ID :
38468
Thu, 01/01/2009 - 21:44
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https://oananews.org//node/38468
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Soccer: Gamba beat Kashiwa to capture Emperor`s Cup
TOKYO, Jan. 1 Kyodo -
Substitute Ryuji Bando hit an extra-time winner as Asian club champions Gamba
Osaka wrapped up an extraordinary but exhausting season by beating Kashiwa
Reysol 1-0 to capture the Emperor's Cup on Thursday.
Gamba had goalkeeper Yosuke Fujigaya to thank for a series of excellent saves
in regulation before Bando popped up to stab home the decider with just four
minutes of extra time remaining at National Stadium.
Victory ensured Gamba a place in next year's Asian Champions League, where they
will defend the continental title they claimed with a 5-0 aggregate victory
over Australia's Adelaide United in November.
''I am really delighted. We have had a lot of tough games in succession and the
players are tired but the desire to win the title got us our goal at the end,''
Gamba coach Akira Nishino said after his team's sixth game in a 19-day span.
''We have never played 61 competitive games in a season and I think it has been
a happy season for us,'' said Nishino. ''I think the team has gradually got
better with all these games we have played.''
With the reigning champions no longer earning automatic qualification to Asian
Champions League, Gamba needed to beat Kashiwa to earn the chance to defend
their ACL crown after failing to finish in the top three of the J-League.
But Kashiwa looked dangerous early on and Fujigaya was the busier of the two
goalkeepers on a chilly afternoon in Tokyo, pulling off a stunning save from
Popo on seven minutes before denying the Brazilian with two more impressive
stops in the first period.
Fujigaya then pulled off another magical save to keep out a Masahiro Koga
header on the hour mark but Gamba gradually started to take control of the
match before Bando, on for Masato Yamazaki at the start of the second extra
period, struck.
Bando's initial effort was blocked by Naoki Ishikawa but the striker pounced to
smack past Takanori Sugeno and grab the glory.
''Bando did really well. I told him to get out there and be the hero that is
exactly what happened,'' said Nishino.
Kashiwa manager Nobuhiro Ishizaki was left to rue what might have been in his
final game in charge of the Chiba team.
''I really wanted us to get the job done in 90 minutes and I think the
difference in ability between the two teams started to show in extra time,''
said Ishizaki, who will manage Consadole Sapporo in the second division next
season.
''It's a real shame but hopefully the players will be able to make the most of
the experience they have gained from this and become a stronger team.''
==Kyodo
Substitute Ryuji Bando hit an extra-time winner as Asian club champions Gamba
Osaka wrapped up an extraordinary but exhausting season by beating Kashiwa
Reysol 1-0 to capture the Emperor's Cup on Thursday.
Gamba had goalkeeper Yosuke Fujigaya to thank for a series of excellent saves
in regulation before Bando popped up to stab home the decider with just four
minutes of extra time remaining at National Stadium.
Victory ensured Gamba a place in next year's Asian Champions League, where they
will defend the continental title they claimed with a 5-0 aggregate victory
over Australia's Adelaide United in November.
''I am really delighted. We have had a lot of tough games in succession and the
players are tired but the desire to win the title got us our goal at the end,''
Gamba coach Akira Nishino said after his team's sixth game in a 19-day span.
''We have never played 61 competitive games in a season and I think it has been
a happy season for us,'' said Nishino. ''I think the team has gradually got
better with all these games we have played.''
With the reigning champions no longer earning automatic qualification to Asian
Champions League, Gamba needed to beat Kashiwa to earn the chance to defend
their ACL crown after failing to finish in the top three of the J-League.
But Kashiwa looked dangerous early on and Fujigaya was the busier of the two
goalkeepers on a chilly afternoon in Tokyo, pulling off a stunning save from
Popo on seven minutes before denying the Brazilian with two more impressive
stops in the first period.
Fujigaya then pulled off another magical save to keep out a Masahiro Koga
header on the hour mark but Gamba gradually started to take control of the
match before Bando, on for Masato Yamazaki at the start of the second extra
period, struck.
Bando's initial effort was blocked by Naoki Ishikawa but the striker pounced to
smack past Takanori Sugeno and grab the glory.
''Bando did really well. I told him to get out there and be the hero that is
exactly what happened,'' said Nishino.
Kashiwa manager Nobuhiro Ishizaki was left to rue what might have been in his
final game in charge of the Chiba team.
''I really wanted us to get the job done in 90 minutes and I think the
difference in ability between the two teams started to show in extra time,''
said Ishizaki, who will manage Consadole Sapporo in the second division next
season.
''It's a real shame but hopefully the players will be able to make the most of
the experience they have gained from this and become a stronger team.''
==Kyodo
