Gamba Osaka lifted the AFC Champions League Two 2025/26 trophy on Saturday (Sunday morning, Japan time), after defeating Al Nassr Club 1-0 in the final in Riyadh.
Deniz Hummet was the hero for the MEIJI YASUDA J1 100 YEAR VISION LEAGUE side, lashing in the only goal of the game after half an hour to secure G-Osaka their first continental silverware in 18 years.
Al Nassr were the first to threaten on a lightning counter in the eighth minute at King Saud University Stadium, but G-Osaka goalkeeper Rui Araki got down sharply and did well to keep out Abdulrahman Ghareeb’s low drive from just inside the area.
The hosts went close again 16 minutes later, but Sadio Mane could only fire into the side netting after Cristiano Ronaldo’s mis-hit effort fell to him at the far post.
G-Osaka then struck the decisive blow after half an hour, when Hummet rounded off a slick attack with a clinical finish after being teed up by Issam Jebali.
Ronaldo had a terrific chance to equalise in the first minute of first-half stoppage time, but couldn’t make a clean connection with a header from close range and it flew just off target.
That meant G-Osaka went in a goal to the good at the break, and they maintained their concentration and composure impressively with a resilient defensive display in the second half as Al Nassr threw everything they had at finding an equaliser.
Joao Felix went close to levelling the scores with a fierce drive from distance in the 77th minute, but while it beat Araki the ball struck the base of the post before bouncing away to safety.
Genta Miura then did superbly to stay close to Ronaldo as the Portuguese forward tried to work a shooting chance with four minutes remaining, blocking his eventual effort and deflecting it behind for a corner.
That was to be Al Nassr’s last meaningful threat of the night, enabling G-Osaka and their traveling fans to celebrate a historic achievement.
