Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Yokohama: Reigning J.League champions Gamba Osaka continued where they left off in 2014 by beating Urawa Red Diamonds 2-0 to claim the Fuji Xerox Super Cup title on Saturday.
Gamba, who also won the J.League Cup and the Emperor’s Cup last year, went ahead in the traditional season curtain-raiser on 68 minutes, Takashi Usami converting at the far post after striker Patric had flicked on Yasuhito Endo’s corner.
Brazilian import Patric, who had started on the bench, then completed the scoring for 2008 AFC Champions League winners Gamba in stoppage time when he weaved his way through the Urawa defence before eventually firing home past goalkeeper Shusaku Nishikawa.
The defeat denied Urawa the chance to exact a modicum of revenge after they were beaten to the J.League crown on the final day of the 2014 campaign by Gamba.
“In the first half we couldn’t play the way we wanted, and the second half was difficult as well,” Usami told The Japan Times.
“But we knew that if we stayed patient and waited, we would get chances.”
Both sides will continue their latest AFC Champions League campaigns next week.
Gamba, after losing their Group F opener 2-0 to China Guangzhou R&F, travel to play Seongnam FC on Tuesday, while Urawa entertain Brisbane Roar a day later in the wake of their opening day loss at Suwon Samsung FC in Group G.
Photo: AFP