Gamba Osaka secured a place in the AFC Champions League Elite 2026/27 league stage after edging South Korea’s Gangwon FC 1-0 after extra time, with 20-year-old midfielder Gaku Nawata delivering the decisive moment in a dramatic playoff clash on Tuesday.
Gamba Osaka, last season’s AFC Champions League Two champions, travelled to South Korea for the winner-takes-all playoff knowing that victory was essential to secure their place among Asia’s elite.
The hosts enjoyed the better of the opening exchanges as Gamba Osaka struggled to establish their usual midfield control.
Gangwon repeatedly pushed forward, but Gamba’s defence, led by Shinnosuke Nakatani, remained disciplined and managed to withstand the pressure.
Gamba created their first significant opportunity in the 36th minute when Rin Mito intercepted a pass before linking with Issam Jebali.
Jebali then found Ryoya Yamashita, whose effort narrowly missed the target.
The two sides went into the interval level at 0-0, leaving everything to play for in the second half.
Gamba Osaka made two changes at the beginning of the second half. Shinya Nakano, who appeared to be carrying a knock, was replaced alongside yellow-carded defender Takeru Kishimoto, with Shogo Sasaki and Nawata introduced.
The changes also prompted a defensive reshuffle, with Sasaki moving into central defence and Ginjiro Iketani shifting across to right-back.
Gangwon continued to dominate possession and came agonisingly close to taking the lead in the 62nd minute.
A quick attack through Ko Young-jun opened space on the left before a cut-back found Kim Tae-won, who was left with a clear shooting opportunity.
But Iketani produced a crucial last-gasp block to deny the Korean side. It was a huge intervention from the university graduate making his professional breakthrough.
Gamba Osaka gradually began creating opportunities of their own. In the 65th minute, Jebali launched a counter-attack before linking with Nawata, who cleverly escaped his marker and delivered a dangerous cross.
Jebali met it with a volley, but Gangwon goalkeeper Park Jeong-hyo reacted brilliantly to keep the score level.
Gamba went close again late in normal time. A vertical pass from Mito found Jebali, who laid the ball into the path of substitute Asahi Uenaka.
Uenaka cut inside and fired toward goal, but Park made another important save. Mito followed up on the rebound, only for the goalkeeper to once again deny Gamba from close range.
With neither side able to find the breakthrough, the match went into extra time. Then came the moment that changed everything.
In the 13th minute of extra time, Jebali held the ball up before Uenaka turned forward in the attacking midfield area. The substitute threaded a superb pass into the path of Yamashita.
The Gamba forward burst down the right flank before delivering a dangerous cross toward the far post. Nawata had timed his run perfectly.
The 20-year-old met the ball with a first-time volley, sending it crashing off the crossbar and into the back of the net.
It was a spectacular goal—and a potentially season-defining moment for one of Japan’s brightest young talents.
Nawata had only celebrated his 20th birthday on July 29, but he already possesses an impressive record on the continental stage.
His reputation as an emerging Asian competition specialist continued to grow in the biggest match of Gamba Osaka’s season.
And he did it after coming off the bench. Nawata nearly doubled his personal tally just three minutes into the second half of extra time.
The young midfielder drove forward from distance before unleashing a powerful shot.
This time, however, Gangwon’s goalkeeper managed to get a hand to the effort, pushing it onto the left post.
Gangwon continued to search desperately for an equaliser, but Gamba Osaka refused to lose their defensive discipline.
Jebali also continued to battle tirelessly at the other end as Gamba protected their precious advantage until the final whistle.
When the referee finally ended the contest, Gamba Osaka had completed a hard-fought 1-0 victory away from home.
The result sends Gamba into the AFC Champions League Elite 2026/27 league stage, while Gangwon FC drop into the AFC Champions League Two.
The victory also confirmed a historic milestone for Japanese football, with five Japanese clubs set to compete in the ACLE league stage this season, the highest number ever.
Japan will have a record five clubs competing in the ACLE this season: Gamba Osaka, Kashima Antlers, Vissel Kobe, Kashiwa Reysol, Kyoto Sanga F.C.
Credit Photo : AFC
