Gamba Osaka have it all to do if they want to progress to the final of the AFC Champions League Two 2025/26, after they lost the first leg of their semi-final 1-0 at home to Bangkok United on Wednesday.
The MEIJI YASUDA J1 100 YEAR VISION LEAGUE side were dealt a blow after just 11 minutes at Suita City Football Stadium, when the ball struck Shinnosuke Nakatani’s arm at a Bangkok corner and the visitors were awarded a penalty.
Muhsen Al Ghassani made no mistake from 12 yards, rolling the ball into the bottom corner to open the scoring in the 15th minute.
G-Osaka stayed calm and mostly took control of proceedings after falling behind, but the closest they came to restoring parity in the first half was when Ryoya Yamashita volleyed wide from Ryo Hatsuse’s deep cross to the back post from the left three minutes before half-time.
Yamashita then turned provider himself six minutes into the second period, but after he dinked the ball back into the area from the byline on the right Ryotaro Meshino lashed an effort on the bounce over the bar.
Issam Jebali was also ruing a missed opportunity in the 55th minute, skying his attempt after the ball had fallen kindly for him just outside the six-yard box.
Things went from bad to worse for G-Osaka with 16 minutes remaining, when Nakatani’s evening to forget was brought to an early end after a straight red card for another handball.
G-Osaka’s 10 men battled bravely in the time remaining but were unable to find a way through, and now they need to win the second leg next Wednesday at Rajamangala Stadium in Bangkok in order to turn the tie around.
