Japan striker Takashi Usami scored his 17th and 18th goals of the season to fire Gamba Osaka to a 2-1 win away to high-flying Kashima Antlers in the J. League second stage on Saturday.
Usami struck twice in the space of 10 second-half minutes and Gamba held on for maximum points after substitute Yuma Suzuki scored in the last minute for Antlers.
"It was a big test to see whether or not we could climb higher in the table and that we were able to tough out the win is massive for us," said Usami.