AFC Champions League Two
Daniel Ting’s first half goal was cancelled out by Gaku Nawata’s 84th-minute strike as the Japanese side were held off by a firm Ratchaburi defence, ensuring it will be all to play for in next week's second leg in Thailand.
Gamba wasted no time in getting down to business, and almost opened the scoring in the third minute when Deniz Hummet weaved his way into the area past the Ratchaburi defence only to be denied at the last by a well-timed tackle from Denilson Junior.
The J1 League side’s constant pressing kept their opponents on the back foot, but the first goal landed at the opposite end in the 18th minute when Ting robbed the ball off Makato Mitsuta and struck from the left side of the area with a brilliant effort that curled past keeper Masaaki Higashiguchi into the top right corner.
The J1 League side’s constant pressing kept their opponents on the back foot, but the first goal landed at the opposite end in the 18th minute when Ting robbed the ball off Makato Mitsuta and struck from the left side of the area with a brilliant effort that curled past keeper Masaaki Higashiguchi into the top right corner.
An unperturbed Gamba increased their efforts, but attempts by Hummet and Ryotaro Meshino lacked a fine finishing touch, while Ratchaburi’s second look at goal on the half-hour mark ended with Denilson sending the ball skywards from distance.
Harumi Minamino’s optimistic effort from the edge of the area was comfortably handled by keeper Kampon Phatomakkakul, with Meshino sending his shot from distance over the top to close a half where Gamba dominated but were kept at bay by a strong Ratchaburi defence.
Harumi Minamino’s optimistic effort from the edge of the area was comfortably handled by keeper Kampon Phatomakkakul, with Meshino sending his shot from distance over the top to close a half where Gamba dominated but were kept at bay by a strong Ratchaburi defence.
Gamba again made the stronger start after the break, with Kampon making consecutive saves from Meshino and Hummet in the 48th minute, with substitute Takeru Kishimoto’s shot from inside the area eight minutes later blocked by Ting and Shuto Abe’s follow-up strike going over the bar.
Meshino’s fine run down the left in the 77th minute finished with the forward hitting the side netting, while Gaku Nawata sent his first-time strike from the centre of the area straight into Kampon’s arms moments later as the Japanese side intensified their attempts at leveling the score.
Meshino’s fine run down the left in the 77th minute finished with the forward hitting the side netting, while Gaku Nawata sent his first-time strike from the centre of the area straight into Kampon’s arms moments later as the Japanese side intensified their attempts at leveling the score.
The Ratchaburi backline finally caved in when Nawata, who had come on in the 72nd minute, latched on to a cross from Kishimoto on the left 12 minutes later and first-timed the ball past a rooted Kampon to give his side the equaliser and set up a thrilling return leg next week.
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