2025 MEIJI YASUDA J1 LEAGUE leaders Kashima Antlers had to make do with a share of the spoils after a 0-0 draw at home to Gamba Osaka on Sunday, but still ended the weekend five points clear at the summit with five games to play.
Kashima looked to take control of proceedings early on at Mercari Stadium and had the first scoring opportunity in just the second minute, but after Yuma Suzuki turned sharply inside the area his shot across goal arrowed just wide of the far post.
G-Osaka’s first chance came from a set-piece in the 24th minute, when Makoto Mitsuta dipped a free-kick from the corner of the area just over the bar and onto the roof of the net.
Shu Kurata then came agonisingly close for G-Osaka with a diving header four minutes later, but Takeru Kishimoto’s deflected ball into the box was slightly ahead of him and he couldn’t quite make a telling connection.
Kashima’s next chance arrived five minutes before the interval, but after Leo Ceara prodded into Cavric’s path inside the penalty area G-Osaka goalkeeper Jun Ichimori was quick off his line to ensure the sides went in level at the break.
The goalkeepers continued to have the better of things in the second half as well, and after Ichimori saved Elber’s header from a Kimito Nono cross in the 52nd minute Kashima’s Tomoki Hayakawa denied Kurata as he slid in at the other end of the pitch two minutes later.
Hayakawa was also equal to a pair of Takashi Usami efforts in the 65th and 77th minutes, first palming the ball away to safety after Usami had made space on the edge of the area and curled an effort goalwards, and then denying the G-Osaka substitute’s low strike from a tight angle at the near post.
The game then swung back in the other direction as Kashima pressed forward and looked to seal all three points, but Ryuta Koike could only direct a shot straight at Ichimori in the 78th minute and the G-Osaka goalkeeper was again in the right place at the right time to deal with Ryotaro Araki’s header from a Nono cross six minutes later.
The biggest chance then came the hosts’ way in stoppage time, as Kashima were awarded a penalty after a handball in the area.
Eighteen-year-old striker Homare Tokuda stepped up to take the spot-kick, but he, too, was unable to find a way past Ichimori, who dived to his right to save and ensure the teams would have to make do with a point apiece.
Kashima Antlers vs Gamba Osaka - Game Highlights | 2025 J1 LEAGUE | MW33
