Football Japan Minutecast

Two-time reigning champions Kashima Antlers made a real statement of intent towards an unprecedented hat-trick of titles with a 1-0 win away to last year�fs AFC Champions League winners Gamba Osaka yesterday afternoon. Despite resting several first team regulars in their inconsequential defeat to FC Seoul on Wednesday, Gamba were fatally slow to come out of the blocks, and this played right into the hands of Kashima as the returning Koji Nakata scrambled home the game�fs only goal after just 16 minutes.

The home side did recover its rhythm as the match progressed, but the absence of the injured Leandro was keenly felt as they struggled to break down a strong Antlers defence. Cho Jae-Jin came closest when his looped shot bounced off the top of Hitoshi Sogahata�fs crossbar, while 17-year-old striking sensation Takashi Usami was unable to repeat his goalscoring performance in midweek with another on his league debut.

The victory for Kashima appears most significant because of its timing. Third-place Albirex Niigata had gone down to a shock 1-0 defeat at home to Shimizu S-Pulse the day before, while nearest rivals Urawa Reds were held 1-1 away at struggling Omiya Ardija in the Saitama derby later on Sunday. Kashima now lead Urawa and Niigata by four and seven points respectively - with a game in hand to boot - ahead of a four-week break for international fixtures.

Elsewhere, Kawasaki Frontale recorded their third league win in a row to move up to fourth after a thrilling battle away at FC Tokyo. Frontale had looked dead and buried as the capital club went 2-0 up early in the second half, but a red card for Bruno Quadros and the resulting penalty kick sparked a rapid-fire comeback in which the away side netted three times in just ten minutes.

Jubilo Iwata and Sanfrecce Hiroshima continued their rises up the table with wins over Nagoya Grampus and Oita Trinita, whose run of consecutive league defeats now stands at ten. Kashiwa Reysol are also in danger of being cast adrift at the bottom after a fourth straight defeat, away to Vissel Kobe, but JEF United Chiba were at least able to pick up one point in a 1-1 draw with Yokohama F Marinos. Montedio Yamagata drew 0-0 with Kyoto Sanga in Saturday�fs remaining match.


J1 results (matchday 13)
Albirex Niigata 0-1 Shimizu S-Pulse
Oita Trinita 0-1 Sanfrecce Hiroshima
Montedio Yamagata 0-0 Kyoto Sanga
JEF United Chiba 1-1 Yokohama F Marinos
Vissel Kobe 3-1 Kashiwa Reysol
Gamba Osaka 0-1 Kashima Antlers
FC Tokyo 2-3 Kawasaki Frontale
Jubilo Iwata 2-1 Nagoya Grampus
Omiya Ardija 1-1 Urawa Reds

Urawa Reds and Gamba Osaka played out a goalless stalemate at the Saitama Stadium on Saturday in a clash that passed with thankfully few incidents, after last season�fs meeting was marred by brawls both on and off the pitch. In a game of few genuine chances, the home side had the better of the play and were unfortunate to see Naoki Yamada efforts rebound off the goal frame in both halves, but Gamba�fs hopes of mounting a serious threat ended when top scorer Leandro was forced off with a torn hamstring just before half-time.

Though a four-week break in league fixtures after next weekend will soften the blow, Leandro is certain to miss the home meeting with league leaders Kashima Antlers next Sunday, and faces a race against time to be ready for Gamba�fs last 16 match in the ACL against either Kawasaki Frontale or Pohang Steelers on 24 June. The Brazilian striker has scored 16 goals in 16 games since arriving from Vissel Kobe.

Two goals in the opening eleven minutes from Shinzo Koroki were enough to keep Kashima at the head of the table after their trip to Kashiwa Reysol, but they were made to sweat in the second half after Yuki Otsu pulled one back for the home side, and Mitsuo Ogasawara was sent off for two yellow cards. The Antlers now lead Urawa by two points with a game in hand, with Albirex Niigata leapfrogging Gamba into third after a 2-0 win over Kobe.

Nagoya Grampus needed a late equaliser from Davi to spare their blushes at home to Omiya Ardija, but two goals in the last eight minutes helped Kawasaki beat Jubilo Iwata to record consecutive wins for the first time this year. Montedio Yamagata, however, have now lost three games in a row after going down 3-1 away to fellow promoted side Sanfrecce Hiroshima.

Elsewhere, FC Tokyo won 1-0 at Yokohama F Marinos, Kyoto Sanga beat JEF United Chiba 2-1, while Oita Trinita suffered their ninth straight defeat in a 3-1 loss away to Shimizu S-Pulse.


J1 results (matchday 12)
Nagoya Grampus 1-1 Omiya Ardija
Urawa Reds 0-0 Gamba Osaka
Kawasaki Frontale 2-0 Jubilo Iwata
Kashiwa Reysol 1-2 Kashima Antlers
Sanfrecce Hiroshima 3-1 Montedio Yamagata
Yokohama F Marinos 0-1 FC Tokyo
Shimizu S-Pulse 3-1 Oita Trinita
Albirex Niigata 2-0 Vissel Kobe
Kyoto Sanga 2-1 JEF United Chiba

Kawasaki Frontale got their stuttering league campaign back on track yesterday afternoon when they came from a goal down to beat league leaders Urawa Reds 3-2 away at the Saitama Stadium. The home side had taken the lead twice through Edmilson and Marcus Tulio Tanaka, but the game turned dramatically with 20 minutes remaining after Juninho - who had scored Frontale�fs first equaliser - was adjudged to have been brought down by Tanaka in the Urawa penalty area. The spot kick was converted by Renatinho, before North Korean international Chong Tese stunned Reds fans by firing Kawasaki in front just three minutes later.

Although the penalty decision appeared harsh, Urawa captain Tanaka accepted responsibility for a defeat that allows Kashima Antlers - who have a game in hand following their ACL commitments in midweek - to move back to the top on goal difference after a 2-1 win over Shimizu S-Pulse. Frontale move up to sixth, and will hope the win injects momentum into what has been a rather stop-start season for them so far.

Gamba Osaka banished their post-ACL blues in spectacular fashion with a 4-0 thrashing of struggling Kashiwa Reysol, after first half goals from new boys Leandro and Cho Jae-Jin took their partnership up to a combined 15 goals from ten league games. The win sees the Asian champions rise to third, level on points with Albirex Niigata after the latter earned a valuable three points away to Montedio Yamagata. Nagoya Grampus are a point behind in fifth after a 2-2 draw at Vissel Kobe.

Jubilo Iwata�fs incredible recovery since the arrival of Lee Keun-Ho continued to gather pace with a 3-1 win over Omiya Ardija, in which the South Korean striker scored twice to take his personal tally to six in six league appearances. Fortunes at Oita Trinita could not be more different, however, with a 2-1 home defeat to Yokohama F Marinos extending the run of consecutive losses for Pericles Chamusca�fs side to eight.

Elsewhere, FC Tokyo drew 0-0 with Kyoto Sanga, while JEF United Chiba picked up three points for only the second time this year with a 2-1 victory over Sanfrecce Hiroshima.


J1 results (matchday 11 - Saturday 9/Sunday 10 May)
FC Tokyo 0-0 Kyoto Sanga
Jubilo Iwata 3-1 Omiya Ardija
Oita Trinita 1-2 Yokohama F Marinos
JEF United Chiba 2-1 Sanfrecce Hiroshima
Montedio Yamagata 0-1 Albirex Niigata
Urawa Reds 2-3 Kawasaki Frontale
Kashima Antlers 2-1 Shimizu S-Pulse
Gamba Osaka 4-0 Kashiwa Reysol
Vissel Kobe 2-2 Nagoya Grampus


J1 results (matchday 10 - Tuesday 5 May)
Albirex Niigata 3-3 Jubilo Iwata
Omiya Ardija 3-0 Oita Trinita
Kyoto Sanga 2-0 Yokohama F Marinos
Kashiwa Reysol 2-3 Urawa Reds
Vissel Kobe 3-1 Montedio Yamagata
Shimizu S-Pulse 2-2 JEF United Chiba
Sanfrecce Hiroshima 2-0 FC Tokyo