FUKUOKA (Interstat) — Takashi Usami scored in the 77th minute as visiting Gamba Osaka defeated Avispa Fukuoka 2-1 on Wednesday in a J1 League match. Gamba Osaka improved to 1-1-1 in the competition and 2-1-1 across all competitions. Avispa Fukuoka fell to 1-2 in the competition and 2-4 across all competitions. The first half ended without a goal before the teams combined for three goals in the second half. Avispa Fukuoka did not score after Yu Hashimoto’s 75th-minute goal, and Gamba Osaka closed out the one-goal win.

Welton gave Gamba Osaka the lead in the 50th minute when he scored the opening goal. Avispa Fukuoka responded in the 75th minute when Hashimoto scored to level the match. Gamba Osaka answered two minutes later, with Usami scoring in the 77th minute for what proved to be the winner. Usami finished with one goal in 84 minutes, Welton had one goal in 79 minutes and Ryoji Yamashita recorded one assist while logging 90 minutes for Gamba Osaka. Hashimoto scored in 27 minutes for Avispa Fukuoka, and Issam Jebali supplied one assist in 18 minutes for Gamba Osaka.

The match produced four yellow cards and nine substitutions. Avispa Fukuoka’s Tsujioka was booked in the 27th minute, Maeda received a yellow card in the 44th and Yuzawa was cautioned in the 46th. Gamba Osaka’s Mito was booked in the 87th minute. Avispa Fukuoka made a double substitution in the 63rd minute involving Yuzawa and Kitajima. Gamba Osaka introduced Toshida in the 72nd minute, and Avispa Fukuoka brought on Shigemi in the 75th. Welton was substituted in the 79th minute for Gamba Osaka. Gamba Osaka then replaced Usami and brought on Fujiwara in the 84th minute. Avispa Fukuoka made late substitutions involving Tsujioka in the 90+1st minute and Maejima in the 90+2nd minute. Avispa Fukuoka used five substitutions, while Gamba Osaka used four.

Gamba Osaka entered the match after a 2-2 draw at Shimizu S-Pulse, a 3-1 win at Newcastle Jets and a 0-2 loss at Kashima Antlers. Avispa Fukuoka had lost 0-3 at Machida, lost 1-2 at Sagan Tosu, beaten Okayama 2-1 at home, lost 0-1 at home to Yokohama FC and won 2-1 at Osaka. Gamba Osaka is scheduled to host Kyoto next in league play, while Avispa Fukuoka is set to visit Verdy.

The result marked Gamba Osaka’s first win in the competition this season. Avispa Fukuoka lost at home after cutting the deficit to one goal. Gamba Osaka’s competition record now stands at one win, one loss and one draw, while Avispa Fukuoka’s competition record is one win and two losses. Across all competitions, Gamba Osaka is 2-1-1 and Avispa Fukuoka is 2-4.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Gamba Osaka 2, Avispa Fukuoka 1. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Avispa Fukuoka with a 51.4 percent probability to win. Avispa Fukuoka had been installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of -0.25. The total score of 3 went under the over/under line of 2.5.