Magno Alves and Yasuhito Endo provided the perfect tonic for Gamba Osaka following their midweek Asian Champions League exit with goals in each half in a 2-0 win over Ventforet Kofu in the J. League on Saturday.
Gamba Osaka's Magno Alves (left) battles for the ball with Niju of Ventforet Kofu during their J. League match on Saturday.
Gamba's hopes of becoming the first Japanese team to reach the last eight of Asia's premier competition was extinguished Wednesday after a 1-1 draw with South Korean side Chonbuk Motors, which came on the back of a 1-0 league defeat to Albirex Niigata.
But Brazilian goal machine Magno Alves put the home side on the way with his 11th of the season from close range in the 39th minute at Expo Stadium.