NEWS

Gamba Osaka, who won the AFC Champions League two weeks ago, advanced to the quarterfinals of the Emperor’s Cup with a 3-1 comeback win at Jubilo Iwata in the fifth round on Wednesday night.

Jubilo started well, with Norihiro Nishi volleying home a Masashi Nakayama header one minute into the game.
But Gamba drew level when Hayato Sasaki dribbled up the left flank, beat his marker and blasted home the equalizer.
Gamba, ninth in the J. League with two matches remaining, desperately needed a win to keep their Emperor’s Cup hopes alive in order to secure a berth in next year’s restructured ACL.
Boosted by the equalizer, the visitors gradually came into the game, taking more possession and creating chances.
After the break, Gamba broke the deadlock when defender Satoshi Yamaguchi rose high to connect with a Sasaki cross following a corner in the 56th minute.
Jubilo and former Japan striker Nakayama threatened the Gamba goal with a shot in the 74th minute, but his attempt hit the woodwork after beating Gamba goalkeeper Yosuke Fujigaya.
Instead, the visiting north Osaka team widened their lead a minute later. Gamba substitute forward Masato Yamazaki controlled a long ball and calmly lobbed it over advancing Iwata goalkeeper Kenya Matsui.
“It was a game we had to win,” said Gamba manager Akira Nishino, who captured the AFC Manager of the Year prize at the AFC Awards in Shanghai the night before. “I’m relieved we’ve advanced to the next round.”
“We only had a meeting shortly before the game and we gave up a goal in a similar way to ones in recent games. But we gradually moved better and had a better game in the second half.”
Nishino added: “Our players have a strong motivation to win the Emperor’s Cup and a berth in the ACL, and they showed that determination in today’s game.”
In the quarterfinals on December 20, Division Two club Sagan Tosu will host Yokohama F. Marinos at home, Shimizu S-Pulse will play FC Tokyo in Sendai, and Kashiwa Reysol will take on Division Two champions Sanfrecce Hiroshima in Okayama.
Gamba will meet Division One rivals Nagoya Grampus in Kobe on the night of December 25, due to their participation in the FIFA Club World Cup 2008 Japan presented by Toyota, scheduled for December 11-21.
The winners of the Emperor’s Cup will earn a spot in next year’s AFC Champions League.