Gamba bury Da Nang to tie record

OSAKA – Brazilian duo Magno Alves and Fernandinho scored nine goals between them as J.League champions Gamba Osaka racked up a record-equalling 15-0 win over Vietnamese side Da Nang in Group E of the AFC Champions League on Wednesday evening.

The scoring fiesta, which saw Magno Alves claim five goals and Fernandinho four, brought Gamba their first win of the group stages following their 3-2 defeat at the hands of Jeonbuk Motors on Matchday One, while Da Nang – 2-0 losers to China”s Dalian Shide in the first round – remained winless after their two games.

Gamba”s victory margin matched that achieved by Seongnam Ihwa of Korea Republic in the group stages of the 2004 tournament against Indonesia”s Persik Kediri and sees Akira Nishino”s team move into second place in the group standings behind leaders Dalian.

In 90 minutes of one-way traffic at the cold and wet Expo Memorial Stadium in the north of Osaka, Gamba opened the scoring with Yasuhito Endo”s seventh minute penalty, which was awarded when Magno Alves” superb low drive struck the hand of a Da Nang defender.

Soon after Fernandinho started a scoring exhibition, firing home a pass from Magno Alves in the 19th minute while a blast from just outside the box a minute late gave his team a 3-0 lead.

Ryuji Bando scored Gamba”s fourth 24 minutes into the game before Fernandinho claimed his third goal in the 36th minute with a fantastic chip, which sailed over the head of advancing Da Nang goalkeeper Vo Van Hanh. Fernandinho later found the net again in the 77th minute.

Magno Alves, who joined Gamba in the close season from J.League rivals Oita Trinita, also showed his scoring talent.

The former Jeonbuk Motors forward scored in the 41st minute, helping his team finish the first half at 6-0 before adding to his total after the break when he connected with a cross from Japan international wingback Akira Kaji in the 48th and 69th minute.

The 30-year-old Brazilian added another in the 85th minute, with a header from a cross by substitute forward Masafumi Maeda  before claiming his fifth less than 60 seconds later.

Maeda helped himself to a couple of goals after coming on in the 66th minute, scoring in the 77th and 80th minutes before captain Tsuneyasu Miyamoto put his name on the scoreboard eight minutes from time. Akihiro Ienaga completed the rout in the final minute.

(the-afc)