Football Japan Minutecast

Maya Yoshida went from villain to hero in dramatic fashion on Sunday evening, but Japan suffered a hugely disappointing start to their 2011 Asian Cup campaign as they were held to a 1-1 draw by lowly Jordan.

The Middle Eastern side, ranked 104th in the world by FIFA, took the lead against the run of play in first half stoppage time when Yoshida inadvertently diverted a Hasan Abdel Fattah attempt into his own net, but the VVV Venlo stopper eventually made amends with a headed equaliser on 93 minutes.

Manager Alberto Zaccheroni opted, as expected, for a 4-2-3-1 system with Ryoichi Maeda chosen to lead the attack and Daisuke Matsui preferred to Shinji Okazaki on the right of midfield. Yoshida and Yasuyuki Konno formed a makeshift centre-back pairing in the absence of several key defenders - including Tomoaki Makino, who has now been replaced in the squad by Mitsuru Nagata after failing to recover from a double ankle sprain.

Japan began the game in positive fashion and controlled possession throughout the first half, but in a manner all too reminiscent of previous failures before last year�fs World Cup, struggled to create many real chances against unfancied opponents happy to sit back and defend.

The best opportunity of the opening period fell to Shinji Kagawa on 40 minutes, when a clever dummy by Maeda left the Borussia Dortmund star through on goal only to see his low shot blocked by Amer Sabah from eight yards. Kagawa had earlier tested the goalkeeper with a cross-cum-shot from the left-hand corner of the penalty area, while Yoshida saw a close-range effort ruled out for offside after Makoto Hasebe�fs low drive was parried.

The favourites were made to pay for their profligacy and indecision in front of goal when Jordan scored a shock opener on the counter attack moments before the interval. Amer Deeb stole possession high up the field on the right-hand flank before squaring to Hasan, whose 20-yard shot took a massive deflection off Yoshida and flew past the helpless Eiji Kawashima.

Zaccheroni responded immediately by introducing Tadanari Lee for a full international debut in place of Maeda, but now the Jordanians enjoyed the luxury of a lead to defend, Japan�fs players found themselves with less and less space in which to turn persistent domination into genuine goal threat. Hasebe volleyed narrowly wide from substitute Okazaki�fs cross, but the likes of Kagawa and Keisuke Honda were otherwise restricted to frustrated pot shots as full time approached with the scoreline unchanged.

Four minutes of injury time displayed seemed to suddenly galvanise the Samurai Blue into life. Hasebe collected a short corner from Kagawa to place a high curling cross toward the back post, where Yoshida rose high above two Jordan defenders to head home and rescue Japan�fs blushes.

There may even have been time for an improbable winner, but Lee failed to control the ball at the death despite finding space to shoot against a tiring back line.

The Japanese players appeared despondent afterwards having struggled so badly in a match they had been expected to win comfortably, and their manager would seem to have plenty to resolve ahead of Thursday�fs meeting with Syria.

�gI felt we controlled the game and had easily the more chances,�h said Zaccheroni. �gBut we were essentially thrown off course by an own goal. The speed of our build-up play was a little too slow at times, and this is something we will need to work on before our second match.�h

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There was another surprise in the late game in Group B as three times Asian champions Saudi Arabia went down to a 2-1 defeat against Syria. Two deflected goals from Abdulrazaq Al-Husein proved sufficient for the Syrians, making their first appearance in the competition since 1996, despite a second half equaliser by Tayseer Al-Jassem. Saudi coach Jose Paseiro was immediately fired in the wake of the result.


AFC Asian Cup results
Group B
Japan 1-1 Jordan
Saudi Arabia 1-2 Syria

National team boss Alberto Zaccheroni has a defensive crisis to contend with as Japan prepare for their opening Asian Cup group match with Jordan in Doha tomorrow.

With both first-choice centre-backs, Yuji Nakazawa and Marcus Tulio Tanaka, already missing the tournament through injury, likely replacement Tomoaki Makino suffered an ankle sprain in training on Thursday, while Daiki Iwamasa is still struggling with a tendon problem picked up in the Emperor�fs Cup quarter-final on Christmas Day.

To make matters worse, teenage rookie Gotoku Sakai has now also been ruled out of the competition altogether with lower back pain.

Ryota Moriwaki of Sanfrecce Hiroshima has already been drafted into the squad as a replacement for Sakai, and the team�fs medical staff will wait right up until tomorrow morning�fs deadline for further registration changes before deciding whether or not Makino and Iwamasa are likely to play any part in Qatar.

In what will be his first competitive test as Japan manager, Zaccheroni therefore looks likely to field a makeshift central defensive pair consisting of FC Tokyo utility man Yasuyuki Konno and 22-year-old Maya Yoshida of VVV Venlo, whose only previous cap came in a qualifying match against Yemen 12 months ago.

Despite rumours in the domestic press earlier in the week surrounding the possible deployment of a three-man defence, the Italian is expected to retain the 4-2-3-1 system used successfully in friendlies last autumn against Argentina and South Korea. Yasuhito Endo and Makoto Hasebe should resume their partnership at the base of midfield, with Shinji Kagawa in a left-sided attacking role and Keisuke Honda taking the coveted central position behind the lone forward.

Ryoichi Maeda, joint top scorer in last season�fs J. League, is favourite to be granted the striking berth in the absence of Takayuki Morimoto, but Shinji Okazaki could alternatively be pushed further forward with Daisuke Matsui returning on the right-hand side of midfield.

Jordan are making just their second ever appearance in a continental finals, but will be buoyed by the memory of their previous campaign in 2004, when they reached the quarter-finals and took Japan all the way to a penalty shootout. Zico�fs eventual champions even looked set for a shock exit as they trailed 3-1 after three kicks apiece, but the Jordanians then contrived to miss four times in a row after the referee controversially agreed to switch ends midway through.

Four of the current Jordan squad played that day in Chongqing, China. Coach Adnan Hamad will likely mirror Japan�fs 4-2-3-1 formation, with the sole European-based player, Odai Al-Saify of Alky Larnaca in Cyprus, seen as the main goal threat.

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The host nation got off to a disappointing start when they were beaten 2-0 by Uzbekistan in the opening match on Friday evening. Odil Ahmedov opened the scoring with a superb 30-yard effort on the hour, before Server Djeparov took advantage of catastrophic Qatari defending to seal a comfortable win.

China moved joint top of Group A on Saturday with a 2-0 victory over Kuwait.


2011 AFC Asian Cup results
Group A
Qatar 0-2 Uzbekistan
Kuwait 0-2 China

A perfectly placed free-kick from Takuya Nozawa sealed Emperor�fs Cup glory for Kashima Antlers on New Year�fs Day as Oswaldo de Oliveira�fs side earned a 2-1 victory over Shimizu S-Pulse.

Japan�fs most decorated club were in danger of finishing the 2010 season with nothing to show for their efforts after slipping to a disappointing fourth place in the league, but got off to a strong start when midfielder Fellype Gabriel headed home a Mitsuo Ogasawara corner after 26 minutes.

The lead lasted until just before the hour mark when S-Pulse, who had struggled to find any joy from a stubborn Antlers defence throughout the first half, finally gained reward for a more positive start to the second through Frode Johnsen. The veteran Norwegian, playing his last match in Japan before returning home to Odd Grenland, latched onto a long pass to poke the ball first time over onrushing goalkeeper Hitoshi Sogahata from the edge of the box.

Their upturn in fortunes, however, proved fleeting. When Kashima were awarded a free-kick 25 yards out with little under a quarter of an hour remaining, Ogasawara dummied before Nozawa lifted a delicate shot over the defensive wall that dipped and curled toward the bottom-left corner of the goal. Shimizu custodian Kaito Yamamoto threw a desperate palm at the ball but was unable to prevent it from nestling just inside the post.

The win gave Kashima a fourth Emperor�fs Cup and their 14th major title overall, while ensuring that Oliveira maintained his record of one trophy per season in charge after finishing as J. League champions in each of his first three.

�gI'm thrilled,�h said Oliveira after the match. �gI couldn�ft allow myself to end the year without winning a title so this victory means a lot to me.�h

This latest triumph was all the more remarkable following the departures of the out-of-contract Brazilian duo, Marquinhos and Gilton, in mid-December, and a plantaris tendon injury for defensive mainstay Daiki Iwamasa sustained during last week�fs quarter-final.

For opposite number Kenta Hasegawa, it was a sad end to a six-year spell in charge at Nihondaira, during which he has established S-Pulse as consistent challengers but never quite managed to turn promising performances into silverware.

�gUltimately, it was Kashima who came away with another positive result,�h reflected a magnanimous Hasegawa at full-time. �gBut I don�ft regret anything I did today. Oliveira is a great manager - he found a way to win without his key players, and I didn�ft.�h

The Antlers�f success means they will make a fourth consecutive appearance in next season�fs AFC Champions League despite having initially missed out through their league position.


Emperor�fs Cup final result
Kashima Antlers 2-1 Shimizu S-Pulse

Shimizu S-Pulse and Kashima Antlers will contest the final of the 90th Emperor�fs Cup on New Year�fs Day after successfully coming through their respective semi-finals on Wednesday afternoon.

S-Pulse managed to prolong the reign of Kenta Hasegawa as manager for a further three days with a 3-0 win over holders Gamba Osaka at the Ecopa Stadium in Shizuoka. Frode Johnsen opened the scoring with a header on 19 minutes, before Akihiro Hyodo slotted home to double the lead just before the half hour mark.

Johnsen then pounced again midway through the second half to finally destroy Gamba hopes of a record third consecutive Emperor�fs Cup success, and secure total revenge for Shimizu�fs defeat by a similar scoreline on the final day of the league season.

Kashima earned a return to the National Stadium with victory in the capital over relegated FC Tokyo, but were made to work harder than anticipated for their win after Sota Hirayama gave Kiyoshi Okuma�fs side a shock lead shortly before half time.

Yuya Osako�fs header restored parity on 67 minutes, and with the game still level after 90, fortune turned the Antlers�f way soon after the start of extra time when Takuji Yonemoto was sent off for a second yellow card. Shinzo Koroki finally stole the headlines when his close range effort clinched a dramatic late victory with penalties looming.

Oswaldo de Oliveira�fs side will be making their first appearance in the New Year showpiece since beating Sanfrecce Hiroshima in 2008. Shimizu lost to Urawa Reds in 2006 and last won the Emperor�fs Cup in 2002 - a year after losing 3-2 against Kashima thanks to a golden goal by Mitsuo Ogasawara.

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Shinji Kagawa of Borussia Dortmund has been given the coveted Japan number 10 shirt for the AFC Asian Cup next month - succeeding long-time bearer Shunsuke Nakamura, who retired from international football after this year�fs World Cup. Keisuke Honda will stay with the number 18 he wore in South Africa, while young defender Maya Yoshida wears 22 in place of the injured Yuji Nakazawa.


Emperor�fs Cup semi-final results (29 December)
Kashima Antlers 2-1 FC Tokyo (after extra time)
Shimizu S-Pulse 3-0 Gamba Osaka


Emperor�fs Cup semi-final results (29 December)
Kashima Antlers 2-1 Nagoya Grampus
Avispa Fukuoka 2-3 FC Tokyo (after extra time)
Shimizu S-Pulse 1-1 Montedio Yamagata (after extra time; Shimizu win 5-4 on penalties)
Gamba Osaka 2-1 Urawa Reds (after extra time)


AFC Asian Cup 2011 - Japan squad numbers
1. Eiji Kawashima (GK)
2. Masahiko Inoha (DF)
3. Daiki Iwamasa (DF)
4. Yasuyuki Konno (DF)
5. Yuto Nagatomo (DF)
6. Atsuto Uchida (DF)
7. Yasuhito Endo (MF)
8. Daisuke Matsui (MF)
9. Shinji Okazaki (FW)
10. Shinji Kagawa (MF)
11. Ryoichi Maeda (FW)
12. Gotoku Sakai (DF)
13. Hajime Hosogai (MF)
14. Jungo Fujimoto (MF)
15. Takuya Honda (MF)
16. Yosuke Kashiwagi (MF)
17. Makoto Hasebe (MF)
18. Keisuke Honda (MF)
19. Tadanari Lee (FW)
20. Tomoaki Makino (DF)
21. Shusaku Nishikawa (GK)
22. Maya Yoshida (DF)
23. Shuichi Gonda (GK)

Japan manager Alberto Zaccheroni included four uncapped players in his squad of 23 for next month�fs AFC Asian Cup in Qatar, announced earlier on Thursday.

Defenders Masahiko Inoha of Kashima Antlers and Gotoku Sakai of Albirex Niigata, Shimizu S-Pulse midfielder Takuya Honda, and Sanfrecce Hiroshima forward Tadanari Lee were all given the chance of full debuts on the international stage as the Samurai Blue look for their first continental title since 2004.

The defensive reinforcements were necessitated by knee injuries to both World Cup centre-backs, Marcus Tulio Tanaka and Yuji Nakazawa, while naturalised fourth-generation Korean Lee earned his opportunity in the wake of unexpected knee surgery for Catania striker Takayuki Morimoto.

Eight of the squad are currently based overseas, with a ninth, Urawa Reds midfielder Hajime Hosogai, now set for a loan switch to German second tier side FC Augsburg as part of a permanent deal with Bayer Leverkusen. Forward Shinji Okazaki of Shimizu S-Pulse is also mulling over a Bundesliga move to VfB Stuttgart.

The full squad is as follows:


Goalkeepers (3):
Eiji Kawashima (Lierse), Shusaku Nishikawa (Sanfrecce Hiroshima), Shuichi Gonda (FC Tokyo)

Defenders (8):
Daiki Iwamasa, Masahiko Inoha (both Kashima Antlers), Yasuyuki Konno (FC Tokyo), Yuto Nagatomo (Cesena), Tomoaki Makino (Sanfrecce Hiroshima), Atsuto Uchida (Schalke 04), Maya Yoshida (VVV Venlo), Gotoku Sakai (Albirex Niigata)

Midfielders (9):
Yasuhito Endo (Gamba Osaka), Daisuke Matsui (Tom Tomsk), Makoto Hasebe (VfL Wolfsburg), Jungo Fujimoto, Takuya Honda (both Shimizu S-Pulse), Hajime Hosogai, Yosuke Kashiwagi (both Urawa Reds), Keisuke Honda (CSKA Moscow), Shinji Kagawa (Borussia Dortmund)

Forwards (3):
Ryoichi Maeda (Jubilo Iwata), Tadanari Lee (Sanfrecce Hiroshima), Shinji Okazaki (Shimizu S-Pulse)


The Asian Cup gets under way on 7 January with the opening match between hosts Qatar and Uzbekistan. Japan�fs Group B programme begins against Jordan two days later, before meetings with Syria on 13 January and Saudi Arabia on 17 January.

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The quarter-finals of the Emperor�fs Cup on Christmas Day will pit holders Gamba Osaka against fierce rivals Urawa Reds, as J. League champions Nagoya Grampus visit predecessors Kashima Antlers. Relegated FC Tokyo take on Avispa Fukuoka – one of the sides that will replace them in J1 next year – while Shimizu S-Pulse host Montedio Yamagata.

Internazionale (Italy) 3-0 TP Mazembe (DR Congo)
Goals: Pandev 13, Eto�fo 17, Biabiany 86


Internazionale beat TP Mazembe 3-0 on Sunday evening to add the FIFA Club World Cup to the trio of titles won last season under former boss Jose Mourinho and relieve some of the pressure on his successor, Rafa Benitez, in the process.

Early goals from Goran Pandev and Samuel Eto�fo gave the Italians an advantage they never looked like surrendering, and despite a determined response from Mazembe – the first ever team from outside Europe and South America to reach a Club World Cup final – glory was secured when Jonathan Biabiany added a third goal near the end.

Benitez made two changes to the eleven that started in Wednesday�fs 3-0 semi-final win over Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma, keeping faith with Thiago Motta as a replacement for the hamstrung Wesley Sneijder, and moving Javier Zanetti into midfield at the expense of Dejan Stankovic, with the Brazilian Maicon coming in at right-back.

Mazembe coach Lamine N�fDiaye unsurprisingly retained the same side that made history by beating Internacional of Brazil 2-0 last Tuesday.

Despite a confident start by the Africans, it took only 13 minutes for Inter to stamp their footprint on the final. Cameroonian Eto�fo flicked the ball over the Mazembe back four, and when captain Kazembe Mihayo missed with an acrobatic attempt at a clearance, Pandev took advantage to slot the ball home low to the goalkeeper�fs right.

The advantage was then doubled just four minutes later. Esteban Cambiasso fed the overlapping Zanetti on the right-hand flank, and though Pandev failed to control the 37-year-old skipper�fs cutback, Eto�fo was on hand to roll a low shot agonisingly past Muteba Kidiaba�fs dive and inside his right-hand post.

To their credit, Mazembe showed few signs of losing either nerve or discipline, but despite some clever wide play from Joel Kimwaki and Mulota Kabangu, their attempts on goal were generally restricted to speculative pot shots from distance. The best chances of the remainder of the half fell to Inter, as Diego Milito was twice put clean through on goal only to be denied on each occasion by Kidiaba, the hero of the semi-final.

N�fDiaye brought on forward Mukok Kanda for Ngandu Kasongo at the start of the second half in an attempt to change the flow of the game, but his side were again forced to shoot from distance as Inter looked content with their two-goal advantage.

The game finally opened up a little more for Mazembe in the final quarter of an hour, after Dioko Kaluyituka had a penalty claim for a challenge by Inter �ekeeper Julio Cesar turned down by Japanese referee Yuichi Nishimura. Kaluyituka then saw his close-range volley parried by Cesar, with the European champions�f defence just about managing to clear before Amia Ekanga could net the rebound.

With five minutes left on the clock, young Frenchman Biabiany sealed a well-deserved triumph for Benitez�fs men when he expertly controlled a lofted through ball from fellow substitute Stankovic, deceiving Kidiaba to roll the ball into the empty net.

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Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma, who saw off J. League clubs Kawasaki Frontale and Gamba Osaka on their way to being crowned champions of Asia in Tokyo last month, were beaten 4-2 by Internacional in the playoff for third place. Jang Suk-Won was sent off in the first half as the Koreans succumbed to goals from Tinga, Alecsandro (2), and Andres D�fAlessandro before Mauricio Molina netted two goals in reply late on.

There were celebrations all over the Kansai region on Saturday evening as a trio of big victories secured J1 survival for Vissel Kobe and places in next year�fs AFC Champions League (ACL) for both Gamba and Cerezo Osaka.

Still in the bottom three going into the final day, Vissel knew they had to go for broke in a tough-looking trip to Urawa Reds, and survived a number of early scares to take a crucial lead on 31 minutes through veteran forward Takayuki Yoshida.

Yoshida then doubled the lead from the spot shortly after half time, and when Park Kang-Jo latched onto a Popo through pass to stun a packed Saitama Stadium with a third goal on the hour mark, attentions turned to Nishikyogoku, where Kobe still required a favour from Kansai rivals Kyoto Sanga against FC Tokyo.

The capital club held a one-point advantage that would be enough to secure their safety if they could win at long since relegated Kyoto, but fell behind to a Dutra header after 34 minutes. A desperate attacking effort throughout the second half was continually thwarted by an inspired Sanga defence, and though the hosts were reduced to ten men with a straight red card for Yasumasa Nishino minutes from the end, it was they who found a late goal deep into injury time.

Dutra broke through the Tokyo defence only to be felled by goalkeeper Shuichi Gonda, leaving Diego to convert the resultant spot kick and complete a 2-0 victory - Kyoto�fs first for three months and only their fourth of the entire season.

Back in Saitama, 18-year-old Keijiro Ogawa then crowned a perfect day for Vissel by slotting home to make the final score 4-0 and spark ecstatic celebrations on the touchlines as news of the FC Tokyo score filtered through.

Vegalta Sendai saw off their mathematical risk of relegation with a 1-1 draw at home to Kawasaki Frontale.

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The battle for the two remaining ACL places up for grabs was no less dramatic, with both Kashima Antlers and Gamba Osaka beginning the afternoon on 59 points but Cerezo Osaka just a point behind and boasting a superior goal difference.

On paper, Gamba had the hardest fixture of the three with a visit to Shimizu S-Pulse, but any pre-match nerves were settled early in the first half when Lucas volleyed home on his 200th - and last - J. League appearance following a poor punch from goalkeeper Yohei Nishibe. Further goals from Takuya Takei and Hayato Sasaki secured a 3-0 win that guaranteed Asian qualification regardless of other results.

City neighbours Cerezo raced into a 2-0 first half lead at home to Jubilo Iwata, and were buoyed further by the news that Shogo Nishikawa had given Montedio Yamagata a shock advantage over Kashima. The second period in Osaka began with four goals shared evenly in a crazy ten-minute period that also took Cerezo striker Adriano�fs tally for the day to four, but a Mitsuo Ogasawara equaliser from the penalty spot in Yamagata meant that everything would depend on whether Kashima could find a winner.

Despite creating a number of chances, the recently deposed champions ultimately ran out of time, allowing Cerezo to climb into third position in their first year back in the top flight. The pink half of Osaka toasted their impending success with further late goals from Amaral and Ryuji Bando, making the final score 6-2.

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Elsewhere, Omiya Ardija won 2-0 at Yokohama F Marinos, Albirex Niigata beat bottom side Shonan Bellmare 3-1, and champions Nagoya Grampus ousted Sanfrecce Hiroshima 2-1 to seal a final winning margin of ten points.

Joshua Kennedy of Grampus and Ryoichi Maeda of Jubilo shared the J1 golden boot with 17 goals apiece.


J1 results (matchday 34)
Vegalta Sendai 1-1 Kawasaki Frontale
Montedio Yamagata 1-1 Kashima Antlers
Urawa Reds 0-4 Vissel Kobe
Yokohama F Marinos 0-2 Omiya Ardija
Albirex Niigata 3-1 Shonan Bellmare
Shimizu S-Pulse 0-3 Gamba Osaka
Nagoya Grampus 2-1 Sanfrecce Hiroshima
Kyoto Sanga 2-0 FC Tokyo
Cerezo Osaka 6-2 Jubilo Iwata


J1 final standings
1. Nagoya Grampus - 72
2. Gamba Osaka - 62
3. Cerezo Osaka - 61
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4. Kashima Antlers - 60
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5. Kawasaki Frontale - 54
6. Shimizu S-Pulse - 54
7. Sanfrecce Hiroshima - 51
8. Yokohama F Marinos - 51
9. Albirex Niigata - 49
10. Urawa Reds - 48
11. Jubilo Iwata - 44
12. Omiya Ardija - 42
13. Montedio Yamagata - 42
14. Vegalta Sendai - 39
15. Vissel Kobe - 38
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16. FC Tokyo - 36
17. Kyoto Sanga - 19
18. Shonan Bellmare - 16


J2 final standings (top 5)
1. Kashiwa Reysol - 80
2. Ventforet Kofu - 70
3. Avispa Fukuoka - 69
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4. JEF United Chiba - 61
5. Tokyo Verdy - 58

Vissel Kobe kept alive their hopes of surviving in J1 with a 1-0 win at home to fifth-placed Shimizu S-Pulse, despite being reduced to ten men with the game still goalless.

Three points adrift of safety going into the penultimate matchday, the hosts grew in confidence throughout the second half having withstood sustained Shimizu pressure in the first, but looked to have been dealt a huge blow when midfielder Hideo Tanaka was sent off for a second yellow card with a quarter of an hour remaining.

However, Yosuke Ishibitsu�fs cross was deflected into the path of Keijiro Ogawa, who was able to square for defender Hiroto Mogi to fire past Yohei Nishibe and end S-Pulse�fs chances of Asian Champions League qualification.

Kobe boss Masahiro Wada announced to supporters after the game that his side �gwould continue to fight for as long as possibility still remains�h, and their chances were boosted further when FC Tokyo could only draw 1-1 at home to Montedio Yamagata later on Saturday evening.

Sota Hirayama�fs deflected opener on 74 minutes had appeared to set the capital club on course for a crucial victory until Yuzo Tashiro headed home a Ryo Kobayashi cross with just four minutes left on the clock.

The results take Vissel to within just one point of FC Tokyo going into the final round of fixtures next Saturday. Vegalta Sendai are still not mathematically safe after a last-gasp defeat at Sanfrecce Hiroshima left them three points and six goals clear of danger, but Omiya Ardija secured another season of top-flight football with a 2-2 draw against Albirex Niigata.

At the top, Gamba Osaka missed the opportunity to guarantee ACL qualification after two early goals gave Yokohama F Marinos a 2-0 win at Banpaku. Shunsuke Nakamura opened the scoring after only three minutes, before setting up Kazuma Watanabe to net for the first time in 13 matches just before the quarter-hour mark.

Kashima Antlers survived a late fightback by relegated Kyoto Sanga to move back into second with a 2-1 victory, while Cerezo Osaka gained a potentially crucial goal difference advantage after thrashing bottom side Shonan Bellmare 4-0. Levir Culpi�fs men are now just a point behind Kashima and Gamba and perfectly placed to pounce should either of their rivals slip up next weekend.

Kawasaki Frontale�fs chances of a return to the Asian stage were ended with a 1-1 draw at home to Urawa Reds, while champions Nagoya Grampus restored their ten-point lead by winning 2-1 at Jubilo Iwata.

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The Japanese U-21 men�fs football team won the gold medal at the 2010 Asian Games in Guangzhou after Yuki Saneto�fs late strike gave them a 1-0 win over the United Arab Emirates. The success matched that of the Japanese women�fs team, who beat North Korea by a similar scoreline thanks to Azusa Iwashimizu.


J1 results (matchday 33)
Kawasaki Frontale 1-1 Urawa Reds
Jubilo Iwata 1-2 Nagoya Grampus
Gamba Osaka 0-2 Yokohama F Marinos
Vissel Kobe 1-0 Shimizu S-Pulse
Omiya Ardija 2-2 Albirex Niigata
FC Tokyo 1-1 Montedio Yamagata
Sanfrecce Hiroshima 1-0 Vegalta Sendai
Kashima Antlers 2-1 Kyoto Sanga
Shonan Bellmare 0-4 Cerezo Osaka


2010 Asian Games football gold medal match (men)
Japan U-21 1-0 United Arab Emirates U-21


2010 Asian Games football gold medal match (women)
Japan 1-0 North Korea

FC Tokyo were the big winners on an afternoon of twists and turns in the J1 survival battle yesterday as Japan celebrated Labour Thanksgiving Day.

With the majority of the Toyota Stadium in party mood as Nagoya Grampus celebrated on home soil for the first time since clinching the J. League title on Saturday, the capital club took advantage to surprisingly steal a third successive away win. Former Japan striker Masashi Oguro netted the game�fs only goal when his looping effort beat Grampus �ekeeper Seigo Narazaki on 27 minutes.

The champions once again brought on Keita Sugimoto in an attempt to rescue the situation, but Joshua Kennedy and Keiji Tamada lacked their usual potency in front of goal as the FC Tokyo defence held firm.

The significance of the result was underlined three hours later when third-from-bottom Vissel Kobe conceded a late equaliser to draw 2-2 at Omiya Ardija. Masahiro Wada�fs side led twice through Park Kang-Jo and a Yuki Fukaya own goal, but were pegged back first by Mato Neretljak and ultimately by Naoki Ishihara with just five minutes remaining.

Vissel are now three points behind FC Tokyo with a significantly inferior goal difference, meaning defeats in either of their two remaining matches will virtually guarantee relegation to J2. Neither Omiya nor Vegalta Sendai, who drew 1-1 at Albirex Niigata, are mathematically out of trouble yet with the gap to the drop zone still six points, but Montedio Yamagata ensured their safety with a 1-0 win over Kyoto Sanga.

Elsewhere, Kashima Antlers suffered a shock 2-1 home defeat to Jubilo Iwata that sees them fall to third and suddenly in danger of missing out on qualification for the Asian Champions League. The outgoing champions were stunned by goals from Ryoichi Maeda and Gilsinho in the opening quarter of an hour, and only found one Daiki Iwamasa header in reply despite outshooting their opponents by 22 shots to seven.

This was good news for both Osaka clubs as Gamba moved three points ahead into second with a laboured 2-1 victory against Shonan Bellmare, while Cerezo won a pulsating encounter away to Kawasaki Frontale by a similar scoreline. Levir Culpi was rewarded for his attacking changes with second half goals by Rui Komatsu and Adriano, as Cerezo climbed to within a point of Kashima in fourth.

Frontale drop to sixth behind Shimizu S-Pulse, who are now two points adrift of the ACL places after beating Sanfrecce Hiroshima - also by 2-1. Both Sanfrecce and Yokohama F Marinos, who were thrashed 4-1 at home to Urawa Reds, are now out of Asian contention.

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Kashiwa Reysol clinched the J2 championship with a 2-0 victory over Yokohama FC, while Avispa Fukuoka guaranteed the third and final promotion spot after their 2-0 win at FC Gifu was followed by defeat for closest challengers JEF United Chiba at in-form Thespa Kusatsu.


J1 results (matchday 32)
Kashima Antlers 1-2 Jubilo Iwata
Yokohama F Marinos 1-4 Urawa Reds
Shimizu S-Pulse 2-1 Sanfrecce Hiroshima
Nagoya Grampus 0-1 FC Tokyo
Gamba Osaka 2-1 Shonan Bellmare
Omiya Ardija 2-2 Vissel Kobe
Kawasaki Frontale 1-2 Cerezo Osaka
Albirex Niigata 1-1 Vegalta Sendai
Montedio Yamagata 1-0 Kyoto Sanga


Selected J2 results (matchday 36)
FC Gifu 0-2 Avispa Fukuoka
Thespa Kusatsu 2-0 JEF United Chiba
Kashiwa Reysol 2-0 Yokohama FC

Nagoya Grampus are champions of Japan for the first time in the 18-year history of the J. League after a 1-0 win away to bottom side Shonan Bellmare, as closest challengers Kashima Antlers could only draw 0-0 at Vissel Kobe.

With an eight-point advantage going into the weekend, Grampus knew that any slipup from the three-times defending champions would hand them the title as long as they beat Bellmare, but were immediately forced onto the back foot by an opponent whose relegation was confirmed last week. It took the second half introduction of supersub Keita Sugimoto to change the rhythm of the game, and it was he who fed in Keiji Tamada to slot home the only goal on 67 minutes.

Following confirmation that Kashima had been unable to break a frustrating stalemate in Kobe, the Grampus substitutes joined arms on the touchline for a nervy final two minutes before the referee�fs whistle sparked scenes of ecstatic celebration both on the pitch and amongst the travelling support.

Manager Dragan Stojković, who also played for the club between 1994 and 2001, appeared drained and relieved as he spoke to television reporters before the trophy presentation.

�gWe work very hard and every game was really hard, but to make this kind of result for the first time in the history of the club is something really special. So I'm very, very happy, and I'm very proud for the people of Nagoya.

�gThis is completely different to when I was a player. I'm very satisfied with my work and with a very good fight from all the players. They deserve it.�h

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Gamba Osaka strengthened their grip on the third automatic Asian Champions League place with a 2-0 victory at fierce rivals Urawa Reds. Second half goals from Yasuhito Endo and Lucas rounded off a largely dominant performance from Akira Nishino�fs men, who now move level on points with Kashima.

Cerezo Osaka remain four points behind their city rivals in fourth position after a vital 2-0 win at home to Yokohama F Marinos, who slip down to eighth. Kawasaki Frontale stay fifth - behind Cerezo on goal difference - after Juninho�fs late strike gave them a 2-1 away win at struggling FC Tokyo, with Shimizu S-Pulse a point back in sixth after coming from behind to beat ten-man Vegalta Sendai 3-1.

The results leave FC Tokyo just one point ahead of Kobe in the final relegation spot with three matches to play. Sendai are now one of a trio of clubs on 37 points - six clear of danger - alongside Omiya Ardija, who won 2-0 at relegated Kyoto Sanga, and Montedio Yamagata, whose scoreless draw at Jubilo Iwata guaranteed safety for their hosts.

Sanfrecce Hiroshima hammered Albirex Niigata 4-0 in the weekend�fs remaining fixture.

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Avispa Fukuoka crowned a perfect week with a dramatic 3-2 win over Tokyo Verdy that means promotion from J2 could be secured as early as tomorrow. The club from Kyushu are also the only second-tier side remaining in the last eight of the Emperor�fs Cup after beating Omiya Ardija on penalties last Wednesday.

Holders Gamba Osaka were given a scare by J2 champions-elect Kashiwa Reysol but remain on course for a third successive crown after coming back to win 4-1 after extra time.


J1 results (matchday 31)
Vegalta Sendai 1-3 Shimizu S-Pulse
Urawa Reds 0-2 Gamba Osaka
FC Tokyo 1-2 Kawasaki Frontale
Shonan Bellmare 0-1 Nagoya Grampus
Vissel Kobe 0-0 Kashima Antlers
Jubilo Iwata 0-0 Montedio Yamagata
Cerezo Osaka 2-0 Yokohama F Marinos
Sanfrecce Hiroshima 4-0 Albirex Niigata
Kyoto Sanga 0-2 Omiya Ardija


Selected J2 results (matchday 35)
Sagan Tosu 1-1 Kashiwa Reysol
Ventforet Kofu 2-4 Thespa Kusatsu
Avispa Fukuoka 3-2 Tokyo Verdy
JEF United Chiba 2-1 Giravanz Kitakyushu


Emperor�fs Cup 4th round results
Kashima Antlers 2-1 Cerezo Osaka
Nagoya Grampus 1-1 Albirex Niigata (after extra time; Nagoya win 5-4 on penalties)
Omiya Ardija 2-2 Avispa Fukuoka (after extra time; Fukuoka win 4-3 on penalties)
FC Tokyo 2-0 JEF United Chiba
Kawasaki Frontale 3-3 Montedio Yamagata (after extra time; Yamagata win 5-4 on penalties)
Yokohama F Marinos 0-3 Shimizu S-Pulse
Gamba Osaka 4-1 Kashiwa Reysol (after extra time)
Urawa Reds 1-0 Jubilo Iwata