Football Japan Minutecast

Former Japanese and Asian champions Urawa Reds suffered arguably the biggest humiliation in their history on Saturday afternoon as fourth-tier Matsumoto Yamaga FC pulled off a stunning 2-0 victory in the second round of the 2009 Emperor�fs Cup.

Matsumoto, who play their league football in the Hokushinetsu Regional League Division 1, raced into a 1-0 lead after just 12 minutes thanks to Michiaki Kakimoto, but with Urawa at virtually full strength, few would have expected the advantage to last for long. As it was, none of the 20 shots mustered by the Reds found the target, and the upset was complete when defender Takuya Abe doubled the minnows�f lead late in the second half.

With the J1 clubs now entering the tournament a round earlier, this year�fs Emperor�fs Cup offers more opportunities for shocks than in previous editions, and five other teams from outside the J. League were also able to seal their places in the last 32. Fukushima United of the fourth-tier Tohoku Soccer League pulled off a notable upset by winning 2-1 at J2 leaders Cerezo Osaka, while third-tier Honda Lock won 1-0 away to former champions Tokyo Verdy.

It was also a good day for student teams, as Fukuoka University won 3-2 at Mito HollyHock to seal a third round clash with Gamba Osaka. Meiji University gained a 1-0 victory at promotion-chasing J2 side Shonan Bellmare, and the National Institute of Fitness and Sports in Kanoya won 3-1 away to Tokushima Vortis.

Elsewhere, the Japanese national team were also in action this weekend, needing two late goals to break down a controversially weakened Scotland eleven in Yokohama. An own goal from Christophe Berra opened the scoring with just six minutes remaining, before Keisuke Honda doubled the Japanese advantage with a low drive in stoppage time. The win comes off the back of a 6-0 drubbing of Hong Kong in Asian Cup qualification last Thursday.


Emperor�fs Cup 2nd Round results
Kashima Antlers 1-0 Arte Takasaki
Ehime FC 2-2 Avispa Fukuoka (after extra time; Avispa won 4-2 on penalties)
Vissel Kobe 5-0 Tokai University
Kashiwa Reysol 0-0 JEF United Chiba Reserves (after extra time; Reysol won 4-2 on penalties)
Sanfrecce Hiroshima 5-0 Japan Soccer College
Sagan Tosu 5-0 Saga Higashi High School
Gamba Osaka 5-2 Ryutsu Keizai University FC
Mito HollyHock 2-3 Fukuoka University (after extra time)
V-Varen Nagasaki 0-4 Yokohama F Marinos
Cerezo Osaka 1-2 Fukushima United FC
Kawasaki Frontale 6-1 Renofa Yamaguchi
Kataller Toyama 0-0 Fagiano Okayama FC (after extra time; Kataller won 4-1 on penalties)
FC Tokyo 4-0 Kamatamare Sanuki
Thespa Kusatsu 3-1 Sagawa Shiga FC
Sony Sendai FC 2-4 Omiya Ardija
Vegalta Sendai 1-0 Zweigen Kanazawa (after extra time)
Matsumoto Yamaga FC 2-0 Urawa Reds
FC Gifu 1-0 Tochigi SC
Oita Trinita 3-3 Yokogawa Musashino FC (after extra time; Trinita won 4-3 on penalties)
JEF United Chiba 3-0 Honda FC
Nagoya Grampus 4-0 Okinawa Kariyushi FC
Tokyo Verdy 0-1 Honda Lock SC
Jubilo Iwata 2-0 Kochi University
Tokushima Vortis 1-3 National Institute of Fitness and Sports in Kanoya
Montedio Yamagata 2-0 Nippon Bunri University
Shonan Bellmare 0-1 Meiji University
Nara Club 0-3 Albirex Niigata
Roasso Kumamoto 2-2 Yokohama FC (after extra time; Yokohama won 4-2 on penalties)
Shimizu S-Pulse 2-0 Sagawa Printing
Consadole Sapporo 2-1 Gainare Tottori
Kyoto Sanga 4-0 Vertfee Takahara Nasu
Ventforet Kofu 3-3 Kansai University (after extra time; Ventforet won 4-3 on penalties)


International results
Japan 6-0 Hong Kong (Asian Cup qualification)
Japan 2-0 Scotland (friendly)


J1 results (matchday 25 - conclusion of abandoned match)
Kashima Antlers 2-3 Kawasaki Frontale