Gamba Osaka relegated to J-League's 2nd division

By foxsports
Published

Gamba Osaka was relegated to the J-league's second division on Saturday after losing 2-1 to Jubilo Iwata on the final day of the season.

Ryoichi Maeda scored in the fifth minute and Yuki Kobayashi sealed the victory with 10 minutes remaining to send the 2008 Asian Champions League winners down for the first time. Shu Kurata scored the only goal for Gamba five minutes after the break.

Vissel Kobe was beaten 1-0 by newly-crowned champions Sanfrecce Hiroshima and will be joining Gamba in the second division next season along with already relegated Consadole Sapporo.

Gamba opted not to renew the contract of manager Akira Nishino after the 2011 season and the move proved costly. Nishino was in charge of Gamba for a decade and turned the team into one of the strongest in Japan.

In other matches, Albirex Niigata beat Sapporo 4-1 to avoid relegation while Yokohama F Marinos edged Sagan Tosu 1-0 on a free kick by Shunsuke Nakamura. Third place Urawa Reds beat Nagoya Grampus 2-0.

Vegalta Sendai was humiliated 6-2 away by FC Tokyo but still finished in second place, seven points behind Hiroshima. Kashima Antlers beat Kashiwa Reysol 2-0 while Cerezo Osaka and Kawasaki Frontale finished 2-2.

Shimizu S-Pulse and Omiya Ardija played to a goalless draw.