KOBE (Kyodo) Hiroto Mogi struck twice as Vissel Kobe brought Asian club champions Gamba Osaka back to earth with a bang with a 3-1 win in the J. League on Sunday.
Gamba came into the match riding high after advancing to the knockout stage of the Asian Champions League on Tuesday, but Mogi struck twice in the first half before a late Marcel penalty sentenced Akira Nishino's men to their third defeat of the season.
Elsewhere, Kawasaki Frontale had to settle for a 1-1 draw away to Sanfrecce Hiroshima, despite enjoying a one-man advantage for 45 minutes following Hiroshima midfielder Mihael Mikic's dismissal on the stroke of halftime.
Yoshizumi Ogawa, matchwinner in Nagoya Grampus' 1-0 defeat of Australia's Newcastle Jets on Wednesday, scored a late clincher as Grampus came from behind to beat Yokohama F. Marinos 2-1 and go fourth in the table.