13 Dec 2007(Thu)

December 12, 2007: The hardy souls who made it to Fukuda Denshi Arena on Saturday were treated to an entertaining game and another eye-catching individual performance from a player who is rapidly becoming a major force in a major team.

The match was Gamba Osaka against Oita Trinita in the Emperor's Cup fifth round, and the player was Gamba's Shinichi Terada.

I have written about Terada before this season, and expect to do much more in the future.

He is still only 22, a lively and intelligent attacking midfield player, and a product of the club's admirable youth set-up.

Not only did he score two fine goals in Gamba's 3-1 win, the first with his left foot and the second with his right, he produced a 90-minute display of confidence and creativity with his well-timed runs from midfield.

His first goal was a left-foot snap shot from the edge of the box, taking everyone by surprise with its venom and accuracy, and his second was a right-foot curler into the far corner -- the kind of goal Shinji Ono scores in his sleep. It was clear what Terada was going to do when he received the ball in such an inviting position, as he made room for himself and opened up the angle to caress the ball inside the far post. A match reporter would describe it as "an exquisite finish" or "a sumptuous finish", both words doing justice to this "Ono-esque" piece of skill.

The disappointing crowd of 3,285 was hardly surprising, and highlighted once again the dwindling interest in the Emperor's Cup.

Gamba Osaka v Oita Trinita at Soga, Chiba Prefecture, anyone? Makes no sense in this day and age: Not to the two teams at the end of a long season, the fans of the two teams, or even to the Chiba public, who would prefer to watch their own team, JEF United, thank you very much.

Clearly the JFA must make drastic changes in the timing and the format of the competition, which is now in its 87th edition and struggling to retain the glamour and serve the noble principles of a bygone era.

But more of that subject later...

ends