A game that Gamba Osaka really should have won - on paper, and on possession and chances on the night - was lost when a single moment of lacking concentration in the home defence gave a shot on a plate to the fortunate Kazunari Ohno, who made no mistake against the helpless 'keeper to win the game with a single goal.
The game started well for the home team with Shu Kurata making the goalkeeper work within the first minute and then Gamba continued to play the game at their own pace. Ryu Takao, playing as one of a back three was still finding time to get down the right wing with Kosuke Onose, and he almost had a goal in the 27th minute after exchanged passes and fancy footwork saw him in the area to shoot, but it was straight at the fortunate 'keeper.
The 2nd half continued in the same vein with attacks coming from everywhere for Gamba and Kazuma Watanabe took a fine pass from Yuya Fukuda to turn and shoot, but, again, it was straight at the goalkeeper. Kurata and Watanabe then saw successive close range attempts blocked as the away defence held firm under pressure.
Then came the moment that won the game as a speculative cross-shot was sent across the Gamba area and Genta Miura switched off for a split-second or presumed there was no one behind him and the rest is history. The proverbial goal from nowhere had won the game.
Still it looked as if Gamba would score at any moment as they raised their game after going behind. Ademilson's low cross was inches wide by Usami, and then a mid-range curler from the same player just missed the same post again. Into additional time it was all Gamba going forward and substitute Shuhei Kawasaki saw a shot blocked and then Ademilson blasted the follow-up against the bar, with Patric heading the rebound just wide, but somehow the J1 strugglers held on and took a shock win.
Team - Higashiguchi, Takao, Miura, Shoji, Onose, Fukuda, Yamamoto (Endo, 79), Ideguchi (Kawasaki, 83), Kurata (Patric, 79), Watanabe (Ademilson, 73), Usami
Attendance: 4,788
The game started well for the home team with Shu Kurata making the goalkeeper work within the first minute and then Gamba continued to play the game at their own pace. Ryu Takao, playing as one of a back three was still finding time to get down the right wing with Kosuke Onose, and he almost had a goal in the 27th minute after exchanged passes and fancy footwork saw him in the area to shoot, but it was straight at the fortunate 'keeper.
The 2nd half continued in the same vein with attacks coming from everywhere for Gamba and Kazuma Watanabe took a fine pass from Yuya Fukuda to turn and shoot, but, again, it was straight at the goalkeeper. Kurata and Watanabe then saw successive close range attempts blocked as the away defence held firm under pressure.
Then came the moment that won the game as a speculative cross-shot was sent across the Gamba area and Genta Miura switched off for a split-second or presumed there was no one behind him and the rest is history. The proverbial goal from nowhere had won the game.
Still it looked as if Gamba would score at any moment as they raised their game after going behind. Ademilson's low cross was inches wide by Usami, and then a mid-range curler from the same player just missed the same post again. Into additional time it was all Gamba going forward and substitute Shuhei Kawasaki saw a shot blocked and then Ademilson blasted the follow-up against the bar, with Patric heading the rebound just wide, but somehow the J1 strugglers held on and took a shock win.
Team - Higashiguchi, Takao, Miura, Shoji, Onose, Fukuda, Yamamoto (Endo, 79), Ideguchi (Kawasaki, 83), Kurata (Patric, 79), Watanabe (Ademilson, 73), Usami
Attendance: 4,788