Gamba Osaka left it late to secure all three points in a tense encounter with fierce rivals Urawa Reds on Saturday thanks to the dramatic arrival of forgotten striker Ryuji Bando. Bando’s introduction from the bench came four minutes from the end of a game in which both sides had wasted a number of chances, and although Reds defender Yuki Abe managed to clear his initial lobbed effort from the goal line, the 30-year-old former Japan striker was quickest to react to the loose ball and fired home the game’s only goal with 91 minutes on the clock.
The win moves Gamba up to fifth and right back into AFC Champions League contention, on a weekend where poor results for their challengers once again boosted the title charge of reigning champions Kashima Antlers. A first half header from defender Masahiro Inoha was enough to seal an unconvincing 1-0 win for Kashima over bottom club Oita Trinita, putting Urawa now 13 points back in fourth after losing four on the bounce without as much as a consolation goal to speak of. A fifth straight draw for Albirex Niigata, at Shimizu S-Pulse, leaves them 11 points off the pace in third, as only second-placed Kawasaki Frontale were able to show any kind of form in a 2-0 win away to ACL quarter-final opponents Nagoya Grampus.
Elsewhere, it was a quiet return to action after the O-Bon holiday and the JOMO Cup All-Star game, which saw a team of J-League stars beat their Korean counterparts 4-1 in Incheon last week.
The big match in the relegation positions between JEF United Chiba and Kashiwa Reysol was one of three to finish goalless in a J1 weekend that produced five draws and just nine goals in as many matches. Kyoto Sanga were the only other winners, with a late header from Lee Jung-Soo giving Hisashi Kato’s side a 1-0 victory over Montedio Yamagata.
Omiya Ardija drew 1-1 with Jubilo Iwata, while there were 0-0 scorelines in both Vissel Kobe’s meeting with Sanfrecce Hiroshima and FC Tokyo’s derby clash with Yokohama F Marinos.
J1 results (matchday 21)
Kyoto Sanga 1-0 Montedio Yamagata
Kashima Antlers 1-0 Oita Trinita
Nagoya Grampus 0-2 Kawasaki Frontale
Gamba Osaka 1-0 Urawa Reds
Vissel Kobe 0-0 Sanfrecce Hiroshima
JEF United Chiba 0-0 Kashiwa Reysol
Omiya Ardija 1-1 Jubilo Iwata
FC Tokyo 0-0 Yokohama F Marinos
Shimizu S-Pulse 1-1 Albirex Niigata
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