NEWS

Gamba Osaka moved one step closer to qualifying for the AFC Champions League quarterfinals on Wednesday after beating Melbourne Victory 2-0 at home, but Kashima Antlers lost 1-0 away to Beijing Guoan, who drew level on points with the Ibaraki club.

Gamba improved their points total to 10 in Group G, taking a five-point lead over Chonburi FC. The Thai club was held to a 2-2 draw at home by the Korean League's Chonnam Dragons.

Gamba can secure their ticket into the next round with a draw at Chonburi on May 7. But Melbourne's quarterfinal hopes were dashed with their fourth loss.

Kashima and Beijing are now tied on nine points in Group F, but the J. League champions take top spot on goal difference. Nam Dinh earned their first point with a 2-2 draw against Krung Thai Bank at home.

At Expo '70 Memorial Stadium in Osaka, forward Masato Yamazaki combined with Japan midfielder Yasuhito Endo to score two goals for the hosts.

The north Osaka club played without Japan internationals Ryuji Bando and Akira Kaji, as well as first-choice goalkeeper Yosuke Fujigaya, due to injury. But Naoki Matsuyo, who was injured in a J. League match at Kashima on Saturday, managed to play and did a good job for the hosts.

Melbourne, who needed at least a point to keep their hopes of advancing alive, worked hard to keep Gamba forwards Yamazaki and Bare away from goal, but in the 31st minute Yamazaki dashed in for a low cross from Endo from the right to score the opener from close range.

The Aussies attempted to rally in the second half, with substitute Tomislav Pondeljak hitting a shot in the 50th minute that was saved by Matsuyo, and Matthew Kemp going wide from a tight angle three minutes later.

But Yamazaki responded by volleying home an Endo free-kick in the 57th minute to seal the win for the home team. Yamazaki came close to scoring a hat trick in the 76th minute but his shot was denied by Melbourne goalkeeper Serafim Theoklitos.

"Our players were determined to get three points," Gamba manager Akira Nishino said. "Our goalkeeper Matsuyo was a big influence with the way he played and his attitude in preparing for the game."

In Beijing, Kashima were pressured by the hosts from the start and gave away the game's only goal when Brazilian forward Tiago scored off a free-kick in the 44th minute.

The J. League champions, who played without Brazilian forward Marquinhos due to a foot injury, attempted to rally through second-half substitute forward Shinzo Koroki, but were unable to pull a goal back.

Kashima have failed to score in all three matches since their J. League winning streak was snapped at 14 by Urawa Reds on April 13.

"It was a tough game, as I expected," said Antlers manager Oswaldo Oliveira. "We lost, but we created many chances. It was a matter of whether you score on such chances or not."

The Brazilian manager continued, "We are still ahead on goal difference. The important thing is to get through the group stage. We have two more games to play, and we'll make sure we win those."

Kashima will play Krung Thai Bank of Thailand on May 7 before visiting Nam Dinh in Vietnam on May 21.