Gamba Osaka concluded their AFC Champions League Two 2025/26 group stage commitments with another win on Thursday, beating Ratchaburi FC 2-0 at Suita City Football Stadium.
The victory was delivered thanks to goals from Gaku Nawata and Ryoya Yamashita, ensuring the 2025 MEIJI YASUDA J1 LEAGUE side took maximum points from their Group F fixtures.
Visitors Ratchaburi were the first to threaten in the 18th minute, but Denilson Junior’s looped header bounced off the top of the bar before Issam Jebali cleared the ball to safety.
Ryotaro Meshino then thought he had given G-Osaka the lead four minutes later, but after meeting Jebali’s slide-rule pass in behind and stroking into the bottom corner his strike was ruled out for offside.
Jebali then went close himself in the 35th minute, but his low shot from outside the area skidded just past the post.
G-Osaka goalkeeper Masaaki Higashiguchi ensured the scores remained level heading into the break, staying big and making a sensational stop in a one-on-one with Njiva Rakotoharimalala five minutes before half-time.
Nawata then broke the deadlock for the hosts eight minutes into the second half, heading home at the back post after Riku Handa’s cross from the right.
Yamashita almost doubled G-Osaka’s lead in the 58th minute, but after cutting inside his left-footed shot was saved by Ratchaburi goalkeeper Kampol Pathomakkakul, and although Jebali tucked in the rebound he had strayed offside and the goal was chalked off.
Twelve minutes later Yamashita threatened again, lashing an attempt against the crossbar, before he finally succeeded in putting the ball in the back of the net in the 78th minute, seizing upon a loose pass in the Ratchaburi backline and tucking in from close range.
