NEWS

J. League champions Kashima Antlers won the Fuji Xerox Super Cup 2010, the curtain-raiser to the new Japanese season, with a 5-3 penalty-shootout victory over Emperor’s Cup holders Gamba Osaka after a 1-1 draw at Tokyo’s National Stadium on Saturday.

Brazilian forward Marquinhos gave Kashima a 1-0 lead from the penalty spot in the 20th minute, before former Japan international Akira Kaji blasted home an equalizer in first-half stoppage time.
In the shootout, all of Kashima kickers put the ball in the net, but Gamba’s first kicker, Yasuhito Endo – the team’s regular penalty taker – sent his shot wide.
Gamba, who won the Emperor’s Cup for the second year in a row on January 1, attacked hard from the outset.
Brazilian midfielder Lucas hit a shot from the right side of the box 20 seconds into the game and three minutes later forward Shoki Hirai’s close-range attempt was kept out by a Kashima defender.
Kashima gradually got into the game with forward Shinzo Koroki attacking hard up front. The team from Ibaraki Prefecture pressured the Gamba backline, which was without regular center-back duo Satoshi Yamaguchi and Sota Nakazawa, who were both injured.
The opener came in the 20th minute after Daiki Iwamasa was brought down by Gamba defender Shunya Suganuma in the box. Marquinhos fired in the resulting spot kick.
Gamba rallied hard and canceled out Kashima’s lead with Kaji’s mid-range blast shortly before the break.
Kashima, who won the league for the third year in a row last season, threatened the Gamba goal with good efforts by Koroki and Marquinhos in the second half.
In the 82nd minute, Marquinhos came close with a bicycle kick, while substitute midfielder Yasushi Endo forced Gamba goalkeeper Yosuke Fujigaya to punch out his mid-range shot two minutes later. In the 89th minute, Marquinhos hit the bar from the right side of the box.
Gamba also worked hard, with both Lucas and substitute forward Takashi Usami shooting from mid-range, while Cho Jae Jin spurned a good chance shortly before the final whistle.
Gamba manager Akira Nishino commented: “This result is very unfortunate, but you can’t complain too much as we couldn’t decide the game over 90 minutes and one of our players, who always practices penalties, missed.
“But after failing to collect wins from our last two matches, I have to say that we have a problem with our offense. I hope we can fix that during this coming week before facing Nagoya Grampus in our opening league game.”
Meanwhile, Kashima manager Oswaldo Oliveiria appeared content with the victory.
“It is nice to win the title in our first official game here,” Oliveira said. “It was a close game and the two teams played to a similar high standard. But I think we created more chances than they did.
“If you win or lose, it will make a difference to your players, especially mentally. This will help our players keep their determination and motivation high going into the season.”
The new J. League season kicks off on March 6 when Kashima hosts Urawa Reds and Gamba plays at home against Nagoya Grampus.
Earlier in the day, a Japan High School Selection side battled to a 1-1 draw with a J. League Under-18 Selection side at the same venue.