Gamba jump on top in Osaka Derby, quarter-final first legs get underway in J.LEAGUE YBC Levain CUP

Gamba jump on top in Osaka Derby, quarter-final first legs get underway in J.LEAGUE YBC Levain CUP

The 2021 J.LEAGUE YBC Levain CUP is down to eight teams and Wednesday saw them square off in the first legs of their ties.

How do they stand at the halfway point of their two-legged match-ups?

Cerezo Osaka 0, Gamba Osaka 1

The quarter-final draw dealt us a major clash as Osaka’s two teams were paid up with each other and the first leg went to Gamba. Traveling across down to Cerezo’s Yodoko Sakura Stadium, Gamba held Cerezo all match long. Getting away with a draw would have been a good result, but substitute Hiroto Yamami wanted more and in the 89th minute he delivered the match-winning goal. Now, Gamba head home in need of only a draw to book their spot in the semi-finals.

Nagoya Grampus 2, Kashima Antlers 0

The only quarter-final tie between two top-six teams went the way of the home team in the first leg. Nagoya jumped out quickly with Yoichiro Kakitani scoring after 13 minutes before Sho Inagaki bagged a goal of his own on the other side of halftime to give Grampus the win and keep Kashima scoreless, denying them a potentially useful away goal.

Urawa Reds 1, Kawasaki Frontale 1

Frontale took home the league and Emperor’s Cup last season, but they’re dreaming even bigger this year. Top of the league and alive in all of the cups, Frontale were no doubts favorites in this one, but Urawa had them in trouble on Wednesday. A goal by Takahiro Sekine put the home side on top and for a while it looked like Frontale might fall in the first leg, but Akihiro Ienaga converted a late penalty to send the match to a second leg all even at 1-1.

Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo 2, F.C.Tokyo 1

F.C.Tokyo won the J.LEAGUE Cup a year ago and their quest to repeat started brightly in the quarter-finals as Tsuyoshi Watanabe put them ahead after just 14 minutes. Unfortunately for them, the rest of the match was all Consadole. Shunta Tanaka equalized just seven minutes after Watanabe’s opener and Consa kept the pressure on until Takuma Arano finally scored a deserving winner 10 minutes from time. Though F.C.Tokyo are down after the first leg, their crucial away goal keeps this tie very much in the balance.

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