Football Japan Minutecast

Kawasaki Frontale looked to have thrown the J1 title race wide open again on Saturday evening as they stormed into a 3-1 advantage away to leaders Kashima Antlers, but the result was thrown into doubt when an extraordinary rain storm forced referee Masayoshi Okada to abandon the game after 74 minutes.

Chong Tese had scored twice in the first half either side of a Marquinhos leveller, before Juninho added a third for Frontale midway through the second period. By this point, however, the pitch had become increasingly waterlogged, and after an initial half-hour delay, Okada announced that conditions were unsuitable to play out the remaining 16 minutes.

The Kawasaki players were understandably frustrated, with Chong calling the decision �ecrazy�f, and Japan midfielder Kengo Nakamura saying �eno matter how much it rains, in football, we play on�f. J. League regulations state that any match that is abandoned should normally be replayed in its entirety from 0-0, but do not declare this to be a rule as such, fuelling Frontale hopes for a 16-minute mini-game with their two-goal lead still intact. The league�fs board of directors will convene to make a final decision tomorrow.

For the time being, Sanfrecce Hiroshima and Shimizu S-Pulse have moved level on points with Kawasaki after continuing their fine runs of form with wins over Yokohama F Marinos and Omiya Ardija respectively. Gamba Osaka are a point further back in fifth after winning an exciting Kansai derby with Vissel Kobe by the odd goal in five.

FC Tokyo fall to eighth after a 2-1 loss at Kyoto Sanga, as both Albirex Niigata and Urawa Reds ended their recent losing streaks with victories over JEF United Chiba and Montedio Yamagata. Montedio are now just two points clear of safety after Kashiwa Reysol managed a shock 3-2 win at Nagoya Grampus, with JEF United a further three points back in 17th, and Oita Trinita still well adrift at the bottom despite beating Jubilo Iwata 2-1.


J1 results (matchday 25)
Shimizu S-Pulse 1-0 Omiya Ardija
Kyoto Sanga 2-1 FC Tokyo
JEF United Chiba 0-1 Albirex Niigata
Sanfrecce Hiroshima 3-2 Yokohama F Marinos
Kashima Antlers 1-3 Kawasaki Frontale (match abandoned after 74 minutes)
Nagoya Grampus 2-3 Kashiwa Reysol
Gamba Osaka 3-2 Vissel Kobe
Urawa Reds 4-1 Montedio Yamagata
Oita Trinita 2-1 Jubilo Iwata