InsideJapan News Network

A late winner from Cerezo striker Daisuke Takahashi took his team into the Asian Champions League quarterfinals at the expense of Gamba Osaka last night (May 24th).

With just two minutes remaining of the cup fixture, the near-post strike also ensured bragging rights for Cerezo, who had not beaten their local rivals in nearly eight years, Kyodo News reports.

As a result, Levir Culpi's men will go through to the final eight in their debut season in this pan-Asian tournament.

The tie could have been tipped in Cerezo's favour as early as the seventh minute, when Gamba 'keeper Yosuke Fujigaya had to react quickly to save low from Kim Bo Kyung.

At the other end of the pitch, Takashi Usami looked threatening, hitting the side netting and the bar as well as delivering a decent cross, only for Takahiro Futagawa to head over.

Cerezo settled the match in the final moments and will find out on June 7th who they will play in the two-leg quarterfinals, which are scheduled for September.

Written by Mark Smith


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