GAMBA Osaka moved a step closer to lining up to defend their Asian Champions League title after a 2-1 Emperor's Cup quarter-final victory over Nagoya Grampus.
The continental champions, who finished eighth in the J.League and must win the Emperor's Cup to secure their berth in the 2009 Asian Champions League, triumphed courtesy of first-half goals from Lucas and Hideo Hashimoto, who netted after 14 minutes and 23 minutes, respectively.
Nagoya, who finished third in the J. League to qualify for the Asian Champions League, pulled a goal back through Keita Sugimoto but could not find an equaliser as Gamba progressed to the last four.
Coach Akira Nishino was pleased with the result, which came less than a week after Gamba's third-placed finish at the Club World Cup.
"We are playing to a tight schedule but I think we used the energy we had effectively," he said.
"I could see our players play with strong determination to win the title, which helped us play a good game."
Gamba will meet Yokohama F. Marinos in Tokyo in Monday's semi-finals, while Kashiwa Reysol will play FC Tokyo in Shizuoka on the same night.
Nagoya, who finished third in the J. League to qualify for the Asian Champions League, pulled a goal back through Keita Sugimoto but could not find an equaliser as Gamba progressed to the last four.
Coach Akira Nishino was pleased with the result, which came less than a week after Gamba's third-placed finish at the Club World Cup.
"We are playing to a tight schedule but I think we used the energy we had effectively," he said.
"I could see our players play with strong determination to win the title, which helped us play a good game."
Gamba will meet Yokohama F. Marinos in Tokyo in Monday's semi-finals, while Kashiwa Reysol will play FC Tokyo in Shizuoka on the same night.
Copyright (c) Press Association
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