Gamba Osaka picked up an encouraging 1-1 draw away to Pohang Steelers in the first leg of their AFC Champions League Two 2025/26 Round of 16 clash on Thursday, leaving things finely poised ahead of next week’s decisive second leg in Osaka.
MEIJI YASUDA J1 100 YEAR VISION LEAGUE side G-Osaka came into the contest full of confidence after storming through the group stage with a perfect record, but they nearly fell behind in just the second minute at Pohang Steelyard.
Pohang’s Lee Ho-Jae could only shoot tamely at G-Osaka goalkeeper Masaaki Higashiguchi after the chance opened up for him though, and Deniz Hummet was then foiled at the other end by Pohang stopper Hwang In-Jae 21 minutes later.
Issam Jebali drew another save from Hwang with a low strike in the 28th minute, before Lee again went close for Pohang three minutes before half-time as he headed agonisingly wide at a corner.
G-Osaka then took the lead in spectacular fashion two minutes after the restart, as Ryoya Yamashita showcased his searing pace to break in behind the Pohang defence and cut inside from the left flank, before bending a delicious effort into the far side of the net with his right foot.
Pohang drew level in similarly impressive fashion in the 70th minute, as Jorge Teixeira controlled a loose ball in the G-Osaka penalty area, set himself, and then whipped an unstoppable attempt beyond Higashiguchi’s despairing dive.
Yamashita almost re-established G-Osaka’s lead in the 82nd minute, but his close-range header from Ryo Hatsuse’s teasing cross bounced just past the post.
Shuto Abe then came within a whisker of making it 2-1 with a fizzing drive in the fourth minute of stoppage time, but that effort also flew just off target, meaning things remain perfectly balanced heading into the second leg at Suita City Football Stadium.
