Coach Masanobu Matsunami handed youngster Uchida his first start of the season, replacing Niwa at right back, and bringing Futagawa back into midfield for his first start in seven matches and the changes paid early dividends when Futagawa opened the scoring in the 3rd minute! Paulinho robbed a dithering defender, advanced to the byeline and his cross just cleared Sato in the centre, but Futagawa was on the spot, controlling the ball with his thigh and volleying home from close range.
Gamba continued to press and controlled the game with ease, with Kimura in the home goal a virtual spectator for the first half an hour. The familiar confident Gamba passing game seemed to have returned, the early goal obviously helping the confidence of the struggling team. Gamba could have gone 2-0 up when Konno hit the post with a header from an Endo corner, and a slick passing move ended with a square pass to Futagawa in a great position but the goalscorer completely missed his kick when a 2nd goal beckoned.
Sagan had failed to get anywhere near the goal as half time approached and had resorted to countless fouls and desperate tackles to stay in the game ...
