AFC Champions League Two
First half goals by Deniz Hummet and Ryoya Yamashita gave the Japanese side a 3-2 aggregate win, with Jens Wissing’s side to face Thai League 1 side Ratchaburi FC in the quarter-finals.
Despite both sides looking to gain the upper hand after an evenly-matched first leg, Gamba started stronger, keeping their opponents pinned in their own half as Hummet had the first literal crack at goal when he rattled the right post from distance in the sixth minute.
Pohang, however, came up to speed, Ki Sung-yueng drilling a low shot across the box and Masaaki Higashiguchi lucky to get a fingertip to the ball to prevent the midfielder from an opening goal.
Play again swung in favour of the J1 League side, but for all their pressing, Gamba failed to create any clear openings as their attacking lineup’s attempts either fell short or were dealt with swiftly by an industrious Pohang defence.
Their continual harassment of the opponents’ goal finally paid off in the 34th minute when Shuto Abe, on the edge of the six-yard box, laid up for an unmarked Hummet, and with keeper Hwang In-jae focused on the former, the Swedish striker had the easiest of tasks of tapping into an empty goalmouth
A disastrous mix-up in the Pohang defence seven minutes later gifted Gamba their second goal when defender Jin Si-woo and Hwang both hesitated to touch the ball on the edge of the area and could only watch as a racing Yamashita, connecting to a cross from Tokuma Suzuki, nipped around the both of them and again slotted into a gaping goalmouth.
Both sides came out roaring after the break, with Higashiguchi making saves from Jorge Teixeira and Lee Ho-jae while on the other end, Hwang easily denied Issam Jebali and then palmed away a blistering shot from Ryotara Meshino.
Former Asian champions Pohang pulled one back in the 61st minute when Kento Nishiya zipped between two defenders and collected a pass from Teixeira and with Higashiguchi’s attention on the Brazilian, tapped into an empty goal from close range.
Pohang made all five substitutions by the 78th minute in an effort to draw level, but it was starting striker Lee Ho-jae who thought he had found the equaliser in the 88th, only for a VAR decision to overrule his strike after he was caught offside.
That was to be it for Pohang as Gamba saw out the remaining minutes to advance.
Related News
- AFC Champions League Two
R16 (2nd Leg): Bangkok United stand firm to confirm ticket
- AFC Champions League Two
Job done is what matters, says Al Nassr's Jesus
- AFC Champions League Elite
Chung hails Gangwon’s resilience; Melbourne's Vidmar pleased with finish
- AFC Champions League Elite
Ulsan’s Kim sees hope despite exit
- AFC Women's Asian Cup
Know your team: DPR Korea
Item 1 of 5