Japan: Kashima Thrash Gamba, Move Close To Title

The title race will do down to the last day of the season once more...

Nov 28, 2009 12:44:09 PM

Teams

Kashima Antlers moved to within 90 minutes of a ‘three-peat’ in Japan with a 5-1 thrashing of Gamba Osaka on Saturday.

Kawasaki Frontale made sure that the destination of the title won’t be decided until the final day of the season with a 1-0 win over Albirex Niigata.

Kashima are two points above Kawasaki but will have to win at the home of their rivals Urawa Reds next weekend to be sure of the title as the second-placed team, away at Kashiwa Reysol, have a superior goal difference.

It was a fantastic second-half performance from Kashima against third-placed Gamba, a team that had title hopes of its own and Shinzo Koroki got two of the goals.

Four goals in eight minutes settled the match. The international striker got the ball rolling after 56 minutes and two minutes later, Takuya Nozawa made it two.

Within seconds Takahiro Futagawa pulled a goal back for Osaka but Koroki got his second and Kashima’s third after 62 minutes. Yuzo Tashiro and Danilo struck late in the game to give Kashima a famous win.

"This is a great result but Gamba played better than the score-line suggested. We deserved to win but 5-1 was unexpected," said Kashima boss Oswaldo Oliveira according to PA Sport.

"The atmosphere was great as we had a great support from our fans. It's important our players feel their support and we have to maintain this mood for the next game."

With Kashima winning, Kawasaki had to. North Korean international Jong Tae-se scored the only goal of the game with 20 minutes remaining to keep Kawasaki in touch with the leaders.

Both Kawasaki and Gamba booked their spots in next season's Asian Champions League.

Elsewhere, Urawa Reds lost 1-0 at Kyoto Sanga while Nagoya Grampus defeated Montedio Yamagata 2-0.

Sanfrecce Hiroshima won 1-0 at Jubilo Iwata. Kashiwa Reysol were relegated after a 1-1 draw with Omiya Ardija.

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