well as some changes in number for some of the already-established players.

The new players shirt numbers are as follows;
5. Daiki Niwa
11. Paulinho
13. Shinichi Terada
14. Shu Kurata
15. Yasuyuki Konno
20. Akihiro Sato
22. Yohei Takeda
25. Hiroyuki Abe
26. Takaharu Nishino
28. Katsuhisa Inamori
30. Eduardo
31. Ken Tajiri

As well as the new players, the following players changed squad numbers;
4. Hiroki Fujiharu (from no.15)
6. Shigeru Yokotani (from no.25)

19. Kotaro Omori (from no.31)
27. Tatsuya Uchida (from no.30)

Team News and Transfer Updates - January 16th, 2012

GAMBA OSAKA — 2012-01-16T11:57:46+09:00

INCOMING:

Shu KURATA has returned from a loan spell at Cerezo Osaka, having also spent time at JEF United. During his time away he got plenty of experience, improved his game and even played in the AFC Champions league - against Gamba Osaka!! This local boy - born in Takatsuki - is still only 23 years old and will return an improved player. Hopefully, he will be forgiven for playing for the local rivals in pink and become a big favourite with the home fans.

Shinichi TERADA is another local boy who has returned to the club after loan time away. In six years as a youngster he played almost 100 games for Gamba before spending two seasons getting experience at Yokohama FC. He returns a better player and will be welcomed with open arms.

Yohei TAKEDA has joined on loan from Shimizu S-Pulse. Last season he had some loan time at Albirex Niigata, making four appearances, but has yet to have a decent run of games in J1. He joins the goalkeeping team and will be hoping to push Fujigaya for his place!

PAULINHO - Paulo Antonio De Oliveira - has joined the team from Ventforet Kofu.

EDUARDO - Eduardo Jose Diniz Costa - a no-nonsense defender has joined the club from Paulista, Brazil.

Akihiro SATO joins the club from two successful seasons scoring goals for Tokushima Vortis.

Daiki NIWA returns to the club after five years out on loan at Tokushima Vortis, Omiya Ardija and Avispa Fukuoka - welcome home Daiki!

It was also announced that RAFINHA's loan period has been extended for the 2012 season!

Adding to the newcomers we have new youngsters:

Hiroyuki ABE from Kansai Gakuin University and Takaharu NISHINO, Katsuhisa INAMORI and Ken TAIJIRI from Gamba Youth

OUTGOING:

Good luck to Satoshi Yamaguchi, who has returned to JEF United, after ten years and close to 300 appearances (and 30 goals) for Gamba. During his time at Gamba he also made the All-Star team three times and appeared twice for the national team. Our former captain goes with our best wishes and sincere thanks for sterling service.

Takumi Shimohira has left for Omiya Ardija on a full transfer.

Kazumichi Takagi and Hideo Hashimoto have both joined Vissel Kobe.

Up and coming defender Shunya Suganuma has joined Jubilo Iwata on loan for the complete 2012 season, barring any unforeseen events. It's his 2nd loan period away from the team after he spent three months with Roasso Kumamoto last season. The team will be hoping he comes back better for his experience and is pushing for a place in 2013!

Goalkeeper Kohei Kawata has gone to Avispa Fukuoka on loan for 2012. Also in the goalkeeping area, Yuichi Futori has been given a full transfer to Tokyo Verdy.

Lee Keun-Ho and Kim Seung-Yong have both left Gamba and returned to Korea to join Ulsan Hyundai.

Afonso has been released.

COACHING CHANGES:

At the top of the tree Gamba Osaka also welcome coaching staff... replacing Akira Nishino is Jose Carlos Serrao - as head coach, from São Bento, and his assistant Wagner Lopes - ex-Japan international - coming in from Paulista FC, Brazil.

Stand by for more Gamba Osaka team and transfer news in the coming weeks as we approach the 2012 season kick off.

【Game Report】Shimizu S-Pulse 1-3 Gamba Osaka

GAMBA OSAKA — 2011-12-07T13:26:50+09:00

So the season came down to a final 90 minutes in Shizuoka, as Gamba Osaka took on Shimizu S-Pulse knowing nothing less than a win would be enough to have a chance of walking away with a 2nd championship. It happened in 2005, when Gamba won away, and waited for the top team to drop points - at that time, Yasuyuki Konno scored for FC Tokyo against Cerezo Osaka in the final seconds of the final game, and Gamba leap-frogged their neighbours to take the title. This time it was Kashiwa Reysol AND Nagoya Grampus who would have to drop points, while Gamba took care of business against S-Pulse.

The game began, and was soon not going to plan at all, as Sho Ito opened the scoring for the home team, but Gamba soon settled into their rhythm and two goals before the break from Lee Keun-ho and a 3rd from Takahiro Futagawa soon after the restart made the three points safe and then Gamba had to wait for results elsewhere.

Alas, both Nagoya (1-0 over Albirex Niigata) and Kashiwa Reysol (3-1 over a disappointing Reds) won their games and Reysol were crowned champions of the J.League 2011, while Gamba had to settle for 3rd place and with it, of course, another shot at the AFC ACL in 2012.

The away fans were in fine voice throughout the game, often out-singing their superior-in-number opposition and spreading out from the complete away end and into the corners of the side stands - they were a credit to the team - a sea of blue and black!

Lee finished the season with 15 goals, and Rafinha 14, as Gamba wound down their season. Having lost already in the Emperor's Cup, it was going to be an early finish for the first time for many of the Gamba squad. We wish the best of luck to those players who do not return in 2012 - whether retiring, or moving on - Gamba fans will be with them. And those Gamba fans will welcome new faces and fresh challenges for a new season.

Our best wishes, also, of course, to our outgoing "kantoku" - Akira Nishino - thank you for a decade of fine service!

Gamba Osaka: Fujigaya, Kaji, Nakazawa, Yamaguchi, Fujiharu, Endo, Myojin, Takei, Futagawa (Hashimoto, 81), Lee, Hirai (SY Kim, 46)

【Report】Shota Kawanishi has Successful Operation

GAMBA OSAKA — 2011-12-02T15:44:50+09:00

Shota Kawanishi, who broke his right fibula on November 29th in training, had what the doctors termed a successful operation yesterday - December 1st - in Hyogo. The recovery period is estimated at six months to full fitness. In 2011 rookie Kawanishi scored four goals in eight appearances, mostly as substitute and, believe it or not, has the best goals per minutes played ratio of all players in J1! With Rafinha suspended for the very important final day game away at S-Pulse, Kawanishi probably expected to start so a huge disappointment for the player. Our thoughts will be with him on his road to recovery.

【Game Report】Gamba Osaka 1-0 Vegalta Sendai

GAMBA OSAKA — 2011-11-28T11:16:17+09:00

The highest scoring attack in the J.League against the best-performing defence was always going to be a tight game, and so it proved. Nothing less than a win for Gamba was necessary, if they were to stay in the hunt for the Championship. That, and a little help from their neighbours Cerezo in taking points off Reysol at the top! It had also been officially confirmed that Gamba boss Akira Nishino was to leave at the end of the season, so this would be his final home game, and he would be wishing to go out on a high.

In the 6th minute a Kaji cross was half cleared and Fujiharu volleyed a low shot from 20 yards that had the keeper scrambling low to his right. The game was end to end, but with few clear cut chances before the 25th minute, when Lee crossed too deep from the right but the ball was picked up and crossed back in by Fujiharu for Lee himself to head home to the keeper's left, and the game went into the half 1-0 to the good for the home team.

In the 67th minute Lee almost doubled his tally when he exchanged passes with Takei and then poked the ball across the keeper only for it to come back off the post and be cleared for a corner.

For the away team, Akamine had half chances that never troubled Fujigaya in the Gamba goal, and Sekiguchi and Ota combined to force a save down low midway through the 2nd half but Gamba held on for the the points.

In the final minutes Rafinha was shown a yellow card - for an innocuous challenge, it must be said - and will miss the final game next week. another chance for Kawanishi, perhaps?

With Cerezo holding Reysol to a point, and Nagoya destroying Yamagata, Gamba go into the final day knowing that a win at Shimizu and less than full points for Reysol and Grampus will bring them the Championship. It was that way in 2005 when a goal for FC Tokyo's Konno in the final seconds of the season gave Gamba the trophy. Lightning CAN strike twice. Be confident.

Bring on S-Pulse!

Gamba Osaka - Fujigaya, Kaji, Nakazawa, JY Kim, Fujiharu, Myojin, Endo, Takei, Kawanishi (Futagawa,59), Lee, Rafinha.

【Game Report】Albirex Niigata 2-2 Gamba Osaka

GAMBA OSAKA — 2011-11-21T09:22:56+09:00

With three games to go Albirex were looking for a point to ensure their safety in J1, while Gamba knew that nothing less than a win and the full three points would suffice as the race for the Championship heated up in the final stages.

After the midweek Emperor's Cup loss to Mito HollyHock, Gamba coach Akira Nishino made changes, bringing back Rafinha, Endo, Yamaguchi and Myojin to the starting line-up - experience would be needed in this fixture.

The return of Endo sparked a return to some passing moves and patient creativity for Gamba although the opening stages saw the away defense having to soak up some pressure. Lee and Rafinha always looked dangerous but could never get that final touch or control to get that all-important opener, and the cost was high as, with seconds left in the first period, a speculative low shot from Mikado skimmed off the wet turf and past the helpless Fujigaya in the Gamba goal to take the home team in with a lead at the break.

Gamba came out for the 2nd half with SY Kim and Sasaki on in place of Takei and Futagawa as they changed tack but the breakthrough didn't come and Nishino threw on another forward - in the shape of Kawanishi - at the expense of Fujiharu at left back - in the 67th minute. Gamba suddenly looked more potent but that open left back space was taken advantage of minutes later as Niigata went with a counter-attack and the cross from the right wing was slotted home by Bruno Lopes to put Albirex in a commanding position.

Gamba now had to throw caution to the wind and, finally the goals came, from the unexpected source, perhaps, of substitute Kawanishi who twisted and turned defenders before putting home a low shot across the keeper and then, moments later, grabbed his second of the game. The young forward saw his first shot saved well by the keeper but he pounced on the second ball and forced home the equalizer in the 83rd minute.

Feeling, quite rightly at this stage of the season, that nothing less than a win would do, Gamba threw men forward looking for the winner, and had some close calls in the dying minutes but Niigata held on to their point - and their J1 status - and Gamba had to settle for the solitary point.

Gamba Osaka - Fujigaya, Kaji, Nakazawa, Yamaguchi, Fujiharu (Kawanishi, 67), Myojin, Endo, Takei (Sasaki, 46), Futagawa (SY Kim, 46), Lee, Rafinha

【Game Report】Emperor's Cup - 3rd Round - Gamba Osaka 2-3 Mito HollyHock (after extra time)

GAMBA OSAKA — 2011-11-18T09:53:09+09:00

Gamba went into this 3rd Round Emperor's Cup game without Endo and Lee - on international duty - as well as Myojin, Rafinha and Yamaguchi for varying reasons. Fujiharu was again preferred at left back over Shimohira, Uchida was in at centre back, and Hirai was given the start up front. Whether coach Nishino was expecting a relatively easy game or he had an eye on the forthcoming weekend's away game against Albirex in J1, the team saw changes aiming for the 4th round in the tournament.

The home team took the lead just before half time through SY Kim and went into the break a goal to the good and hoping to come out and cement the win, but Mito put paid to that with an equaliser through Ozawa shortly after the restart. Gamba took the lead again through Sasaki in the 65th minute - the time he usually enters the field as a substitute, ironically - and then changes were made, with Hirai and Futagawa coming out in favour of Myojin and Kawanishi to freshen it up, but, in the 76th minute Suzuki put the away team level for the 2nd time in the match and the tie went into extra time.

In the 9th minute of extra time HollyHock took the lead for the first time in the game and a shock was on the cards. Gamba coach Nishino tried to shake it up again, bringing on Yokotani for Uchida, but to no avail, and Gamba Osaka bit the dust, along with Sanfrecce, Jubilo, Vissel, Ventforet, Albirex, Montedio and Avispa - all J1 teams going out of the tournament - as six J2 teams and Yamaga from the JFL made it into the final 16.

And so to the battle for the J1 Championship ... bring on Albirex Niigata!

Gamba Osaka - Fujigaya, Kaji, Nakazawa, Uchida (Yokotani, 103), Fujiharu, Takei, Hashimoto, Sasaki, Futagawa (Myojin, 67), SY Kim, Hirai (Kawanishi, 67).