Gamba book final date with Nagoya

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TOKYO: Brazilian forward Lucas struck twice as Gamba Osaka beat Vegalta Sendai 2-1 Tuesday to book a date with Nagoya Grampus in the final of the Emperor’s Cup.In the other semi-final, Nagoya outshot Shimizu S-Pulse 5-3 on penalties after the two sides ended extra time level at 1-1.

The two J-League powerhouses are due to clash on New Year’s Day at Tokyo’s National Stadium in Japan’s oldest football tournament, which is open to both professional and amateur sides including school teams.

Lucas scored with an overhead kick in the third minute thanks to a cross from Michihiro Yasuda. Takayuki Nakahara                  levelled the score in the 58th minute but Lucas rifled home the winner seven minutes later.

“We got off to a flying start and attacked aggressively to open the scoring,” Gamba manager Akira Nishino said after the match at the National Stadium.

Gamba lost two J-League games to Nagoga in the season ending in early December. “Now it is time to settle the score with them,” Nishino said.

At the Ecopa stadium in Shizuoka, Shinji Okazaki put Shimizu on the board on 16 minutes. But Keiji Tamada scored with a penalty in the 56th minute after Australian striker Joshua Kennedy was fouled in the box.

After a scoreless extra time, Daisuke Ichikawa missed Shimizu’s first penalty to deny them a berth in the final. — AFP