Timbe misses action in Japan as Kobe secure comeback win

Kenyan international Ayub Timbe was not included anywhere in the matchday squad as his Vissel Kobe side came from behind to defeat Gamba Osaka 1-2 in a round 22 J1 League match played at the Panasonic Stadium Suita in Japan on Wednesday afternoon.

Despite featuring for the last ten minutes in Kobe’s last league fixture against Cerezo Osaka that ended 1-1, the tricky Harambee Stars was not included in the squad that got back to winning ways with the club failing to provide an update.

In the game, Timbe’s Kobe were the first to go down in the 19th minute when Patric got on the end of an inviting cross into the area from Wellington Silva that only begged for a touch which the forward obliged with a close range tap in as he gave his side the lead.

Just eight minutes later, in the 27th minute, poor set piece defending enabled Kobe to restore parity in the game as Douglas powered in a free header from Ryo Hatsuse’s searching corner kick into the area.

With ascendancy clearly on their side, Kobe capitalized four minutes later as defender Gotoku Sakai wriggled and teased his way past an Osaka defender before floating in an inch perfect cross that Junya Tanaka rose highest to convert past a hapless Osaka goalkeeper who could only watch as the ball floated in the back of the net.

That second goal would complete the turnaround for Kobe who saw off the contest to cement their position in third place on the log on 41 points. Osaka on the other hand failed to move out the relegation places following the loss as they stayed in 17th position on 17 points.