Osaka: AFC Champions League 2015 quarter-finalists Gamba Osaka made a stuttering start to the defence of the J.League Cup when they were held to a 1-1 draw by Nagoya Grampus in Wednesday’s quarter-final first-leg.
With the cup holders and Japan’s other continental representatives given a bye to the knockout stage on account of their AFC Champions League commitments, Gamba began their campaign in impressive fashion as long-serving midfielder Takahiro Futagawa put the hosts 1-0 up with just six minutes at the Expo ’70 Stadium played.
The early goal from the 35-year-old midfielder, who has been with the club’s senior team since 1999, separated the two sides until substitute Ryunosuke Noda struck in the 76th minute to equalise for a Nagoya side that is under the helm of Gamba’s 2008 AFC Champions League winning coach Akira Nishino.
The action shift’s to Nagoya for the second leg on Sunday before Gamba then travel to face league leaders Kashima Antlers on September 12 in their last domestic fixture before the second leg of their ACL quarter-final with 2006 champions Jeonbuk four days later.
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