2 Oct 2008(Thu)

October 1, 2008: Although they have lost their Nabisco Cup title this season and lost a lot of ground in the championship race, Gamba Osaka certainly have not lost their confidence.

That was clear at Ajinomoto Stadium on Sunday, when Gamba put Tokyo Verdy to the sword in a comfortable 3-1 victory.

Two early goals put the visitors in control, and an inspired change from coach Nishino produced a third 20 minutes from time to kill off any hopes of a Verdy comeback.

There was even time for Nishino to hand a belated J.League debut to defender Mineiro -- in injury time, and up front as a replacement for the wasteful Roni. With his lanky 1.84-metre, 72-kg frame, the 26-year-old Brazilian looks more like a Kenyan marathon runner, and he tried to make up for lost time with some swashbuckling runs and a couple of left-footed strikes on goal. Maybe Nishino has found himself a new centre forward, a secret weapon in the form of the athletic Mineiro, in time for the AFC Champions League semi-finals against Urawa Reds...

But it was Gamba's rampant midfield that won the day, first as Endo scored sweetly with his right foot, and then when Myojin lashed in the second with his left -- a reward for his adventure as he moved forward to support his attack.

Endo made it look so easy, although I thought he should have shot at the first attempt when the chance opened up. Instead, he played the ball in short to Bando, and only when the ball broke loose did he have a go. There was nothing else on, so why not score a goal? It was a Shinji Ono-style finish, as he caressed the ball around the keeper and inside the far post, as easy as shelling peas.

The admirable Diego kept Verdy going with another high-energy, power-packed performance, pulling a goal back 10 minutes into the second half, before Nishino played his next card, replacing Bando with the nippy right winger Sasaki on 62 minutes.

The plan was obvious -- for Sasaki to run at Verdy's 35-year-old captain and left back, Hattori.

First, Sasaki set the alarm bells ringing in the Verdy defence by skinning Hattori and setting up Roni, who fired over the bar, and everyone expected the same move a few minutes later as Futagawa fed Sasaki in a similar position.

The Verdy defence backed off, but Sasaki had other ideas and took Doi by surprise with his crisp, right-foot shot that flew into the net for his first J1 goal in his 12th appearance.

With goal machine Bare long gone, Lucas injured, Yamazaki suspended, Bando quiet and Roni misfiring, who needs forwards to win matches?

ends