Gamba Osaka win Emperor's Cup to seal domestic treble

Striker Takashi Usami scored twice as Gamba, who sealed their second J.League title last weekend and the J.League Cup in November, became only the second side after Kashima Antlers to achieve the Japanese treble since the J.League’s formation in 1993.

Usami opened the scoring just four minutes into the final at Yokohama's Nissan Stadium when he reacted quickest to fire home the rebound after his initial volley had been saved by goalkeeper Norihiro Yamagishi.

The former Bayern Munich striker then set up Brazlian Patric who duly doubled Gamba’s advantage after 22 minutes with a fine curling effort.

Romero Frank pulled one back for Yamagata not long after the hour mark, but Usami was on hand to notch his second on 85 minutes to seal the victory and crown a remarkable recovery by the 2008 AFC Champions League winners who were in the J.League relegation zone before this summer’s FIFA World Cup.

"In the 20-odd years since the J.League began only Kashima (in 2000) had done the treble so it's a real honour," Gamba captain and this season’s J.League Player of the Year Yasuhito Endo told reporters.

"It's all been down to hard work and team spirit."

In Thursday’s draw for next season’s AFC Champions League, Gamba were drawn in Group F alongside Korea Reoublic’s Seongnam FC, Buriram United from Thailand and a yet to be identified play-off winner.

Photo: AFP