Gamba Osaka beat Sanfrecce Hiroshima 1-0 in the J.League on Saturday (30th July).

Gamba Osaka hosted Sanfrecce Hiroshima in a Japanese J-League second stage mid-tables match on Saturday.

Osaka nearly claimed the opening goal following a free kick in the 35th minute.

Hiroyuki Abe pounced on the loose ball, but his shot crashed against the crossbar as the match went into the break 0-0.

Seven minutes after the restart, Abe had another chance and this time he made no mistake, giving Gamba Osaka a 1-0 lead.

Hiroshima pressed for the equaliser, but Kazuya Miyahara screwed his shot wide in the 52nd minute.

Gamba Osaka then had a chance to double their lead in the 79th minute, but Yasuhito Endo's cross was wasted at the far post by Shu Kurata.

Hiroshima had one more opportunity to draw level in the 86th minute, but substitute Anderson Lopes was off target and Gamba Osaka held for a 1-0 victory which moves them on to 11 points.