Nagoya Grampus 3-1 Gamba Osaka: Late Goals Seal Win in Toyota Stadium
Nagoya Grampus took three points from Gamba Osaka at Toyota Stadium on Saturday, winning 3-1 in J-League 1's Regular Season round 3. The result sees both sides remain level on six points, though Nagoya drop to thirteenth while Gamba hold twelfth after five games each.Yudai Kimura opened the scoring in the seventh minute, catching Gamba off guard before their shape settled. Ryotaro Meshino responded quickly, finding the net in the eleventh minute to level proceedings. The first half ended 1-1, but Nagoya controlled more territory — they made 111 attacks against Gamba's 70, and created five big chances compared to the visitors' single opportunity.
The second half brought changes at both ends. Takuya Uchida came on for Nagoya in the sixtieth minute, while Gamba introduced three players in quick succession — Asahi Uenaka, Ryotaro Meshino himself, and then Ryuji Izumi for the hosts. Things turned when Shuto Abe received a red card in the eightieth-sixth minute, leaving Gamba to chase the game with ten men.
Yuya Asano restored Nagoya's lead in the eighty-third minute, and Masahito Ono sealed the victory with a goal in the ninety-seventh minute of added time. By then Gamba had already been reduced to ten men, and their goalkeeper made eight saves — a stark contrast to Nagoya's keeper, who faced just two attempts on target that required saving.
The statistics tell the story of a match where Nagoya worked the channels with more freedom. They completed 342 passes against 326 for Gamba, and their shot accuracy of 57 per cent dwarfed the visitors' 30 per cent. Twelve shots on target yielded three goals for the hosts, while Gamba's three on target produced only one goal — and that came before the red card.
Nagoya's recent form has been difficult — they lost their last three league games before this victory. Gamba had been steadier, with three draws and a win, but the red card and late goals exposed a team that struggled to contain Nagoya's movement in the final third.
Both sides remain level on points, but the momentum has shifted. Nagoya were left exposed early, then took control. Gamba had one foot in the next phase of their season until the disciplinary trouble arrived.