Gamba Osaka came into this game with the visiting Kashima Antlers on the back of two comfortable wins, and their position near the foot of J1 was starting to look a little less-dangerous, as things started to come together for Dani Poyatos' talented players - looking more of a team in recent matches. Despite being without Issam Jebali (suspended) and Neta Lavi (rested after international duty), by the end of the 90 minutes the home team had added another three points and their third win-in-a-row as they completely dismantled their visitors in a 2-1 win, that really could have been so much more. Out-stripping their opponents in all areas on the stats board, this 2-1 win for Gamba was well-deserved indeed.

Gamba started this game as they meant to go on, attacking, creating spaces and chances right from the off, and it was Juan Alano who worried the 'keeper in the 8th minute, with a header that was saved down low at the post. Moments later it was the same player being denied by Tomoki Hayakawa in goal, from point-blank range, although he probably knew little about it. The goal had to come soon, and it did, just a minute later with a sweeping move across the field. It started on the right wing at the halfway line before Yuki Yamamoto sent a soaring ball to Keisuke Kurokawa on the left wing. The full back controlled and turned inside, heading to the corner of the area. There he exchanged passes with Hideki Ishige before a sublime finish into the bottom corner across the goalkeeper, 1-0 to the home team!

Gamba continued to pile on the pressure and just as the half-hour mark approached the away goal was peppered as first Takashi Usami was denied, then Ryotaro Meshino's attempt was blocked. Yuki Yamamoto sent the ball back in to the area and Ishige controlled and turned in one movement, firing against the post as the Antlers defence heaved a collective sigh of relief.

The goal that had been threatened finally came soon after, in the 34th minute, with Dawhan getting on the end of a Kurokawa cross to head past the goalkeeper, who perhaps should have done better!

Just as last weekend, Gamba came out for the second period and found themselves not quite settling down quickly enough, and Yuma Suzuki had the ball in the net within two minutes of the restart, but the offside flag intervened and the score remained 2-0 to the men in blue and black! The 2nd half was Gamba's to control and there was little goalmouth action for Masaaki Higashiguchi to be concerned about as Gamba held their lines and kept the ball well.

Meshino was denied by a save low-down to the 'keeper's left in the 78th minute, while Dawhan was denied his second goal of the game with a last-ditch tackle minutes later. But just as it looked as if Gamba might score more, or at least grab themselves a clean sheet, Naomichi Ueda towered above the home defence to power home a header with two minutes left on the clock and give the away team some hope. A free kick into the wall and a wayward Suzuki header was all Kashima could provide as they went looking for a point and Gamba held on for a well-deserved 2-1 home win.

Team - Higashiguchi, Handa, Miura, Fukuoka, Kurokawa (Egawa 89'), Y.Yamamoto, Dawhan, Ishige (Usami 70'), Juan Alano, Shu Kurata (Meshino, 28'), Takashi Usami (R.Yamamoto 70')

SCORERS:

Keisuke KUROKAWA 15'
DAWHAN 34'

Attendance: 22,483