2.25.2008

Osaka Crowned Pan-Pacific Champions

In a result few people saw coming, Gamba Osaka rolled to a stunning 6-1 victory over the Houston Dynamo in the final of the inaugural Pan-Pacific Championship. Brazilian striker Bare put on a show for the 23,087 in attendance - the largest crowd to watch a professional soccer game in Hawaii - by scoring four times for the J-League side, two in each half.
The Dynamo looked set to continue their impressive form in the tournament in the opening minutes. U.S. international Ricardo Clark drove home a diving header from a hard angle in the 11th minute to stake the defending MLS champs to an early lead.

But Bare could not be contained on this night, firing back seconds later with a goal of his own and doubling up just three minutes later with what would prove to be the game-winner for Gamba Osaka. Though the game would go into halftime at 2-1, the game was quickly put out of reach in the 2nd half via another pair of goals from Bare, as well as strikes from teammates Lucas and Mazato Yamazaki to cement the final scoreline at 6-1.

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Earlier in the evening, the Los Angeles Galaxy bested Sydney FC in the tournament's third-place match, 2-1. Rookie Ely Allen scored on a volley from a David Beckham cross and Josh Tudela would mop up on a spilt ball by Sydney keeper Ivan Necevski in front of goal for the game-winner.

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