Football Japan Minutecast

Nagoya Grampus and Gamba Osaka will play off for top spot in the J. League in their game in hand on Wednesday evening after both of the long-time top two suffered highly disappointing defeats over the O-Bon holiday weekend.

Having reclaimed first place in their summit battle with Yokohama F Marinos on matchday 20, Kashiwa Reysol were given the opportunity to extend their advantage when Kazushi Kimura�fs side surprisingly slipped to a 2-0 defeat at Vissel Kobe on Saturday evening.

But Reysol went down to a humiliating 6-1 thrashing 24 hours later at bogey team Jubilo Iwata, who had previously burst the early Kashiwa bubble with a 3-0 win at the Hitachi Stadium back in June.

Brazilian midfielder Rodrigo Souto was the hero for Jubilo with two debut goals following his recent arrival from São Paulo, with Shuto Yamamoto, Yoshiaki Fujita, and free-scoring rookie Hidetaka Kanazono also finding the net. Leandro Domingues had struck a fine equaliser late in the first half, but a miserable evening for Nelsinho Baptista�fs men was completed when the unfortunate Hiroki Sakai deflected the ball into his own goal four minutes from time.

The failings of their title rivals allowed defending champions Grampus to take over at the head of the table for the first time all season following a typically incisive 3-0 win away to fifth-placed Sanfrecce Hiroshima. Yoshizumi Ogawa combined well with Keiji Tamada and Joshua Kennedy to open the scoring midway through the first period, before the Australian pounced on a loose ball to double the lead on 39 minutes.

Kensuke Nagai netted his second in as many appearances just before full time to extend Nagoya�fs recent unbeaten run to 15 league matches, including now seven consecutive wins.

Gamba moved into third position, two points behind Grampus and ahead of Marinos on goal difference, despite only drawing 1-1 in the third Osaka derby of 2011 away to Cerezo Osaka. Despite early Gamba domination it was the home side who opened the scoring on 76 minutes through Kim Bo-Kyung following good work from Shu Kurata and new Japan international Hiroshi Kiyotake, but Sota Nakazawa headed the visitors back level just three minutes later from Yasuhito Endo�fs cross.

The results leave the top four fully eight points clear of the chasing pack.

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At the bottom, Masato Yamazaki struck his first and second goals since arriving on loan from Hiroshima to complete a 3-1 home victory for 17th-place Montedio Yamagata over 16th-place Ventforet Kofu. Paulinho had headed the away side in front shortly after the half hour mark, but Kazuya Maeda levelled just five minutes later to pave the way for Yamazaki�fs second half intervention.

The win takes Yamagata to within two points of their defeated opponents, who have now lost four games in a row and remain six points adrift of safety.

Avispa Fukuoka came from behind to beat Kawasaki Frontale 2-1 – giving new manager Tetsuya Asano his first points since replacing Yoshiyuki Shinoda earlier this month. The match appeared to be going to form when Yu Kobayashi struck for the ninth time this season after 25 minutes, but Avispa roared back in the second half and were rewarded with two well-taken goals by Hisashi Jogo.

Elsewhere, Mitsuru Nagata scored on his old home ground to help Urawa Reds to a 3-2 win at Albirex Niigata despite the concession of two penalties. Kashima Antlers won 1-0 at Vegalta Sendai – who are now winless in nine – to leapfrog their opponents into the top half of the table, while Shimizu S-Pulse hammered Omiya Ardija 3-0.


TALKING POINTS
- The Japan national team enjoyed their biggest victory over fierce rivals South Korea in 37 years with a storming 3-0 friendly win in Sapporo last Wednesday. Shinji Kagawa scored twice on his first cap since suffering a broken metatarsal against the Koreans in January�fs Asian Cup semi-final. Keisuke Honda also found the scoresheet, with Hiroshi Kiyotake registering two assists in an impressive debut as substitute.
- Takashi Usami made his competitive debut for Bayern Munich on Saturday, playing 24 minutes and helping the Bavarians to a dramatic 1-0 win at Makoto Hasebe�fs VfL Wolfsburg.


J1 results (matchday 21)
Shimizu S-Pulse 3-0 Omiya Ardija
Vegalta Sendai 0-1 Kashima Antlers
Montedio Yamagata 3-1 Ventforet Kofu
Cerezo Osaka 1-1 Gamba Osaka
Vissel Kobe 2-0 Yokohama F Marinos
Sanfrecce Hiroshima 0-3 Nagoya Grampus
Albirex Niigata 2-3 Urawa Reds
Jubilo Iwata 6-1 Kashiwa Reysol
Avispa Fukuoka 2-1 Kawasaki Frontale


International friendly result
Japan 3-0 South Korea

A minute of silence was observed before football matches throughout Japan over the weekend to mark the sudden, tragic passing of former international defender Naoki Matsuda.

The 34-year-old fell into cardiac arrest after collapsing during training on Tuesday with third-tier side Matsumoto Yamaga, whom he joined ahead of the current season. He was sadly pronounced dead in hospital on Thursday.

A highly popular figure throughout the Japanese game, Matsuda earned a total of 40 caps and played a major role in helping his country through to the knockout stages of the co-hosted World Cup in 2002. At club level, he spent his entire top-flight career with Yokohama F Marinos, making 385 J. League appearances across 16 seasons and winning three championship medals.

Marinos were knocked off the J1 summit in an emotionally-charged meeting of the top two at the Hitachi Stadium on Saturday. Long-time leaders Kashiwa Reysol came out of the blocks quickly to open the scoring through Leandro Domingues�fs 20-yard effort on just eight minutes, before left-back Jorge Wagner charged through on the overlap to make sure of the points midway through the second half.

The 2-0 victory puts Kashiwa back in front by a single point.

Reigning champions Nagoya Grampus came from a goal behind to beat Jubilo Iwata 2-1 and move to within two points of first place. A 73rd-minute strike from Kensuke Nagai – his first ever in the J. League – was enough to secure victory after Yoshizumi Ogawa had earlier cancelled out Hidetaka Kanazono�fs opener for Jubilo.

A third goal in three appearances for new Brazilian forward Rafinha helped Gamba Osaka on their way to a straightforward 2-0 win at home to bottom club Avispa Fukuoka. Akira Nishino�fs side remain in fourth position, separated from Grampus on goal difference alone – with the pair set to meet at Banpaku in their game in hand on 17 August.

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Vissel Kobe completed the double over Urawa Reds for a second straight season with a dramatic 3-2 victory at the Saitama Stadium. Takayuki Yoshida, who was born on the same day as his late friend Matsuda, netted a brace for the second week in succession to give the visitors a 2-0 lead within 19 minutes, but Urawa slowly found their way back into the game and pulled level through Tatsuya Tanaka and Mazola.

However, Vissel were awarded a penalty deep into second half stoppage time when Hideo Tanaka was clumsily felled by Marcio Richardes. Yoshito Okubo stepped up to calmly convert with minimal power from the spot.

The result saw the Reds leapfrogged not only by their opponents, but also by fellow surprise strugglers Kashima Antlers and Cerezo Osaka after wins over Montedio Yamagata and Kawasaki Frontale, respectively. A 2-0 home defeat for 16th-placed Ventforet Kofu against Sanfrecce Hiroshima, however, means that the current bottom three remain well adrift of safety.

Omiya Ardija are now the closest target after surrendering a 2-0 lead to draw 2-2 with Vegalta Sendai despite a debut goal from Rodrigo Pimpão, who until recently was on loan at Cerezo from parent side Vasco da Gama. At the foot of a cluster of nine teams separated by just five points, the Squirrels are nonetheless still six points clear of Kofu.

Elsewhere, Albirex Niigata thumped Shimizu S-Pulse 4-0 to move into the top half of the table thanks to a Michael brace and further goals from Cho Young-Cheol and Kazuhiko Chiba.


TALKING POINTS
- Shinji Okazaki scored a spectacular 20-yard goal to help VfB Stuttgart to a 3-0 win over Schalke 04 on the opening weekend of the Bundesliga season in Germany. The forward is one of 14 overseas-based players in the Japan squad for Wednesday�fs friendly meeting with South Korea in Sapporo.
- Matsumoto Yamaga were narrowly beaten 2-1 at home to Japan Football League leaders Sagawa Shiga in front of 9,890 people at their Alwin stadium.


J1 results (matchday 20)
Kashima Antlers 3-1 Montedio Yamagata
Ventforet Kofu 0-2 Sanfrecce Hiroshima
Urawa Reds 2-3 Vissel Kobe
Kashiwa Reysol 2-0 Yokohama F Marinos
Kawasaki Frontale 1-2 Cerezo Osaka
Albirex Niigata 4-0 Shimizu S-Pulse
Gamba Osaka 2-0 Avispa Fukuoka
Omiya Ardija 2-2 Vegalta Sendai
Nagoya Grampus 2-1 Jubilo Iwata

Takashi Inui scored a fine solo goal to open the scoring but was ultimately unable to prevent Cerezo Osaka going down 3-1 at home to Kashima Antlers on his final appearance before signing for 2. Bundesliga side VfL Bochum.

Kashima had been hammered 4-1 in their game in hand at home to Cerezo�fs city rivals Gamba on Wednesday, and looked on course to be thrown into even deeper relegation danger when Inui burst through the defence to fire home from outside the area on 22 minutes.

But the hosts surrendered their advantage in bizarre fashion soon afterwards. Goalkeeper Kim Jin-Hyun calmly dropped the ball at his feet to prepare a clearance – entirely unaware that Antlers forward Yuzo Tashiro was waiting just behind him to steal in for a humiliating equaliser.

Tashiro struck again in first-half stoppage time when Kim Jin-Hyun hesitated to come for a high ball, leaving the 29-year-old with a simple headed finish.

Cerezo earned a golden chance to equalise in the second period when midfielder Kim Bo-Kyung – who has been linked with Stoke City – was pulled down in the penalty area by Toru Araiba. Despite the angry claims of Inui, the Korean stepped up himself but could only hit a tame shot into the grateful arms of Hitoshi Sogahata.

A nightmare evening for the Kims was completed in the final seconds, as Mitsuo Ogasawara spotted Jin-Hyun well off his line and calmly scored Kashima�fs third from just inside the centre circle.

The result takes Oswaldo de Oliveira�fs side up to 12th on goal difference, with Cerezo a point worse off but now just one place above the drop zone after Vissel Kobe overcame Ventforet Kofu 4-2 in another relegation clash 24 hours earlier.

Kobe stormed into a 3-0 lead in 49 minutes thanks to Yosuke Ishibitsu�fs first goal in two years and Takayuki Yoshida�fs first and second of the season, but were made to sweat when Kofu quickly hit back through Paulinho and Kim Jin-Kyu.

Hideo Tanaka finally sealed the win from close range late on, leaving his side one goal behind Kashima while Kofu are now four points adrift of safety.

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Yokohama F Marinos extended their advantage at the top to two points with a 2-1 home win over Omiya Ardija, as Kashiwa Reysol drew a blank away to Vegalta Sendai.

Kota Ueda crossed for Rafael to give Ardija a first-half lead at a rainy Nissan Stadium, but two headed goals from Masashi Oguro within 20 minutes of the restart secured a vital 12th league victory of the season for Kazushi Kimura�fs men.

Nagoya Grampus remain third, four points off the top with a game in hand, after a comfortable 3-0 victory at bottom side Avispa Fukuoka extended their winning streak to five and their unbeaten run to 13 league matches.

Following last weekend�fs 2-2 draw at Banpaku, Gamba Osaka finally held onto a one-goal lead over Jubilo Iwata at the fourth attempt in a 2-1 away victory on Saturday. Having registered one goal and two assists in an explosive midweek debut as substitute in Kashima, new signing Rafinha again came off the bench to head home the winner from Hayato Sasaki�fs cross.

The top four now have a six-point cushion over the rest after Kawasaki Frontale fell to their second defeat against Urawa Reds within the space of 17 days. An own goal by the unfortunate Takanobu Komiyama was enough to relieve some of the pressure on Urawa boss Željko Petrović, whose side move to tenth – heading a congested bottom half of the table.

Albirex Niigata eased their relegation fears with a 1-0 win at second-from-bottom Montedio Yamagata, while Sanfrecce Hiroshima crushed 10-man Shimizu S-Pulse 4-0.


TALKING POINTS
- Japan have been given a tough draw in the third round of Asian qualifying for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. Alberto Zaccheroni�fs side will face North Korea, Uzbekistan, and Syria in Group C with the top two nations progressing to the final round-robin stage.
- Ahead of their league encounter last night, Vegalta Sendai edged Kashiwa Reysol 2-1 on Wednesday to secure progression to the second round of the Yamazaki Nabisco Cup. Urawa Reds, Kawasaki Frontale, Shimizu S-Pulse, Yokohama F Marinos, and Jubilo Iwata also successfully negotiated their respective ties.
- Tokushima Vortis are the new leaders of J2 after FC Tokyo missed a penalty and slipped to a 1-0 defeat at Giravanz Kitakyushu.


J1 results (matchday 19)
Montedio Yamagata 0-1 Albirex Niigata
Kawasaki Frontale 0-1 Urawa Reds
Yokohama F Marinos 2-1 Omiya Ardija
Jubilo Iwata 1-2 Gamba Osaka
Vissel Kobe 4-2 Ventforet Kofu
Sanfrecce Hiroshima 4-0 Shimizu S-Pulse
Cerezo Osaka 1-3 Kashima Antlers
Vegalta Sendai 0-0 Kashiwa Reysol
Avispa Fukuoka 0-3 Nagoya Grampus


J1 results (matchday 10 – Wednesday 27 July)
Kashima Antlers 1-4 Gamba Osaka


Yamazaki Nabisco Cup first round second leg results
Vegalta Sendai 2-1 Kashiwa Reysol (Sendai win 3-1 on aggregate)
Montedio Yamagata 1-2 Urawa Reds (Urawa win 4-1 on aggregate)
Kawasaki Frontale 3-1 Sanfrecce Hiroshima (Kawasaki win 5-3 on aggregate)
Shimizu S-Pulse 2-0 Ventforet Kofu (Shimizu win 2-1 on aggregate)
Vissel Kobe 1-2 Yokohama F Marinos (Yokohama win 3-2 on aggregate)
Avispa Fukuoka 0-3 Jubilo Iwata (Iwata win 5-0 on aggregate)

Avispa Fukuoka�fs hopes of staging a comeback for J1 survival in the second half of season took a heavy blow yesterday evening with a 2-0 defeat at home to second-from-bottom Montedio Yamagata.

The Kyushu club had looked well out of their depth as they marked their return to the top flight with nine defeats from their opening nine matches, but a return of eight points from as many games since suggested that the ship had finally been steadied. Indeed, it was Yamagata who entered this relegation clash in danger of freefall after five consecutive losses.

There were promising signs for Avispa in the opening stages, with Takuya Matsuura breaking through for an early opportunity only to fire tamely at visiting goalkeeper Kenta Shimizu.

But the hosts flattered to deceive and were once again made to pay as Masaru Akiba expertly fired Montedio in front with a low, left-footed strike from the 18-yard line after half an hour.

With Avispa struggling to regain momentum thereafter, substitute Yu Hasegawa made sure of three valuable points midway through the second half with a diving header to meet Tatsuya Ishikawa�fs corner.

The result leaves Yamagata seven points adrift of safety, with Fukuoka four further back and still at the foot of the table.

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Second-placed Kashiwa Reysol clinched a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Kashima Antlers to push the seven-time Japanese champions back to within two points of the drop zone – albeit with two games in hand.

Hideaki Kitajima latched onto a Leandro Domingues cross from deep to open the scoring after 33 minutes. Yuzo Tashiro levelled for the Antlers with a close-range header from Takuya Nozawa�fs free kick early in the second half, but Domingues fired home the winner ten minutes before the final whistle with a low shot from just outside the D.

Yokohama F Marinos retained top spot on goal difference by beating fourth-from-bottom Vissel Kobe 1-0 through Shingo Hyodo�fs second-half volley.

Nagoya Grampus remain just behind the top two in third position after extending their winning streak to four – and their unbeaten run to 12 – with an entertaining 3-2 victory over Sanfrecce Hiroshima. Marcus Tulio Tanaka netted for the first time this season to level the scores at 1-1 early on, while the third goal, a header from Takahiro Masukawa, was the 1,000th in Grampus club history.

Tulio�fs former club Urawa Reds overcame the 12th-minute dismissal of goalkeeper Nobuhiro Kato to pull four points clear of Ventforet Kofu in the final relegation spot with a 2-0 win at Saitama Stadium. Inspired by the midfield duo of Takashi Inui and Kim Bo-Kyung, Cerezo Osaka thrashed Shimizu S-Pulse 4-0 to move up to 11th ahead of Urawa on goal difference.

Omiya Ardija are now in tenth after Lee Chun-Soo headed in a cross from Kota Ueda for the only goal away to Vegalta Sendai, whose title challenge appears in tatters after a first home loss of 2011 extended their winless run to six.

Elsewhere, fourth-placed Kawasaki Frontale went down 1-0 at struggling Albirex Niigata to extend their record of never having prevailed at the Big Swan Stadium. Gamba Osaka in fifth could only draw 2-2 at home to Jubilo Iwata – their second straight disappointment since the departure of Takashi Usami to Bayern Munich.


TALKING POINTS
- A week on from Japan�fs historic Women�fs World Cup victory in Germany, a crowd of 17,812 was present to witness the resumption of the domestic Nadeshiko League in Kobe. Shinobu Ohno scored twice as an INAC Kobe Leonessa side also featuring six other World Cup winners beat Karina Maruyama�fs JEF United Ichihara Chiba Ladies 2-0.
- The Chiba men�fs team held onto second place in J2 with a 2-0 win over Consadole Sapporo, while leaders FC Tokyo thrashed Roasso Kumamoto 5-0.
- Cerezo Osaka have decided not to take up their option to extend the loan of striker Rodrigo Pimpão from Vasco da Gama.


J1 results (matchday 6)
Urawa Reds 2-0 Ventforet Kofu
Kashiwa Reysol 2-1 Kashima Antlers
Yokohama F Marinos 1-0 Vissel Kobe
Albirex Niigata 1-0 Kawasaki Frontale
Nagoya Grampus 3-2 Sanfrecce Hiroshima
Gamba Osaka 2-2 Jubilo Iwata
Cerezo Osaka 4-0 Shimizu S-Pulse
Vegalta Sendai 0-1 Omiya Ardija
Avispa Fukuoka 0-2 Montedio Yamagata

Nadeshiko Japan are world champions for the first time ever following a dramatic 3-1 penalty shootout victory over the United States in the final of the 2011 FIFA Women�fs World Cup in Frankfurt on Sunday.

Bidding to become the first three-time winners in the tournament�fs history, the Americans led twice through Alex Morgan and Abby Wambach, but were pegged back by late goals first from Aya Miyama to take the game into extra time, and finally from Japanese captain Homare Sawa in the 117th minute.

Ayumi Kaihori was then the hero of the shootout, saving twice as the Nadeshiko players held their nerve to the very end.

Having never previously lost to Japan in 25 meetings, the United States began the final as clear favourites and dominated the opening half hour – coming closest to scoring when Wambach smacked the crossbar from the edge of the box – before Norio Sasaki�fs side slowly found their feet towards the interval.

The second half began in similar style with Japan again saved by the woodwork – this time from Morgan – but the Americans finally found their way in front after 69 minutes. A long ball from Megan Rapinoe caught the Nadeshiko back line flat footed, allowing Morgan to break through and fire superbly past the helpless Kaihori.

But Japan quickly rediscovered their momentum and their persistence paid off as calamitous defending allowed Miyama to steal in and scramble home an equaliser with nine minutes left on the clock.

Though the goal seemed to instil greater confidence throughout the Nadeshiko side, the United States once again enjoyed a strong start in extra time and forced their way back in front at the end of the first additional period. After Sawa had failed to clear, Morgan found space to cross for Wambach to head home her fourth goal of the competition.

Sawa made amends in spectacular fashion, however, just as the trophy seemed to slipping from Japan�fs grasp. The 32-year-old dashed to the near post to meet a corner from Miyama and somehow fire an impossible-looking volley beyond four American shirts to dramatically level the scores at 2-2.

The late excitement handed the psychological advantage to Japan, and after Kaihori brilliantly extended her right leg to block Shannon Boxx�fs opening penalty, Carli Lloyd blazed over with America�fs second. Hope Solo then saved from Yuki Nagasato, but when Kaihori repeated her heroics to deny Tobin Heath, Saki Kumagai stepped up to fire the Nadeshiko to glory.

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Speaking at a press conference upon the new world champions�f return to Japan earlier today, Sasaki admitted that Sawa�fs last-gasp wonder goal had filled his team with confidence ahead of the shootout.

�gThe United States must have thought they had won it,�h said the manager, �gbut then it was like we received a blessing from the heavens. We just couldn�ft stop smiling – so much so that I just wanted to stand there laughing and joking!�h

Sawa picked up the Golden Boot with five goals and the Golden Ball as the World Cup�fs best player; as well as both the winners�f trophy and the Fair Play Award on behalf of her teammates.

She commented, �gIt has been a long road getting here, but I am glad we never gave up and finally realised our dream of becoming number one in the world. We did it thanks to the great support of our fans; I hope that we will be able to have the Women�fs World Cup hosted here in Japan in future.�h

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The J. League has a new leader for the first time since early May as Kashiwa Reysol went down to a dramatic 3-2 defeat at Kawasaki Frontale on Saturday.

Close-range strikes from Takuro Yajima and Yu Kobayashi gave Frontale a 2-0 first half lead, which was then wiped out in the second by a Yusuke Kikuchi own goal and an instinctive equaliser from Leandro Domingues.

But with just six minutes remaining, Satoshi Kukino was felled in the area by Naoya Kondo, allowing Juninho to fire home the winner from the spot.

The result allowed Yokohama F Marinos to take over at the top on goal difference despite only drawing 1-1 at Omiya Ardija 24 hours later. Yuji Ono�fs first half opener for the visitors was cancelled out on 74 minutes by Rafael.

Champions Nagoya Grampus are now lurking ominously in third, four points behind the top two with a game in hand, after a comfortable 2-0 win away at second-from-bottom Montedio Yamagata. Gamba Osaka missed the chance to climb the table with a surprise 4-3 defeat at Ventforet Kofu.

Having recorded only their second win of the season against Omiya on Wednesday, Avispa Fukuoka were denied a third – which would have taken them off the foot of the table – when Kentaro Shigematsu�fs injury-time strike hit the post in a creditable 0-0 draw with Sanfrecce Hiroshima.

Elsewhere, a 93rd-minute Ryoichi Maeda penalty rescued a 1-1 draw for Jubilo Iwata at home to Urawa Reds. Shizuoka neighbours Shimizu S-Pulse rose to sixth with a 2-1 win over Albirex Niigata, while Vegalta Sendai were beaten 3-0 at Kashima Antlers.

Vissel Kobe thrashed Kansai rivals Cerezo Osaka 4-1 in the weekend�fs remaining fixture.


J1 results (matchday 5)
Ventforet Kofu 4-3 Gamba Osaka
Shimizu S-Pulse 2-1 Albirex Niigata
Kawasaki Frontale 3-2 Kashiwa Reysol
Vissel Kobe 4-1 Cerezo Osaka
Kashima Antlers 3-0 Vegalta Sendai
Jubilo Iwata 1-1 Urawa Reds
Montedio Yamagata 0-2 Nagoya Grampus
Omiya Ardija 1-1 Yokohama F Marinos
Sanfrecce Hiroshima 0-0 Avispa Fukuoka


J1 results (matchday 4 – Wednesday 13 July)
Urawa Reds 2-0 Kawasaki Frontale
Kashiwa Reysol 3-1 Sanfrecce Hiroshima
Yokohama F Marinos 2-1 Montedio Yamagata
Nagoya Grampus 2-1 Kashima Antlers
Gamba Osaka 3-2 Vissel Kobe
Cerezo Osaka 2-3 Jubilo Iwata
Avispa Fukuoka 1-0 Omiya Ardija
Vegalta Sendai 0-0 Shimizu S-Pulse


FIFA Women�fs World Cup 2011
Semi-finals
France 1-3 United States
Japan 3-1 Sweden

Final
Japan 2-2 United States (after extra time; Japan win 3-1 on penalties)

Masakatsu Sawa struck deep into injury-time to maintain Kashiwa Reysol�fs narrow advantage at the head of the J1 table with a 1-0 victory over fellow title challengers Vegalta Sendai.

Reeling from a 5-0 thrashing at Cerezo Osaka the previous weekend, Nelsinho Baptista�fs side went into their clash with third-placed Sendai knowing any further slipups could see them knocked off top spot for the first time since early May.

With second-placed Yokohama F Marinos coming from behind to lead 2-1 at Jubilo Iwata through Kazuma Watanabe and a Shunsuke Nakamura penalty, a change in positions indeed looked the likeliest outcome as the match in Kashiwa ground closer to a frustrating stalemate.

But with 94 minutes on the clock, a pinpoint cross from Japan U-22 international Hiroki Sakai found an unmarked Sawa at the far post, who headed past Takuto Hayashi to mark his first start of the season with his first ever top flight goal.

There was more late drama at the opposite end of the table as seven-times J. League champions Kashima Antlers slipped to within two points and three places of the relegation zone with a 2-1 home defeat at the hands of Albirex Niigata.

The struggling giants took the lead through a Takuya Nozawa penalty early in the second half, but soon surrendered their advantage as Bruno Lopes was allowed to level from the spot just three minutes later.

Then, with only two minutes remaining, Brazilian forward Michael found space to cross for fellow substitute Cho Young-Cheol to dramatically head home from two yards on his return from a six-week hamstring injury. The victory takes Albirex, who had fallen into trouble themselves with a midweek loss at home to Ventforet Kofu, ahead of Kashima into 11th position.

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Elsewhere, three 30-somethings each demonstrated that age and experience have yet to blunt their talents with spectacular long-range goals to help their respective sides to single-goal victories.

Junichi Inamoto�fs 25-yard rocket was the highlight as Kawasaki Frontale eased into a 3-0 lead over bottom side Avispa Fukuoka, with Kengo Nakamura also finding the net on his 200th J1 appearance. A late brace from Avispa striker Hideya Okamoto made for a grandstand finish, but Frontale held on to move up to third in the table.

Earlier on Saturday evening, Shinji Ono had rolled back the years with an even better strike from fully 30 yards to open the scoring in a 2-1 win for Shimizu S-Pulse away in Kofu. The former Feyenoord and Japan star was later dispossessed in the build-up for Paulinho to equalise, but Genki Omae restored the visitors�f advantage on the stroke of half-time.

Not to be outdone, fellow ex-international midfielder Naoshi Nakamura also struck late on from outside the penalty area to give Nagoya Grampus an unconvincing 1-0 win away to Vissel Kobe, who are now winless in nine. The reigning champions move up to seventh with one game in hand.

For the second time in two weekends, Cerezo Osaka took advantage of a first-half sending off for two yellow cards in quick succession to march to victory over one of the top five. Kazuyuki Morisaki of Sanfrecce Hiroshima was the guilty party on this occasion with the scores at 1-1; Cerezo then raced into a decisive 3-1 lead six minutes into the second period through Hiroshi Kiyotake and Rui Komatsu.

The result also helped neighbours Gamba Osaka into fourth – with two games still in hand – after overcoming Omiya Ardija 3-2 following a ding-dong battle at the NACK5 Stadium. Omiya remain the only J1 club without a home league win all season, but curiously are yet to lose away.


TALKING POINTS
- Nadeshiko Japan are into the semi-finals of the FIFA Women�fs World Cup for the first time ever after a dramatic extra-time victory over hosts and holders Germany. Karina Maruyama netted from a narrow angle after 108 minutes to set up a last four meeting with Sweden in Frankfurt on Wednesday.
- The English Northern League Division Two club Birtley Town was the unlikely host for a charity match played on Saturday in aid of a Japanese community and football club devastated by the earthquake and tsunami four months ago today. The Northern League Fans beat a Football Writers side 6-3 as part of a campaign by the UK-based Onagawa Supporters to raise money for Cobaltore Onagawa – a football club at the centre of efforts to rebuild and inspire the small coastal town of Onagawa in Miyagi Prefecture.

Visit http://onagawasupporters.com/ to read more about and donate to this campaign.


J1 results (matchday 3)
Montedio Yamagata 0-0 Urawa Reds (played Wednesday 6 July)
Ventforet Kofu 1-2 Shimizu S-Pulse
Kashiwa Reysol 1-0 Vegalta Sendai
Kawasaki Frontale 3-2 Avispa Fukuoka
Jubilo Iwata 1-2 Yokohama F Marinos
Vissel Kobe 0-1 Nagoya Grampus
Kashima Antlers 1-2 Albirex Niigata
Omiya Ardija 2-3 Gamba Osaka
Sanfrecce Hiroshima 1-3 Cerezo Osaka


J1 results (matchday 4 – Wednesday 6 July)
Albirex Niigata 1-2 Ventforet Kofu


FIFA Women�fs World Cup 2011
Group B
Japan 0-2 England

Quarter-finals
England 1-1 France (after extra time; France win 4-3 on penalties)
Germany 0-1 Japan (after extra time)
Sweden 3-1 Australia
Brazil 2-2 United States (after extra time; United States win 5-3 on penalties)

Yokohama F Marinos moved to within a point of the J. League summit after coming from behind to beat Kawasaki Frontale 2-1 in yesterday�fs Kanagawa derby, as leaders Kashiwa Reysol slumped to a calamitous 5-0 defeat at Cerezo Osaka.

Level on points going into their clash at the Nissan Stadium in Yokohama, both Marinos and Frontale knew victory would give a real boost to their title challenge as the halfway point in the season approaches, and it was the visitors who drew first blood in bizarre fashion midway through the opening period. Kosei Shibasaki cracked a shot off Hiroki Iikura�fs right-hand post, but the ball then struck the unfortunate goalkeeper on the rebound and bounced back into the Marinos net.

The home side rallied to equalise before half time, however – Masashi Oguro expertly controlling a long pass from Yuzo Kurihara to fire past Takashi Aizawa – and completed the comeback through a piece of Kazuma Watanabe inspiration on 71 minutes. The forward collected the ball in midfield from Yuji Nakazawa, and launched an unstoppable effort beyond Aizawa from fully 25 yards.

Reysol�fs collapse in Osaka 24 hours earlier was the heaviest yet of three big losses in five that have left Nelsinho Baptista�fs side open to real scrutiny. Cerezo raced into a 2-0 lead inside 24 minutes through Takashi Inui and Rodrigo Pimpão, before Kashiwa midfielder Leandro Domingues foolishly picked up two yellow cards in quick succession to render a recovery virtually impossible for the long-time surprise J1 leaders.

Further goals in the second half from Martinez, Ryuji Bando, and Shu Kurata completed a five-goal rout that was also Cerezo�fs first home league win of 2011.

The other Osaka club, Gamba, are now five points off the top with two games in hand despite only drawing 1-1 away to fierce rivals Urawa Reds. Takashi Usami slotted the visitors in front on his antepenultimate appearance before moving to Bayern Munich, but Genki Haraguchi headed in a pinpoint cross from Shunki Takahashi to give the Reds a deserved point.

Vegalta Sendai are third after a 1-1 draw at home to champions Nagoya Grampus, with Sanfrecce Hiroshima back up to fourth after Kohei Morita�fs header gave them a 1-0 win at Omiya Ardija. Sanfrecce had goalkeeper Shusaku Nishikawa to thank for denying Ardija striker Rafael from the penalty spot.

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Bottom club Avispa Fukuoka finally have their first win and first home points of the season after deservedly beating Ventforet Kofu 1-0 at the Level-5 Stadium. Hisashi Jogo squared for Yusuke Tanaka to coolly convert the game�fs only goal after 16 minutes, though Avispa had several chances to extend their lead before the final whistle.

Albirex Niigata gave themselves valuable breathing space ahead of the relegation zone with a first win in ten league matches; Atomu Tanaka scoring early on in both halves to seal a 2-0 victory over second-from bottom Montedio Yamagata.

The results leave Fukuoka, Yamagata, and Kofu still adrift of the rest on four, eight, and 11 points respectively. Urawa drop back down to 15th position on 13, with Niigata now two points better off in 14th.

Jubilo Iwata trounced Vissel Kobe 3-0 and Shimizu S-Pulse played out a scoreless draw with Kashima Antlers in the weekend�fs remaining top flight fixtures.


TALKING POINTS
- �eNadeshiko Japan�f secured their place in the last eight of the Women�fs World Cup in Germany with a game to spare after a maximum six points from their opening two Group B matches. A Homare Sawa hat-trick was the undoubted highlight as Japan thrashed Mexico 4-0 in Leverkusen on Friday – four days after opening with a 2-1 win over New Zealand.
- Japan�fs thrilling run in the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Mexico came to an end with a 3-2 quarter-final defeat to Brazil yesterday evening.
- JEF United Chiba returned to the top of J2 by winning 2-1 at Kataller Toyama, as Tochigi SC could only draw 1-1 at home to Consadole Sapporo.


J1 results (matchday 2)
Vegalta Sendai 1-1 Nagoya Grampus
Urawa Reds 1-1 Gamba Osaka
Avispa Fukuoka 1-0 Ventforet Kofu
Shimizu S-Pulse 0-0 Kashima Antlers
Albirex Niigata 2-0 Montedio Yamagata
Cerezo Osaka 5-0 Kashiwa Reysol
Yokohama F Marinos 2-1 Kawasaki Frontale
Jubilo Iwata 3-0 Vissel Kobe
Omiya Ardija 0-1 Sanfrecce Hiroshima

Despite the loss of J1 top scorer Adriano, Gamba Osaka rediscovered their explosive touch of old to continue their steady rise up their table – winning two matches in four days by a combined score of nine goals to five.

Buoyed by a 4-2 victory away to leaders Kashiwa Reysol in a classic midweek encounter, Akira Nishino�fs side leapfrogged Sanfrecce Hiroshima into fifth position following an even more improbable 5-3 goalfest at Banpaku yesterday evening.

A powerful header from Sota Nakazawa and a 20-yard effort by Yasuhito Endo gave the hosts a 2-0 lead before Koji Morisaki pulled one back for Hiroshima against the run of play on the stroke of half-time. Shoki Hirai eased Gamba nerves with his second goal of the week ten minutes after the restart, and though Koji Nakajima briefly reduced the deficit again, further late goals from Hayato Sasaki and Kazumichi Takagi put the Osaka club out of sight. Sanfrecce�fs former Georgian international David Mujiri scored an injury-time consolation.

A second home defeat in seven days had reduced Kashiwa�fs cushion at the top to just one point, but Nelsinho Baptista�fs men restored their four-point margin on Saturday with a 4-1 thrashing of third-from-bottom Ventforet Kofu. Junya Tanaka scored twice in the first half – the first a real scorcher from 25 yards – and former São Paulo left-back Jorge Wagner netted two direct free-kicks after Mike Havenaar had momentarily restored hope for Kofu.

Vegalta Sendai missed out on a joint J. League record of 13 matches unbeaten from the start of the season and slipped down to fourth in the table by virtue of a 1-0 defeat away to Shimizu S-Pulse. The visitors had a number of chances to take the lead before Alex Brosque connected with a Kosuke Ota cross to hit the game�fs only goal nine minutes from full-time.

Yokohama F Marinos took advantage to move into second on goal difference by winning 2-0 away at Montedio Yamagata. Yuzo Kurihara�fs first half opener was the Marinos�f 1000th goal since the league first kicked off in 1993.

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Elsewhere, Kawasaki Frontale came back from two goals down to move into third place – level on points with Yokohama and Sendai – with a 2-2 draw away to Kashima Antlers. Lucky charm Yu Kobayashi scrambled home a 95th-minute equaliser to complete an unlikely recovery after first-half goals from Yuzo Tashiro and Koji Nakata had looked set to give the Antlers their third straight win, especially when Jun Sonoda saw red for the visitors with the score still 2-0.

Urawa Reds left it even later to secure a point at champions Nagoya Grampus. Having finally pulled away from the bottom three with a comfortable home win over hapless Avispa Fukuoka in midweek, Urawa trailed to Ryota Isomura�fs third goal in three until the award of a controversial, last-gasp penalty for an alleged handball by Mitsuru Chiyotanda. Brazilian forward Mazola coolly converted past substitute goalkeeper Yoshinari Takagi to equalise with 99 minutes on the clock.

Avispa put in a battling performance at home to Jubilo Iwata on Saturday but still went down 2-1, leaving them cast adrift at the bottom with just one point from a possible 39. Albirex Niigata are just a point clear of danger after drawing 1-1 at home to Cerezo Osaka – Noriyuki Sakemoto eventually netting a deserved equaliser for the visitors in the third minute of second half stoppage time.

Omiya Ardija came from behind to draw 1-1 with Vissel Kobe in Sunday�fs remaining fixture.


TALKING POINTS
- Japan�fs U-22 national team will compete in the final round of Asian qualifying for the London Olympic Games despite a 2-1 loss in Kuwait on Thursday. �eSekizuka Japan�f led 3-1 from last weekend�fs first leg to progress 4-3 on aggregate.
- The country�fs best female players kick off their 2011 FIFA Women�fs World Cup campaign against New Zealand in Bochum later today. �eNadeshiko Japan�f have been drawn in Group B, also alongside Mexico and England.
- Takashi Usami�fs long-awaited transfer to Bayern Munich has finally been confirmed with an official announcement and press conference at Gamba Osaka this afternoon. The 19-year-old will leave Gamba on an initial year-long loan after the home match with Vissel Kobe on 13 July.


J1 results (matchday 18 – Saturday 25 June)
Kashima Antlers 2-2 Kawasaki Frontale
Ventforet Kofu 1-4 Kashiwa Reysol
Albirex Niigata 1-1 Cerezo Osaka
Nagoya Grampus 1-1 Urawa Reds
Avispa Fukuoka 1-2 Jubilo Iwata
Gamba Osaka 5-3 Sanfrecce Hiroshima
Shimizu S-Pulse 1-0 Vegalta Sendai
Montedio Yamagata 0-2 Yokohama F Marinos
Omiya Ardija 1-1 Vissel Kobe


J1 results (matchday 17 – Wednesday 22 June)
Vegalta Sendai 4-0 Ventforet Kofu
Urawa Reds 3-0 Avispa Fukuoka
Kashiwa Reysol 2-4 Gamba Osaka
Shimizu S-Pulse 2-3 Kawasaki Frontale
Jubilo Iwata 1-2 Omiya Ardija
Cerezo Osaka 2-3 Nagoya Grampus
Vissel Kobe 0-1 Kashima Antlers
Sanfrecce Hiroshima 3-2 Montedio Yamagata
Yokohama F Marinos 1-0 Albirex Niigata

Kawasaki Frontale and Shimizu S-Pulse each picked up a maximum six points in the first of a series of J1 double-headers to be played throughout the busy summer weeks.

Fresh from a crushing 5-0 victory away to Omiya Ardija last Wednesday, Frontale completed consecutive wins for the first time this season by beating Sanfreece Hiroshima 2-0 at Todoroki. Takuro Yajima volleyed past Shusaku Nishikawa with the outside of his right boot to open the scoring after 35 minutes, before crossing for defender Kosuke Kikuchi to head home on the breakaway early in the second period.

After a slow start to the campaign, the Kawasaki side are now unbeaten in six and leapfrog Sanfrecce into third position.

S-Pulse followed up a narrow 2-1 win over struggling Montedio Yamagata in midweek by defeating Urawa Reds 3-1 in Saitama. Former Reds and Japan forward Naohiro Takahara headed in the visitors�f second in between two spectacular long-range free kicks from Eddy Bosnar.

The result lifts Afshin Ghotbi�fs men into the top half of the table, with Urawa now three points adrift of safety in 16th position.

Second-placed Vegalta Sendai left it late to preserve the J. League�fs sole remaining unbeaten record as they fought back to draw 1-1 away to Albirex Niigata. Trailing into the fifth minute of second-half stoppage time, Toshihiro Matsushita headed a Kunimitsu Sekiguchi cross back across goal for Naoki Sugai to scramble in a dramatic last-gasp equaliser.

Yuta Mikado�fs 72nd-minute strike had looked set to give the hosts only their third win of the season.

Vegalta fall back to four points behind leaders Kashiwa Reysol, who recovered from a humbling 3-0 home defeat to Jubilo Iwata with a comfortable 2-0 victory at bottom club Avispa Fukuoka. The team from Kyushu have lost all five home matches since returning to the top flight, but were at least able to pick up their first point of 2011 with a goalless draw at Vissel Kobe on Wednesday.

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Nagoya Grampus were left rueing a missed opportunity to continue their recent revival after blowing a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 at home to Omiya. The reigning champions, who had thrashed Niigata 4-0 in midweek, led through Ryota Isomura and a Joshua Kennedy penalty but were pegged back by the first and second ever goals of Ardija midfielder Takuya Aoki�fs professional career.

Gamba Osaka overcame Yokohama F Marinos by 2-1 to record their first win in almost a month and move into eighth place in the process. Yasuhito Endo deceived everybody by firing a free kick straight in from a narrow angle after just nine minutes, before sending across a wicked corner for Satoshi Yamaguchi to head in at the near post later in the half.

Kashima Antlers and Cerezo Osaka each pulled clear of the relegation zone with 2-0 victories against Jubilo Iwata and Ventforet Kofu, respectively.

Yamagata remain second from bottom but pulled level on eight points with Urawa after beating Vissel Kobe by a similar scoreline.


TALKING POINTS
- The Japan U-22 side beat their Kuwaiti counterparts 3-1 in an Olympic qualifier at the Toyota Stadium on Sunday. Goals from Hiroshi Kiyotake, Mizuki Hamada, and Yuya Osako helped Takashi Sekizuka�fs side into a commanding lead ahead of this Thursday�fs second leg in Hawalli. The winners of the tie will progress to the final Asian qualifying round.
- J1 top scorer Adriano has left Gamba Osaka for Qatari champions Lekhwiya less than six months after arriving from city rivals Cerezo. The 29-year-old, who scored the last of his nine league goals for the club in a 2-1 defeat at Vegalta Sendai last Wednesday, becomes the fourth Brazilian striker in as many years to quit Gamba in mid-season for a lucrative deal in the Middle East.
- Japan midfielder Takashi Inui has been dropped from the Cerezo squad ahead of an anticipated switch to Germany, with Schalke 04 thought to be the most likely suitors. Colombian star Danilson of Nagoya Grampus has also been heavily linked with a Bundesliga move to VfB Stuttgart.


J1 results (matchday 16 – Saturday 18 June)
Urawa Reds 1-3 Shimizu S-Pulse
Gamba Osaka 2-1 Yokohama F Marinos
Ventforet Kofu 0-2 Cerezo Osaka
Montedio Yamagata 2-0 Vissel Kobe
Kashima Antlers 2-0 Jubilo Iwata
Kawasaki Frontale 2-0 Sanfrecce Hiroshima
Albirex Niigata 1-1 Vegalta Sendai
Nagoya Grampus 2-2 Omiya Ardija
Avispa Fukuoka 0-2 Kashiwa Reysol


J1 results (matchday 15 – Wednesday 15 June)
Vegalta Sendai 2-1 Gamba Osaka
Kashima Antlers 0-1 Ventforet Kofu
Omiya Ardija 0-5 Kawasaki Frontale
Kashiwa Reysol 0-3 Jubilo Iwata
Shimizu S-Pulse 2-1 Montedio Yamagata
Nagoya Grampus 4-0 Albirex Niigata
Cerezo Osaka 0-1 Yokohama F Marinos
Vissel Kobe 0-0 Avispa Fukuoka
Urawa Reds 0-0 Sanfrecce Hiroshima

Surprise J. League leaders Kashiwa Reysol provided further evidence that their title challenge is genuine with a 2-0 victory away to fellow high-flyers Yokohama F Marinos on Saturday afternoon.

Marinos began the day knowing a win would take them to within a point of their opponents, but were placed onto the back foot midway through the first half when Junya Tanaka fired Kashiwa in front following a goalmouth scramble.

A Hiroki Sakai cross then found the head of Hideaki Kitajima to double the visitors�f advantage on 37 minutes. The Yokohama side subsequently controlled much of the second half and outshot Reysol by 16 efforts to four, but were unable to break through a stubborn defence and succumbed to their first home defeat so far this season.

Nelsinho Baptista�fs J2 champions have now accumulated 22 points from a possible 27, and boast both the best attacking and defensive records in the top flight.

Sanfrecce Hiroshima are now up to second position – four points behind the leaders – after a dramatic 1-0 win away to Albirex Niigata. The game appeared set for a goalless stalemate until Hisato Sato collected an incisive Masato Yamazaki pass and smashed the ball home from an improbable angle in the last of the 90 minutes.

Vegalta Sendai slipped to third after their stubborn defence of a single-goal lead at Vissel Kobe was finally broken down at the death by a long-range strike from defender Hiroto Mogi.

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Urawa Reds remain in the relegation zone despite battling back from two down to rescue a point in the season�fs first Saitama derby. Hosts Omiya Ardija deservedly led 2-0 early in the second half thanks to diving headers from Rafael and Yuki Fukaya, but the momentum was quickly conceded when Edmilson calmly slotted home a spot-kick on 56 minutes.

19-year-old Genki Haraguchi then celebrated his call-up to the Japan U-22 squad with a spectacular equaliser twelve minutes from time; dribbling into the Omiya penalty area, appearing to be brought down but somehow still getting a low shot away past goalkeeper Nobuhiro Kato.

Champions League quarter-finalists Cerezo Osaka mustered their first league win in eight attempts with a 3-0 cruise at hapless Avispa Fukuoka, who have now lost all nine matches in their J1 return thus far. Kashima Antlers also put their recent struggles behind them by winning 2-0 away to second-from-bottom Montedio Yamagata.

Influent title holders Nagoya Grampus moved up to tenth place after an 89th-minute goal by Keiji Tamada secured a 1-0 victory at Jubilo Iwata.

Elsewhere, a stunning strike from Takashi Usami salvaged a 2-2 draw for Gamba Osaka at home to Shimizu S-Pulse, who had earlier overturned the hosts�f first-half lead with two goals in three minutes.

Kawasaki Frontale and Ventforet Kofu also drew 2-2 at Todoroki.


TALKING POINTS
- Despite a first call-up to the senior squad and his wonder goal against Shimizu, Usami has been left out of the Japan U-22 side to face Kuwait in qualification for the 2012 Olympic Games later this week. The teenager remains in talks over an imminent transfer to Bayern Munich.
- JEF United Chiba remain on top of the second division after beating FC Gifu 3-1.


J1 results (matchday 14)
Albirex Niigata 0-1 Sanfrecce Hiroshima
Yokohama F Marinos 0-2 Kashiwa Reysol
Jubilo Iwata 0-1 Nagoya Grampus
Avispa Fukuoka 0-3 Cerezo Osaka
Montedio Yamagata 0-2 Kashima Antlers
Kawasaki Frontale 2-2 Ventforet Kofu
Vissel Kobe 1-1 Vegalta Sendai
Omiya Ardija 2-2 Urawa Reds
Gamba Osaka 2-2 Shimizu S-Pulse