Football Japan Minutecast

Having extended their J1 record unbeaten run as far as 17 matches, leaders Kashima Antlers finally suffered their first league defeat in more than three months this Saturday at the hands of last year�fs J2 champions, Sanfrecce Hiroshima. The only goal of the game came after 35 minutes when Hisato Sato expertly latched onto a precision pass from Toshihiro Aoyama to fire home for the tenth time this season, equalling a league record by registering double figures for the sixth time in his J. League career.

The reverse was Kashima�fs first in the league since losing 2-1 at Albirex Niigata on matchday two back on 15 March, but though the reigning title holders appear to be struggling and have dropped seven points in their last three games, their rivals have once again been slow to take advantage. Albirex have now drawn four in a row following a goalless stalemate with Omiya Ardija, while Urawa Reds are without a goal in 390 minutes after a 1-0 home loss to Shimizu S-Pulse.

Only Kawasaki Frontale, who had knocked Kashima out of the Nabisco Cup with a 3-0 extra time victory last Wednesday, were able to make real inroads with a 2-1 win against in-form FC Tokyo. Kawasaki move back to second, but are still eight points behind the leaders.

Elsewhere, bottom club Oita Trinita recorded a second win in three matches following their record 14-game losing streak and the dismissal of Pericles Chamusca with a dramatic turnaround at home to Nagoya Grampus. The visitors had looked set to continue their recent recovery thanks to a second-half opener from Joshua Kennedy, but injury time strikes from Daiki Takamatsu and Keigo Higashi finally took Oita�fs points tally into double figures at the 20th time of asking.

Good results for several other clubs in the bottom half, however, mean that Oita�fs road to survival remains a long one. Vissel Kobe won 1-0 away to second-from-bottom Kashiwa Reysol to move three points clear of danger, as JEF United Chiba slipped to a 3-2 loss at Jubilo Iwata. Yokohama F Marinos are up to 11th after a 3-0 thrashing of Kyoto Sanga, while 14th-placed Montedio Yamagata gained a useful point at home to Gamba Osaka.


J1 results (matchday 20)
Kawasaki Frontale 2-1 FC Tokyo
Yokohama F Marinos 3-0 Kyoto Sanga
Albirex Niigata 0-0 Omiya Ardija
Jubilo Iwata 3-2 JEF United Chiba
Sanfrecce Hiroshima 1-0 Kashima Antlers
Oita Trinita 2-1 Nagoya Grampus
Montedio Yamagata 1-1 Gamba Osaka
Urawa Reds 0-1 Shimizu S-Pulse
Kashiwa Reysol 0-1 Vissel Kobe

Nabisco Cup quarter final second leg results (29 July)
Kawasaki Frontale 3-0 Kashima Antlers (after extra time, 3-1 agg.)
Yokohama F Marinos 1-2 Gamba Osaka (4-3 agg.)
Shimizu S-Pulse 3-0 Urawa Reds (4-2 agg.)
Nagoya Grampus 2-1 FC Tokyo (3-6 agg.)