Japan’s preparations for 2010 suffered a minor blow on Saturday when they were held to a goalless draw by World Cup hosts South Africa at the new Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth.
In a disappointing game of few chances, Shinji Okazaki and Makoto Hasebe went closest for the visitors, but a determined Bafana Bafana back line were not to be broken down even after the second-half introduction of Espanyol playmaker Shunsuke Nakamura. Takeshi Okada was keen to focus on the positives after the game, arguing that just sampling the noisy local atmosphere ahead of next year was a ‘good experience’ in spite of the result, but privately the Japan boss must have worried about his side’s repeated lack of cutting edge.
The national team will now move on to Hong Kong for an Asian Cup qualifying match this Wednesday.
Back home, Vegalta Sendai were the big winners in the last 16 of the Emperor’s Cup after thrashing FC Tokyo 3-0 at the Marugame Stadium in Kagawa. Goals from Takayuki Nakahara, Yuki Nakashima, and Marcelo Soares crowned a fortnight of highs for Makoto Teguramori’s side, who knocked out another J1 opponent, Omiya Ardija, in the previous round, before sealing promotion back up to the top flight themselves last weekend.
Vegalta’s reward is a quarter-final meeting with J1 leaders Kawasaki Frontale, who won 2-1 at Yokohama F Marinos just four days after sealing their fourth round place with victory over Kataller Toyama.
FC Gifu made it through to the last eight with a 1-0 win over JEF United Chiba, who will join them in the second tier next year, but there was no luck for any of the other smaller clubs. J2 sides Sagan Tosu and Ventforet Kofu were comfortably dispatched by Gamba Osaka and Shimizu S-Pulse, while the heroes of the last round, Meiji University, lost 3-1 to Albirex Niigata.
Elsewhere, Nagoya Grampus came from behind to beat Jubilo Iwata 3-1, while a late strike from Danilo gave Kashima Antlers a 2-1 victory over Vissel Kobe.
International friendly result
South Africa 0-0 Japan
Emperor’s Cup 4th Round results
Kashima Antlers 2-1 Vissel Kobe
Sagan Tosu 1-3 Gamba Osaka
Yokohama F Marinos 1-2 Kawasaki Frontale
FC Tokyo 0-3 Vegalta Sendai
FC Gifu 1-0 JEF United Chiba
Nagoya Grampus 3-1 Jubilo Iwata
Meiji University 1-3 Albirex Niigata
Shimizu S-Pulse 3-0 Ventforet Kofu
Emperor’s Cup 3rd Round results (11 November)
Kawasaki Frontale 3-1 Kataller Toyama
FC Tokyo 3-2 Thespa Kusatsu
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