Aoyama goes the whole 69 yards but Marinos hit back to thwart Sanfrecce

Ben Mabley — 2012-05-14T14:53:23+09:00

Sanfrecce Hiroshima midfielder Toshihiro Aoyama took aim from fully 69 yards to score one of the most astonishing goals in J. League history on Saturday afternoon.

Six minutes into his side’s home match with Yokohama F. Marinos, the 26-year-old spotted the opposing goalkeeper Hiroki Iikura standing on the edge of his penalty area and launched an incredible, unstoppable shot from well inside his own half – behind even the centre circle.

The dramatic opening was as good as it got for Hiroshima, however, as Marinos fought back with three goals of their own to seal a fourth successive league victory. Marquinhos levelled the scores on his first start since returning to the club where he first spent a season back in 2003, while Manabu Saito and Seitaro Tomisawa both netted late in the second half.

Having failed to muster a single win in their first seven matches, the quick resurgence in form has now taken Yasuhiro Higuchi’s side into the top half of the table.

Jubilo Iwata were the weekend’s big movers, with a 3-0 defeat of struggling Kashima Antlers catapulting them up to fourth in the table after all six of the sides that had begun proceedings ahead of the Shizuoka club failed to take three points.

Ryoichi Maeda headed Iwata into a tenth minute lead, before Takuya Matsuura and the impressive Hiroki Yamada added gloss to the scoreline with two well-taken strikes in the final ten minutes.

Second-placed Shimizu S-Pulse needed a dramatic equaliser from Alex Brosque with the final kick of the game to rescue a point at home to Cerezo Osaka, who had led through Yoichiro Kakitani’s first ever J1 goal, but leaders Vegalta Sendai were unable to take advantage as they were also forced to come from behind to draw 1-1 at the other Osaka club, Gamba.

A low, curling shot from Shu Kurata looked set to secure a much-needed three points for the crisis-ridden 2005 champions, but Ryang Yong-Gi and Shingo Akamine combined on their respective returns from injury for the latter to head home an equaliser on 78 minutes.

------------

Elsewhere, title holders Kashiwa Reysol moved clear of the relegation zone with a welcome 2-0 victory away to Kawasaki Frontale. Masato Kudo scrambled the visitors in front midway through the second half, before Jorge Wagner sealed the points with his second in two games late into stoppage time.

Nagoya Grampus are up to eighth after putting their recent losing run to an end with a 1-0 win at Vissel Kobe thanks to a single Keiji Tamada strike shortly before half time. FC Tokyo rise to sixth after a first-minute goal from Yohei Kajiyama proved enough to edge fellow newly-promoted side Consadole Sapporo by the same scoreline.

Urawa Reds could only draw 1-1 at home to third-from-bottom Albirex Niigata despite a sixth league goal of the season for Marcio Richardes, while a last-minute own goal by the unfortunate Yu Hasegawa of Omiya Ardija preserved Sagan Tosu’s unbeaten home record.

The middle order remains typically congested, with just five points separating Sanfrecce in third from Cerezo in 14th.

TALKING POINTS
- It is ‘as you were’ at the top of J2 as both Montedio Yamagata and Shonan Bellmare were held to 1-1 draws; away to Avispa Fukuoka and at home to Oita Trinita, respectively.
- With Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson in the stands, Shinji Kagawa scored after just three minutes to set Borussia Dortmund on their way to a German domestic double and a 5-2 thrashing of Bayern Munich in the final of the DFB-Pokal.
- Kashiwa and Japan U-23 right-back Hiroki Sakai is set to become the next Japanese representative in the Bundesliga, with a move to Hannover 96 now close to completion.

J1 results (matchday 11)
Consadole Sapporo 0-1 FC Tokyo
Jubilo Iwata 3-0 Kashima Antlers
Sagan Tosu 1-1 Omiya Ardija
Kawasaki Frontale 0-2 Kashiwa Reysol
Sanfrecce Hiroshima 1-3 Yokohama F Marinos
Shimizu S-Pulse 1-1 Cerezo Osaka
Urawa Reds 1-1 Albirex Niigata
Vissel Kobe 0-1 Nagoya Grampus
Gamba Osaka 1-1 Vegalta Sendai

J2 results (matchday 14)
Ehime FC 2-2 Giravanz Kitakyushu
Thespa Kusatsu 1-2 Tochigi SC
Tokyo Verdy 0-1 Fagiano Okayama
Machida Zelvia 1-6 JEF United Chiba
Yokohama FC 3-0 Kataller Toyama
Avispa Fukuoka 1-1 Montedio Yamagata
Shonan Bellmare 1-1 Oita Trinita
Kyoto Sanga 2-1 Tokushima Vortis
Gainare Tottori 2-1 Mito HollyHock
Roasso Kumamoto 0-0 Ventforet Kofu
FC Gifu 0-1 Matsumoto Yamaga

]]>

Omae God! Hail Genki as S-Pulse reel in Sendai

Ben Mabley — 2012-05-08T18:20:40+09:00

Shimizu S-Pulse underlined their early championship credentials by inflicting a first league defeat of the season upon J. League leaders Vegalta Sendai at the Yurtec Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

With somewhat temperamental weather sweeping the country on the final day of the Golden Week holiday, a heavy hailstorm caused the top-of-the-table clash to be halted for around 40 minutes midway through the first half.

Following the resumption of play, it was the visitors who found their rhythm and opened the scoring five minutes before the scheduled interval when Toshiyuki Takagi crossed for Genki Omae to head past Sendai goalkeeper Takuto Hayashi.

Shimizu’s hopes of retaining their advantage took a blow midway through the second period when Dutch defender Calvin Jong-a-Pin was dismissed for two bookable offences. But thanks partly to a fine performance between the posts by Akihiro Hayashi, who joined in pre-season from Belgian third-tier side Charleroi-Marchienne, Afshin Ghotbi’s men held on to close the gap at the summit to just two points.

Sanfrecce Hiroshima are two points further back in third after a crazy 5-2 victory away to the struggling title holders, Kashiwa Reysol.

J1 leading scorer Hisato Sato struck his eighth and ninth goals of the season to push the away side into a 2-0 lead early in the second half, but a terrific turn and shot from Junya Tanaka inspired a Kashiwa recovery which brought parity when Jorge Wagner netted his first of the campaign with 13 minutes remaining.

However, a Mihael Mikić cross found Yojiro Takahagi to tap Hiroshima back in front, and as Reysol desperately sought a second equaliser, Naoki Ishihara took advantage with a stoppage time double to give the final scoreline a somewhat cruel gloss. The champions have only eight points from nine games and are separated from the relegation zone on goals scored.

------------

Kawasaki Frontale moved up to sixth position with their second straight victory under new manager Yahiro Kazama, edging Nagoya Grampus by the odd goal in five at the Toyota Stadium.

Takuro Yajima was the hero with two goals and an assist to give Kawasaki a 3-1 lead in a first half that Nagoya boss Dragan Stojković described as “catastrophic”. A major reshuffle at the interval allowed the home side to control the second period, but a single goal in reply from Jungo Fujimoto proved insufficient to prevent first back-to-back defeats since October 2009.

Urawa Reds are fourth after a 2-2 draw at seventh-placed Jubilo Iwata, for whom South Korean U-23 international and former Watford youth player Baek Sung-Dong netted his first ever J. League goals, while the ever-impressive new boys Sagan Tosu are fifth after a goalless draw at Kashima Antlers.

Fortunes remain quite the opposite for Consadole Sapporo, who fell victim to a third consecutive win for the resurgent Yokohama F Marinos to remain rooted to the foot of the table on four points. Gamba Osaka were punished for their profligacy in front of goal with a 1-0 defeat at Omiya Ardija to stay second from bottom.

Elsewhere, Vissel Kobe won 2-1 away to Kansai rivals Cerezo Osaka to make it a maximum six points in two matches under caretaker manager Ryo Adachi, while FC Tokyo were 2-0 victors at Albirex Niigata.

TALKING POINTS
- Vissel Kobe are reportedly set to appoint Akira Nishino, who led Gamba Osaka to six major domestic and Asian honours plus eight top three finishes in the past ten seasons, as their new full-time manager on a contract that will take him up to the end of 2014.
- Shinji Kagawa and Gotoku Sakai both registered assists for their respective clubs on the final weekend of the German Bundesliga season. Kagawa is set to announce a decision on his future following this Saturday’s DFB-Pokal final against Bayern Munich.
- Montedio Yamagata beat Thespa Kusatsu 1-0 to leapfrog Shonan Bellmare, who were held 1-1 by Matsumoto Yamaga, to the head of the J2 table.

J1 results (matchday 10)
Vegalta Sendai 0-1 Shimizu S-Pulse
Yokohama F Marinos 2-1 Consadole Sapporo
Cerezo Osaka 1-2 Vissel Kobe
Kashiwa Reysol 2-5 Sanfrecce Hiroshima
Omiya Ardija 1-0 Gamba Osaka
Jubilo Iwata 2-2 Urawa Reds
Nagoya Grampus 2-3 Kawasaki Frontale
Kashima Antlers 0-0 Sagan Tosu
Albirex Niigata 0-2 FC Tokyo

J2 results (matchday 13)
Tochigi SC 1-0 Avispa Fukuoka (match abandoned)
Ventforet Kofu 0-3 Kyoto Sanga
Kataller Toyama 1-1 Machida Zelvia
Tokushima Vortis 1-1 Roasso Kumamoto
Oita Trinita 3-0 Gainare Tottori
JEF United Chiba 1-0 Ehime FC
Matsumoto Yamaga 1-1 Shonan Bellmare
Fagiano Okayama 0-1 FC Gifu
Montedio Yamagata 1-0 Thespa Kusatsu
Mito HollyHock 0-2 Tokyo Verdy
Giravanz Kitakyushu 1-2 Yokohama FC

AFC Champions League group stage results (East Asia, matchday 5)
Group E
Adelaide United (AUS) 0-0 Bunyodkor (UZB)
Pohang Steelers (KOR) 2-0 Gamba Osaka (JPN)

Group F
FC Tokyo (JPN) 4-2 Brisbane Roar (AUS)
Beijing Guoan (CHN) 2-3 Ulsan Hyundai (KOR)

Group G
Central Coast Mariners (AUS) 5-1 Tianjin Teda (CHN)
Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma (KOR) 1-1 Nagoya Grampus (JPN)

Group H
Kashiwa Reysol (JPN) 1-0 Buriram United (THA)
Guangzhou Evergrande (CHN) 1-3 Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (KOR)

]]>

CATCH UP – Golden Week 2012

Ben Mabley — 2012-05-07T11:16:56+09:00

Football Japan’s Ben Mabley presents a quick catch-up of two rounds of J1 action during the Japanese Golden Week holiday before this week’s main Minutecast, which will focus on a full programme of Sunday fixtures.

J1 results (matchday 8 – Saturday 28 April 2012)
FC Tokyo 0-1 Shimizu S-Pulse
Nagoya Grampus 1-2 Urawa Reds
Kashiwa Reysol 1-1 Sagan Tosu
Kawasaki Frontale 1-4 Sanfrecce Hiroshima
Kashima Antlers 5-0 Gamba Osaka
Omiya Ardija 2-1 Consadole Sapporo
Yokohama F Marinos 3-1 Vissel Kobe
Albirex Niigata 0-1 Vegalta Sendai
Cerezo Osaka 3-2 Jubilo Iwata

J1 results (matchday 9 – Thursday 3 May 2012)
Consadole Sapporo 1-0 Cerezo Osaka
Vissel Kobe 3-0 Omiya Ardija
Kawasaki Frontale 4-3 Jubilo Iwata
Sanfrecce Hiroshima 0-1 Albirex Niigata
Sagan Tosu 1-1 Vegalta Sendai
Urawa Reds 1-2 Yokohama F Marinos
Shimizu S-Pulse 3-0 Kashima Antlers
FC Tokyo P-P Kashiwa Reysol
Gamba Osaka P-P Nagoya Grampus

]]>

‘Urawa killer’ strikes again to give Omiya more derby honours

Ben Mabley — 2012-04-23T17:34:25+09:00

Omiya Ardija inflicted a first league defeat since opening day upon neighbours Urawa Reds as Cho Young-Cheol registered a goal and an assist en route to their 2-0 victory in Saturday’s Saitama derby.

A pre-season arrival from Albirex Niigata, the South Korean international cut inside Japan defender Yuki Abe from the left flank to fire a low right-footed shot across Reds goalkeeper Nobuhiro Kato and in off the far post after just eight minutes.

Cho then sent in a perfect deep cross for Rafael to head the home side at the NACK5 Stadium into a two-goal advantage twenty minutes later. It was the Brazilian’s seventh strike in just six matches against Omiya’s local rivals.

Urawa manager Mihailo Petrović sent on Genki Haraguchi for the visitors to seize the attacking initiative in the second half, but an inspired performance from Takashi Kitano in the Ardija goal ensured that there was no way back for the visitors, who slip to sixth in the table.

The result allowed Vegalta Sendai to pull out a five-point lead at the top with a 4-0 hammering of FC Tokyo later the same evening. Shingo Akamine opened the scoring right at the end of the first period, before Kunimitsu Sekiguchi headed home his third goal in as many games to double the lead on 58 minutes.

Yoshiaki Ota and Jiro Kamata rounded off the scoring late on to take Sendai’s record to six wins and one draw from their opening seven league games.

2010 champions Nagoya Grampus move up to second despite the concession of a 94th-minute equaliser in their 1-1 draw away to fourth-placed Sanfrecce Hiroshima. Ryota Moriwaki hit an unstoppable 25-yard shot in off the crossbar to rescue a point after Hayuma Tanaka’s acute header had seemingly put Nagoya on course for all three.

Jubilo Iwata are third thanks to a stunning Hiroki Yamada effort to give them a 1-0 victory at home to winless Yokohama F Marinos. The 23-year-old, who has been called up to the Japan squad for a training camp this week, dribbled past two opponents before smashing the ball through a crowd of defenders and into the roof of the net from the left-hand corner of the box.

------------

Consadole Sapporo looked on course for their first win of the season as they led Kawasaki Frontale 2-0 at half time, only for Kengo Nakamura to come off the bench and inspire a comeback akin to that which his side had suffered at Gamba Osaka last week.

The 31-year-old midfielder pulled one back with his first touch of the ball to reverse the momentum of the match, and Kawasaki were level from the spot through Renato ten minutes later to set up a grandstand finish. Another substitute, Koji Yamase, fired home on 88 minutes to complete the recovery and break home fans’ hearts.

Kashima Antlers also fought back from two down to move out of the relegation zone with a 3-2 win over Cerezo Osaka. Kim Bo-Kyung’s first half brace counted for nought as strikes from Dutra, Shinzo Koroki, and Yasushi Endo turned around a match that threatened to boil over for much of the second period.

Newly-promoted Sagan Tosu moved up to an incredible fifth position thanks to a 1-0 victory against third-from-bottom Albirex Niigata. The game was also notable for the league debut of Koki Kiyotake, younger brother of Cerezo and Japan star Hiroshi.

Elsewhere, Gamba followed up their first domestic win of the season with a comfortable second, beating Shimizu S-Pulse 3-1 at Banpaku on Sunday evening, while Vissel Kobe broke their run of six straight losses in all competitions when overcoming Kashiwa Reysol by the same scoreline. The champions have begun their defence with just seven points from as many matches and sit a dozen places and points adrift of the summit.

TALKING POINTS
- Shonan Bellmare kept up their superb start to the J2 season, winning 2-1 at Tokyo Verdy to move six points clear of Montedio Yamagata at the top.
- Shinji Kagawa scored his 13th Bundesliga goal of the campaign to help seal a second straight German title for Borussia Dortmund as they beat Borussia Mönchengladbach 2-0 on Saturday.

J1 results (matchday 7)
Consadole Sapporo 2-3 Kawasaki Frontale
Jubilo Iwata 1-0 Yokohama F Marinos
Vissel Kobe 3-1 Kashiwa Reysol
Sanfrecce Hiroshima 1-1 Nagoya Grampus
Kashima Antlers 3-2 Cerezo Osaka
Sagan Tosu 1-0 Albirex Niigata
Omiya Ardija 2-0 Urawa Reds
Vegalta Sendai 4-0 FC Tokyo
Gamba Osaka 3-1 Shimizu S-Pulse

J2 results (matchday 9)
Mito HollyHock 1-0 Thespa Kusatsu
Tochigi SC 1-1 FC Gifu
Ventforet Kofu 1-1 Machida Zelvia
Ehime FC 0-0 Roasso Kumamoto
Giravanz Kitakyushu 0-1 Montedio Yamagata
Yokohama FC 2-1 Kyoto Sanga
Tokyo Verdy 1-2 Shonan Bellmare
Matsumoto Yamaga 1-0 JEF United Chiba
Kataller Toyama 2-3 Oita Trinita
Fagiano Okayama 2-0 Gainare Tottori
Tokushima Vortis 0-4 Avispa Fukuoka

AFC Champions League group stage results (East Asia, matchday 4)
Group E
Adelaide United (AUS) 1-0 Pohang Steelers (KOR)
Bunyodkor (UZB) 3-2 Gamba Osaka (JPN)

Group F
Brisbane Roar (AUS) 1-2 Ulsan Hyundai (KOR)
FC Tokyo (JPN) 3-0 Beijing Guoan (CHN)

Group G
Nagoya Grampus (JPN) 0-0 Tianjin Teda (CHN)
Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma (KOR) 5-0 Central Coast Mariners (AUS)

Group H
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (KOR) 3-2 Buriram United (THA)
Guangzhou Evergrande (CHN) 3-1 Kashiwa Reysol (JPN)

Yamazaki Nabisco Cup group stage results (matchday 2)
Group A
Kawasaki Frontale 3-1 Vegalta Sendai
Jubilo Iwata 1-0 Sanfrecce Hiroshima
Urawa Reds 1-4 Cerezo Osaka

Group B
Consadole Sapporo 1-2 Kashima Antlers
Albirex Niigata 1-0 Vissel Kobe
Shimizu S-Pulse 1-0 Yokohama F Marinos

]]>

Leaders edge champions in free-scoring J1 weekend

Ben Mabley — 2012-04-16T17:49:15+09:00

After a relatively low key start to the 2012 season, the J. League burst into life on Saturday with 28 goals scored across the nine top flight matches. Early leaders Vegalta Sendai issued a statement of intent to the rest of the division with a 3-2 victory away to reigning champions Kashiwa Reysol.

The visitors took the lead after just two minutes when a corner from Yoshiaki Ota found the head of Vegalta defender Naoki Sugai. Leandro Domingues levelled the scores with a fabulous free kick early in the second half, but Kashiwa were behind again almost immediately thanks to a second goal in as many matches from Kunimitsu Sekiguchi after Wilson’s skilful footwork tore a hole through the defence.

Leandro equalised again, somewhat bizarrely, when his half-hearted attempt from a narrow angle somehow squirmed through the legs of Takuto Hayashi in the visitors’ goal. But Shingo Akamine was on hand to seal all three points for Sendai from another Ota cross, and the champions’ misery was complete when Leandro was sent off for a second yellow card late on.

Shimizu S-Pulse leapfrogged local rivals Jubilo Iwata into sixth place in the middle of the chasing pack with a 3-2 win in the first Shizuoka derby of the year.

The home side at Nihondaira recovered from the concession of a Cho Byung-Kuk opener to equalise through Toshiyuki Takagi right on half time, before two well taken goals by Genki Omae bookended the second 45 minutes and gave S-Pulse an unassailable advantage despite an even later consolation strike by Kosuke Yamamoto.

In the weekend’s third 3-2 scoreline, Gamba Osaka finally secured three points for the first time this season thanks to a dramatic comeback against manager-less Kawasaki Frontale.

Despite the midweek sacking of former boss Naoki Soma, Kawasaki came out of the blocks quickly to lead after just 19 seconds through Yusuke Sakata’s header, before Yu Kobayashi was left totally unmarked at a Sakata corner on the half hour to seemingly push Gamba towards their fifth league defeat in six.

But a Sota Nakazawa header at the end of the first half restored hope for Masanobu Matsunami’s men, who rose to the occasion to turn things around in the second period thanks to goals from new boys Akihiro Sato and Hiroyuki Abe.

------------

Kashima Antlers moved off the foot of the table with their first win of the season away to highflying FC Tokyo.

After Shinzo Koroki dinked the visitors into a first half lead, Tokyo levelled in unusual fashion with just six minutes remaining when Sotan Tanabe eventually fired the ball in through a melee of players at an indirect free kick awarded when Hitoshi Sogahata handled a back pass.

Hitoshi Shiota had committed a similar offence earlier in the match after replacing the injured Shuichi Gonda, but although the hosts had survived on that occasion, his day was ruined when a poor parry from Juninho’s attempt left an open goal for Yasushi Endo to win it deep into stoppage time.

With Sanfrecce Hiroshima also losing 1-0 away to the impressive J1 newcomers Sagan Tosu, Urawa Reds took advantage to move up as high as second with a 2-0 victory over Vissel Kobe. Yuki Abe netted his first goal since returning from Leicester City, while Marcio Richardes converted a trademark free kick late on.

Elsewhere, Nagoya Grampus rose to third with a comfortable 3-1 win over Consadole Sapporo, who drop to the bottom. Cerezo Osaka surprisingly succumbed to Albirex Niigata’s first victory of the campaign, while winless Yokohama F Marinos played out a 1-1 draw with Omiya Ardija.

TALKING POINTS
- Shonan Bellmare maintained their unbeaten start in J2, defeating Yokohama FC 3-2 to stand four points clear of Kyoto Sanga at the summit.
- Shinji Kagawa’s Borussia Dortmund need just one more point to seal their second straight Bundesliga crown after coming from behind to edge Atsuto Uchida’s Schalke 04 2-1 in the Ruhr derby.
- In women’s football, Nadeshiko League champions INAC Kobe Leonessa began the defence of their title in spectacular fashion with a 7-0 thrashing of newly-promoted Speranza FC Osaka Takatsuki on Sunday afternoon.

J1 results (matchday 6)
Kashiwa Reysol 2-3 Vegalta Sendai
FC Tokyo 1-2 Kashima Antlers
Yokohama F Marinos 1-1 Omiya Ardija
Urawa Reds 2-0 Vissel Kobe
Shimizu S-Pulse 3-2 Jubilo Iwata
Nagoya Grampus 3-1 Consadole Sapporo
Sagan Tosu 1-0 Sanfrecce Hiroshima
Gamba Osaka 3-2 Kawasaki Frontale
Cerezo Osaka 0-1 Albirex Niigata

J2 results (matchday 8)
Montedio Yamagata 1-0 Kataller Toyama
Thespa Kusatsu 1-0 Ehime FC
Machida Zelvia 0-3 Tochigi SC
Roasso Kumamoto 0-3 Matsumoto Yamaga
Kyoto Sanga 1-0 Tokyo Verdy
JEF United Chiba 0-0 Fagiano Okayama
Shonan Bellmare 3-2 Yokohama FC
FC Gifu 1-0 Giravanz Kitakyushu
Gainare Tottori 0-0 Ventforet Kofu
Avispa Fukuoka 1-1 Mito HollyHock
Oita Trinita 0-0 Tokushima Vortis

]]>

Last gasp Vegalta retain hold on summit in clash of the top two

Ben Mabley — 2012-04-09T15:22:33+09:00

Vegalta Sendai lost their perfect start to the season but managed to hold onto top spot thanks to a late, late equaliser from Wilson in their topsy-turvy 2-2 draw with closest rivals Jubilo Iwata.

The league leaders exercised their home advantage to gradually take control of the game, and thought they had finally broken the deadlock early in the second half when Wilson converted from Shingo Akamine’s pinpoint pass, only to see the linesman’s flag raised for a narrow offside.

Incredibly, Iwata were the ones to open the scoring a few minutes later with their first attempt of the game. Minoru Suganuma was left unmarked at the far post to just about bundle a Hiroki Yamada cross over the line, via the post and Sendai goalkeeper Takuto Hayashi.

Vegalta finally found their way level with a quarter of an hour remaining through Kunimitsu Sekiguchi – a popular return to form for the 26-year-old after failing to register a single goal or assist in 2011 – and looked set to push for the win; only to fall behind again to Jubilo’s second shot on goal four minutes later. Kosuke Yamamoto took advantage of a standoffish defence to fire home from the D.

At this point, the home side appeared to lose their rhythm and entered the last of five added minutes without coming close to a second equaliser. But with seconds on the clock, Wilson expertly chested down a hopeful long ball from Naoki Sugai before somehow managing to turn and squeeze it home past Naoki Hatta.

------------

FC Tokyo overcame a second yellow card for Aria Jasuru Hasegawa – who was returning from a one-match ban after a similar sanction against Vissel Kobe a fortnight ago – to clinch a dramatic late win at Kawasaki Frontale and move within a point of the summit. Masato Morishige was the hero with a towering header from Naohiro Ishikawa’s corner.

Sanfrecce Hiroshima rose to second, ahead of FC Tokyo on goal difference, with a 4-1 victory over Gamba Osaka, who fall to second from bottom.

Jorginho only had to wait two minutes to finally see his Kashima Antlers notch their first league goal of the season against Urawa Reds, but their troubles continued as they conspired to fall behind just three minutes later. Shinzo Koroki’s early header was immediately cancelled out by Marcio Richardes, before Popo gave the away side the lead following brilliant work from Yuki Abe and Yosuke Kashiwagi.

Richardes netted from the spot later in the first half to seal a 3-1 Urawa win that keeps Kashima rooted to the bottom.

Cerezo Osaka needed a Hiroshi Kiyotake penalty to break down the hosts’ resistance in their game at Omiya Ardija, but demonstrated their fine attacking potential with two goals from Kim Bo-Kyung soon thereafter to win 3-0 and move up to fifth.

Elsewhere, champions Kashiwa Reysol won 2-0 at Consadole Sapporo to seal only their second three points of the season, while Nagoya Grampus had an outstanding performance from goalkeeper Seigo Narazaki to thank for a 1-0 home victory over newly-promoted Sagan Tosu.

A late Alex Brosque strike enabled Shimizu S-Pulse to edge past Vissel Kobe, while Yokohama F Marinos played out a second successive 0-0 draw – this time away to Albirex Niigata.

TALKING POINTS
- A 4-1 thrashing of the Brazil women’s team on Thursday sealed Kirin Challenge Cup success for Nadeshiko Japan – and a welcome boost ahead of the London Olympics.
- FC Tokyo, Nagoya Grampus, and Kashiwa Reysol are all in position to progress through from the AFC Champions League group stage at the halfway mark, while Gamba Osaka revived their chances with a 3-1 win over Uzbekistani outfit Bunyodkor.

J1 results (matchday 5)
Consadole Sapporo 0-2 Kashiwa Reysol
Vegalta Sendai 2-2 Jubilo Iwata
Nagoya Grampus 1-0 Sagan Tosu
Vissel Kobe 0-1 Shimizu S-Pulse
Albirex Niigata 0-0 Yokohama F Marinos
Omiya Ardija 0-3 Cerezo Osaka
Kashima Antlers 1-3 Urawa Reds
Sanfrecce Hiroshima 4-1 Gamba Osaka
Kawasaki Frontale 0-1 FC Tokyo

J2 results (matchday 7)
Mito HollyHock 0-1 JEF United Chiba
Tochigi SC 2-0 Roasso Kumamoto
Tokyo Verdy 2-0 Tokushima Vortis
Fagiano Okayama 1-0 Matsumoto Yamaga
Ehime FC 4-2 Avispa Fukuoka
Giravanz Kitakyushu 1-0 Gainare Tottori
Yokohama FC 1-2 Montedio Yamagata
Shonan Bellmare 2-0 Machida Zelvia
Ventforet Kofu 1-0 Oita Trinita
Kataller Toyama 1-2 Thespa Kusatsu
FC Gifu 0-1 Kyoto Sanga

AFC Champions League group stage results (East Asia, matchday 3)
Group E
Gamba Osaka (JPN) 3-1 Bunyodkor (UZB)
Pohang Steelers (KOR) 1-0 Adelaide United (AUS)

Group F
Ulsan Hyundai (KOR) 1-1 Brisbane Roar (AUS)
Beijing Guoan (CHN) 1-1 FC Tokyo (JPN)

Group G
Central Coast Mariners (AUS) 1-1 Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma (KOR)
Tianjin Teda (CHN) 0-3 Nagoya Grampus (JPN)

Group H
Kashiwa Reysol (JPN) 0-0 Guangzhou Evergrande (CHN)
Buriram United (THA) 0-2 Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (KOR)

Yamazaki Nabisco Cup group stage results (matchday 2)
Group A
Vegalta Sendai 2-0 Sagan Tosu
Jubilo Iwata 4-3 Urawa Reds
Sanfrecce Hiroshima 1-1 Kawasaki Frontale

Group B
Kashima Antlers 1-0 Omiya Ardija
Shimizu S-Pulse 1-0 Albirex Niigata
Yokohama F Marinos 1-2 Consadole Sapporo

]]>

Table-topping Sendai extend perfect record to four from four

Ben Mabley — 2012-04-02T15:08:06+09:00

Vegalta Sendai stand clear atop the J. League table after extending their 100% record to a fourth weekend with a 2-1 win away to Cerezo Osaka on Saturday.

Makoto Teguramori’s side survived an early scare when a Hiroshi Kiyotake volley struck their crossbar and opened the scoring themselves on 34 minutes. Wilson carried the ball along the left flank and laid it off for Shingo Akamine to attempt a shot through a crowd of defenders, which then rebounded kindly for the Brazilian to net his first goal since arriving from Shaanxi Chan-Ba of China over the winter.

More efficient counterattacking play brought Sendai their second shortly after the interval. Yoshiaki Ota beat two players and sent in a cross from the right that Hotaru Yamaguchi could only nod into the path of an unmarked Akamine, leaving goalkeeper Kim Jin-Kyeon in no-man’s land for the striker to convert with a simple header.

Cerezo battled hard to get back into the game but their only reward came in the form of a consolation strike from supersub Ryuji Bando five minutes from time.

Newly promoted Sagan Tosu provided the biggest victory and surprise of the weekend, thrashing big-spending Vissel Kobe 3-0 to move up to fifth position in their debut J1 season.

All three of their goals arrived via crosses from the right-hand side, with Kei Ikeda playing the ball across for the 24th-minute substitute Ryunosuke Noda to slide in at the far post for the opener within moments of his arrival. Last season’s 23-goal hero Yohei Toyoda converted in confident fashion just before the break, while Ikeda rounded off a fine performance with the third right on full time.

------------

Jubilo Iwata are in second place with 10 points from a possible 12 after a 1-0 win over defending champions Kashiwa Reysol, whose title defence has begun somewhat inauspiciously with just four points from as many matches.

Japan forward Ryoichi Maeda played Takuya Matsuura into space on the right flank, and continued his run towards the far post to divert a low return pass beyond Takanori Sugeno.

FC Tokyo suffered their first reverse since returning to the top flight with a 1-0 home loss to Sanfrecce Hiroshima, who join them on nine points to round off the top four. Mihael Mikić rolled a perfect low cross ahead of three opposing defenders for Hisato Sato to slot home the only goal after 56 minutes.

Jun Kanakubo cancelled out a glorious opener from Danilson to earn Omiya Ardija a creditable point at home to Nagoya Grampus, while neighbours Urawa Reds were left clinging on to draw 1-1 with Kawasaki Frontale after new signings Yuki Abe and Tomoaki Makino both saw red for two bookable offences in the second period.

Seven-times champions Kashima Antlers are still goalless but do at least now have their first point under Jorginho following a 0-0 draw at Yokohama F Marinos. They sit at the foot of the table on goal difference beneath Consadole Sapporo, who lost 1-0 away to Shimizu S-Pulse.

A 1-1 draw also brought first points of the season for both Albirex Niigata and Gamba Osaka. New Gamba boss Masanobu Matsunami expressed his satisfaction at the team’s performance in his first game in charge since replacing the hapless José Carlos Serrão last week.

TALKING POINTS
- Shinji Kagawa netted the first in a thrilling 4-4 draw for Bundesliga champions Borussia Dortmund at home to Gotoku Sakai’s VfB Stuttgart. His goal takes him to 12 league strikes for the season – a record for any Japanese player in a major European competition.
- Shonan Bellmare won 2-1 at Gainare Tottori to retain top spot in J2. Tokyo Verdy are three points back in second following their 2-1 victory away to new local rivals Machida Zelvia.

J1 results (matchday 4)
Omiya Ardija 1-1 Nagoya Grampus
FC Tokyo 0-1 Sanfrecce Hiroshima
Urawa Reds 1-1 Kawasaki Frontale
Jubilo Iwata 1-0 Kashiwa Reysol
Cerezo Osaka 1-2 Vegalta Sendai
Albirex Niigata 1-1 Gamba Osaka
Shimizu S-Pulse 1-0 Consadole Sapporo
Yokohama F Marinos 0-0 Kashima Antlers
Sagan Tosu 3-0 Vissel Kobe

J2 results (matchday 6)
Montedio Yamagata 0-0 Mito HollyHock
Tochigi SC 2-1 JEF United Chiba
Matsumoto Yamaga 0-3 Kataller Toyama
Kyoto Sanga 3-2 Avispa Fukuoka
Gainare Tottori 1-2 Shonan Bellmare
Roasso Kumamoto 3-0 FC Gifu
Thespa Kusatsu 1-1 Yokohama FC
Machida Zelvia 1-2 Tokyo Verdy
Ventforet Kofu 1-2 Giravanz Kitakyushu
Tokushima Vortis 1-2 Fagiano Okayama
Oita Trinita 1-0 Ehime FC

]]>

Enough is enough as pointless Gamba sack Serrão after five matches

Ben Mabley — 2012-03-26T18:08:10+09:00

Gamba Osaka have quickly lost patience with their hapless manager José Carlos Serrão – announcing the sacking of both the Brazilian and his assistant Wagner Lopes this afternoon after yesterday’s 2-1 home loss against Jubilo Iwata completed a run of five straight losses from the start of the season.

Following another dire defeat away to Adelaide United in midweek, it was a familiar story again at Banpaku as Jubilo midfielder Minoru Suganuma found acres of space to lay on a through ball for Kosuke Yamamoto, who coolly opened the scoring on 23 minutes.

The visitors’ lead was doubled on the hour when Ryoichi Maeda netted from the spot after being felled in somewhat comical fashion by goalkeeper Yosuke Fujigaya, who was quite fortunate not to at least receive a yellow card for his actions.

Shu Kurata pulled one back with a perfectly placed header on 84 minutes but the Gamba rally was too little, too late, and club president Kikuo Kanamori remained at the ground with other board members until late at night to determine Serrão’s fate.

Former striker Masanobu Matsunami, who played for the club in the inaugural J. League season back in 1993 and joined the coaching team after retiring with a title winners’ medal in 2005, will initially take over the managerial reins.

A statement from Kanamori read, “Serrão was unable to impose his style of football upon the team, and we have come to this decision in light both of the five consecutive defeats and of the lack of dynamism in the football played throughout.”

------------

Vegalta Sendai stand on top of the J1 table after thrashing Omiya Ardija 4-1 to record their third win in three league matches.

Cho Young-Cheol netted from close range to give Omiya a first-half lead, but Sendai levelled shortly after the restart through Yoshiaki Ota before pulling ahead thanks to an own goal by the most unfortunate Kosuke Kikuchi.

Further strikes from Naoki Sugai and Ota again completed the scoring.

J2 champions FC Tokyo also retained their 100% record with a 2-0 victory away to fellow high-fliers Vissel Kobe. Naohiro Ishikawa finished off a terrific team goal on the counter after 32 minutes following good work from Yohei Kajiyama and Lucas, while substitute Kazuma Watanabe evaded Masahiko Inoha to seal the win deep into second half stoppage time.

Sagan Tosu earned their first ever J1 win with a solitary goal from on-loan Kota Mizunuma against his parent club, Yokohama F Marinos. However, Consadole Sapporo succumbed to a well-taken brace by Yosuke Kashiwagi of Urawa Reds despite leading through Masaki Yamamoto’s second superb strike in two games.

Defending champions Kashiwa Reysol followed up their 5-1 AFC Champions League hammering of Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors in midweek by securing their first domestic three points of the campaign, but they needed a dramatic late double from defender Tatsuya Masushima to complete a 2-1 comeback victory over Shimizu S-Pulse.

Kashima Antlers and Albirex Niigata both remain pointless after defeats away to Sanfrecce Hiroshima and Nagoya Grampus, respectively. Kawasaki Frontale slipped to their first reverse of the campaign, losing 1-0 at home to unbeaten Cerezo Osaka.

TALKING POINTS
- In the two remaining AFC Champions League group games featuring Japanese clubs, FC Tokyo were held to a 2-2 draw at home to Ulsan Hyundai while Nagoya Grampus drew 1-1 at Central Coast Mariners.
- Shonan Bellmare lost their 100% record but held onto top spot in J2 with a thrilling 3-3 draw away to Roasso Kumamoto.

J1 results (matchday 3)
Vegalta Sendai 4-1 Omiya Ardija
Sanfrecce Hiroshima 2-0 Kashima Antlers
Kawasaki Frontale 0-1 Cerezo Osaka
Vissel Kobe 0-2 FC Tokyo
Sagan Tosu 1-0 Yokohama F Marinos
Consadole Sapporo 1-2 Urawa Reds
Kashiwa Reysol 2-1 Shimizu S-Pulse
Nagoya Grampus 2-1 Albirex Niigata
Gamba Osaka 1-2 Jubilo Iwata

J2 results (matchday 5)
Mito HollyHock 0-0 Matsumoto Yamaga
Kataller Toyama 2-3 Giravanz Kitakyushu
Kyoto Sanga 2-1 Machida Zelvia
Fagiano Okayama 2-1 Montedio Yamagata
Avispa Fukuoka 4-0 Gainare Tottori
Yokohama FC 0-2 Ventforet Kofu
Ehime FC 1-1 Tochigi SC
JEF United Chiba 3-0 Tokushima Vortis
Tokyo Verdy 2-0 Thespa Kusatsu
Roasso Kumamoto 3-3 Shonan Bellmare
FC Gifu 0-2 Oita Trinita

AFC Champions League group stage results (East Asia, matchday 2)
Group E
Adelaide United (AUS) 2-0 Gamba Osaka (JPN)
Pohang Steelers (KOR) 0-2 Bunyodkor (UZB)

Group F
FC Tokyo (JPN) 2-2 Ulsan Hyundai (KOR)
Beijing Guoan (CHN) 1-1 Brisbane Roar (AUS)

Group G
Central Coast Mariners (AUS) 1-1 Nagoya Grampus (JPN)
Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma (KOR) 1-1 Tianjin Teda (CHN)

Group H
Kashiwa Reysol (JPN) 5-1 Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (KOR)
Guangzhou Evergrande (CHN) 1-2 Buriram United (THA)

Yamazaki Nabisco Cup group stage results
Group A
Urawa Reds 1-0 Vegalta Sendai
Sagan Tosu 2-1 Kawasaki Frontale
Jubilo Iwata 2-1 Cerezo Osaka

Group B
Consadole Sapporo 0-1 Albirex Niigata
Kashima Antlers 2-0 Vissel Kobe
Omiya Ardija 1-1 Yokohama F Marinos
]]>

Special: The Osaka derby and the 2012 J. League with Sean Carroll and Nobuyuki Tosey

Ben Mabley — 2012-03-19T19:20:35+09:00

Football Japan’s Ben Mabley is joined by Sean Carroll and Nobuyuki Tosey to reflect on Saturday’s Osaka derby and present an ever-so-slightly belated preview of the 2012 J1 season.

J1 results (matchday 2)
Kashiwa Reysol 0-1 Kawasaki Frontale
Urawa Reds 1-0 Kashiwa Reysol
Yokohama F Marinos 0-2 Vegalta Sendai
Albirex Niigata 1-2 Omiya Ardija
Cerezo Osaka 2-1 Gamba Osaka
Shimizu S-Pulse 2-1 Sanfrecce Hiroshima
Jubilo Iwata 2-1 Sagan Tosu
Vissel Kobe 2-1 Consadole Sapporo
FC Tokyo 3-2 Nagoya Grampus

J2 results (matchday 3)
Montedio Yamagata 3-2 Oita Trinita
Kyoto Sanga 2-0 Roasso Kumamoto
Gainare Tottori 0-3 Machida Zelvia
Tokushima Vortis 0-1 Tochigi SC
Matsumoto Yamaga 1-0 Giravanz Kitakyushu
Shonan Bellmare 3-1 Avispa Fukuoka
Kataller Toyama 1-4 Tokyo Verdy
FC Gifu 0-0 Thespa Kusatsu
Fagiano Okayama 0-3 Mito HollyHock
JEF United Chiba 3-0 Yokohama FC
Ventforet Kofu 2-1 Ehime FC

]]>

Six-goal thriller for Reysol and Marinos while Kobe ease to Kansai derby win

Ben Mabley — 2012-03-12T18:14:36+09:00

A minute’s silence was observed at football grounds across Japan as the 2012 J1 season kicked off on the first anniversary of the earthquake and tsunami that devastated the east coast of the country on 11 March last year.

Defending champions Kashiwa Reysol were fittingly involved in the most entertaining and dramatic fixture of the opening weekend, leading three times but ultimately having to settle for a share of the spoils in a 3-3 draw at home to Yokohama F Marinos.

Having suffered a shock defeat away to Buriram United of Thailand in the Asian Champions League in midweek, Kashiwa were quick to demonstrate that they had lost none of their mojo with an eye-pleasing opener on just three minutes. Jorge Wagner executed a spectacular scissor kick to cut back a lofted free kick from Leandro Domingues and into the path of Hiroki Sakai for his first ever J. League goal.

Masashi Oguro equalised soon afterwards with a close range volley that was every bit as impressive, but the hosts were back in front in still only the 12th minute thanks to a perfectly placed shot from new Japan international Junya Tanaka.

Returning to Marinos after a successful year on loan at Ehime FC, 21-year-old Manabu Saito then exhibited his exciting potential by firing home a second equaliser from just outside the box after three defenders had failed to stop his dribble from the right flank. Again, however, the visitors’ hard work was undone when they left Leandro far too much room to run and size up a delightful effort from 25 yards that left Hiroki Iikura stranded.

Yokohama thought they had levelled things up again when Oguro’s shot bounced off the crossbar and seemingly just behind the line, only for the officials to controversially signal play to continue. But their great persistence finally paid off in the second minute of stoppage time when substitute Hiroyuki Taniguchi got his head to a Yuzo Kobayashi cross to tie things up once again.

-----------

Vissel Kobe laid down an early marker for supremacy in the Kansai region with a 3-2 win away to Gamba Osaka that was perhaps more comfortable than the final scoreline appears.

A woeful lack of coherency throughout the home eleven was well exemplified when Kobe new boy Takuya Nozawa slipped over in the penalty area, but was still granted enough time and space to stand up and square for an unmarked Yoshito Okubo to slot into the empty net.

Paulinho marked his Gamba debut with an impressive equaliser from 25 yards, but Nozawa set pieces laid on further goals for Okubo and Hideo Hashimoto – who left Banpaku after 14 years at the end of last season. A late rally saw Rafinha pull one back deep into added time.

Brazilian veteran Lucas hit a stunning winner from the D as J2 champions FC Tokyo, inspired by the heroics of goalkeeper Shuichi Gonda, celebrated their return to the top flight with a 1-0 victory at Omiya Ardija. Fellow promoted sides Consadole Sapporo and Sagan Tosu made steady starts with goalless draws at home to Jubilo Iwata and Cerezo Osaka, respectively.

A Joshua Kennedy penalty was sufficient to seal a 1-0 success for an influent Nagoya Grampus against Shimizu S-Pulse, while new Urawa Reds manager Mihalo Petrović and defender Tomoaki Makino suffered defeat by a similar scoreline in their first return to Sanfrecce Hiroshima.

Elsewhere, Kawasaki Frontale beat Albirex Niigata 1-0, while a meeting of the two J1 clubs most directly affected by last year’s disaster saw Vegalta Sendai edge Kashima Antlers by the same score thanks to a headed goal from new arrival Taikai Uemoto.

TALKING POINTS
- Japan will renew their rivalry with last year’s Asian Cup final opponents Australia in the final round of qualifying for the 2014 World Cup. Their group also contains Oman, Jordan, and Iraq – who are managed by former Samurai Blue boss Zico.
- FC Tokyo opened their ACL campaign with a 2-0 win away to Brisbane Roar on Tuesday, but there was disappointment elsewhere as Nagoya were pegged back to a 2-2 draw with Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma, while Gamba were thrashed 3-0 at home by Pohang Steelers.
- Tokushima Vortis head the embryonic J2 table after a 3-0 victory over FC Gifu.

J1 results (matchday 1)
Consadole Sapporo 0-0 Jubilo Iwata
Vegalta Sendai 1-0 Kashima Antlers
Nagoya Grampus 1-0 Shimizu S-Pulse
Gamba Osaka 2-3 Vissel Kobe
Sanfrecce Hiroshima 1-0 Urawa Reds
Sagan Tosu 0-0 Cerezo Osaka
Kawasaki Frontale 1-0 Albirex Niigata
Omiya Ardija 0-1 FC Tokyo
Kashiwa Reysol 3-3 Yokohama F Marinos

J2 results (matchday 2)
Mito HollyHock 1-0 Kataller Toyama
Tochigi SC 0-3 Oita Trinita
Machida Zelvia 0-1 Avispa Fukuoka
Matsumoto Yamaga 1-2 Montedio Yamagata
Tokushima Vortis 3-0 FC Gifu
Giravanz Kitakyushu 0-0 Fagiano Okayama
Thespa Kusatsu 1-3 Shonan Bellmare
Tokyo Verdy 1-3 Ventforet Kofu
Yokohama FC 0-0 Ehime FC
Roasso Kumamoto 2-1 Gainare Tottori
Kyoto Sanga 2-0 JEF United Chiba

AFC Champions League group stage results (East Asia, matchday 1)
Group E
Gamba Osaka (JPN) 0-3 Pohang Steelers
Bunyodkor (UZB) 1-2 Adelaide United (AUS)

Group F
Brisbane Roar (AUS) 0-2 FC Tokyo (JPN)
Ulsan Hyundai (KOR) 2-1 Beijing Guoan (CHN)

Group G
Nagoya Grampus (JPN) 2-2 Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma (KOR)
Tianjin Teda (CHN) 0-0 Central Coast Mariners (AUS)

Group H
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (KOR) 1-5 Guangzhou Evergrande (CHN)
Buriram United (THA) 3-2 Kashiwa Reysol (JPN)

]]>

Kashiwa take opening silverware as new boys struggle at J2 kickoff

Ben Mabley — 2012-03-05T18:16:56+09:00

J. League title holders Kashiwa Reysol clinched the first silverware of the new season with a 2-1 victory over Emperor’s Cup winners and J2 champions FC Tokyo in the Fuji Xerox Super Cup in the capital on Saturday.

Despite opening the game in rather sluggish fashion, Reysol took the lead after 26 minutes with a moment of inspiration from one of their Brazilian stars. Jorge Wagner collected the ball in midfield after a scrambled clearance from the back, and as the Tokyo defenders fatally stood off and allowed him time and space, the 33-year-old set his sights and fired beyond Hitoshi Shiota from almost 30 yards.

The advantage was doubled shortly before half time, after veteran forward Hideaki Kitajima was clumsily bundled over in the penalty area by Masato Morishige. Wagner’s compatriot Leandro Domingues made no mistake with the resulting spot kick, placing it calmly into the net high to the ’keeper’s right.

Tokyo earned a lifeline 20 minutes into the second period through new signing Aria Jasuru Hasegawa. The former Yokohama F Marinos midfielder saw his initial effort parried by Takanori Sugeno, but pounced to head home when Kashiwa defender Wataru Hashimoto failed to clear the rebound.

Ranko Popović’s side steadily recovered their momentum thereafter in search of an equaliser, but were unable to break down the champions’ resistance despite a lively cameo appearance from former Japan international Naotake Hanyu.

-----------

The two newly-promoted sides from the third-tier Japan Football League (JFL) endured a tough start to life in the fully professional ranks as the J2 season kicked off on Sunday.

Matsumoto Yamaga, who finished fourth in the JFL last season, put up a determined showing in the first half of their trip to former Japanese champions Tokyo Verdy but were undone by two goals in seven minutes early in the second – Yuki Kobayashi and Josimar the scorers.

Meanwhile Machida Zelvia – now under the stewardship of Argentinean World Cup winner Osvaldo Ardiles following the departure of Popović to FC Tokyo – went down by another 2-0 scoreline away to Ehime FC.

Elsewhere, Ventforet Kofu and Avispa Fukuoka both made a good start in their bids to return to J1 at the first attempt – winning 2-1 at home to Tochigi SC and Roasso Kumamoto, respectively.

However, Montedio Yamagata were beaten 2-0 at JEF United Chiba.

TALKING POINTS
- Shinji Kagawa put the memories and jet lag of Japan’s midweek friendly defeat behind him to score the winning goal as Bundesliga leaders Borussia Dortmund clinched a 2-1 victory at home to Mainz.
- Robert Cullen and Maya Yoshida both scored late on to dramatically turn a one-goal deficit into a 2-1 win for VVV Venlo over NAC Breda in the Dutch Eredivisie.
- The group stage of the AFC Champions League gets under way this week, with Gamba Osaka hosting Pohang Steelers of South Korea and FC Tokyo travelling to Brisbane Roar on Tuesday. Nagoya Grampus entertain Korean side Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma and Kashiwa Reysol visit Buriram United of Thailand on Wednesday.

Fuji Xerox Super Cup result
Kashiwa Reysol 2-1 FC Tokyo

J2 results (matchday 1)
Mito HollyHock 2-1 Yokohama FC
Tokyo Verdy 2-0 Matsumoto Yamaga
Ventforet Kofu 2-1 Tochigi SC
FC Gifu 2-2 Gainare Tottori
Fagiano Okayama 1-1 Kataller Toyama
Avispa Fukuoka 2-1 Roasso Kumamoto
Oita Trinita 2-3 Thespa Kusatsu
JEF United Chiba 2-0 Montedio Yamagata
Ehime FC 2-0 Machida Zelvia
Shonan Bellmare 2-1 Kyoto Sanga
Giravanz Kitakyushu 1-2 Tokushima Vortis

]]>

Samurai Blue slip to Uzbekistan defeat in qualifying dead rubber

Ben Mabley — 2012-02-29T22:29:33+09:00

Football Japan’s Ben Mabley presents a quick report of Japan’s 1-0 home defeat to Uzbekistan on the final matchday in the third round of Asian qualification for the 2014 World Cup.

The Samurai Blue had already ensured their progression to the final round of qualifiers, but a lacklustre display saw them beaten to top spot in Group C by the Uzbeks, for whom the only goal came through Aleksandr Shadrin on 54 minutes.

FIFA World Cup 2014 qualifier results – AFC Third Round
Group C
Tajikistan 1-1 North Korea
Japan 0-1 Uzbekistan

Friendly results (Friday 24 February)
Japan 3-1 Iceland

]]>

Japan go experimental for Iceland friendly

Ben Mabley — 2012-02-20T17:36:21+09:00

Japan national team coach Alberto Zaccheroni will use Friday’s meeting with Iceland in Osaka as an opportunity to experiment with fully nine uncapped players named in a wholly domestic-based squad of 25.

18-year-old Yuya Kubo of J2 side Kyoto Sanga is the biggest surprise in a list that also sees first ever call-ups for fellow striker Hidetaka Kanazono of Jubilo Iwata, midfielders Ryota Isomura of Nagoya Grampus and Gaku Shibasaki of Kashima Antlers, and goalkeeper Takuto Hayashi of Vegalta Sendai.

Also hoping to make their international debuts after serving as unused squad members in the past are Naoya Kondo and Junya Tanaka – who won J1 championship medals with Kashiwa Reysol last term – as well as Kashima midfielder Chikashi Masuda and Shimizu S-Pulse custodian Kaito Yamamoto.

Meanwhile, veteran forwards Yoshito Okubo of Vissel Kobe and Naohiro Ishikawa of newly-promoted FC Tokyo both return to the full national squad for the first time since Zaccheroni took charge in 2010.

The match is Japan’s last scheduled friendly before the final round of Asian qualification for the 2014 World Cup kicks off in June. The Samurai Blue sealed their place with two third round matches to spare and host current Group C leaders Uzbekistan for a dead rubber in Toyota a week tomorrow.

------------

One man hoping for an early chance at full international level in the Uzbekistan fixture is Ryo Miyaichi, who scored his first goal in English football on Saturday as Bolton Wanderers beat Millwall 2-0 in the fifth round of the FA Cup.

The 19-year-old was forced to remain patient as the opening half of the season yielded just two substitute appearances in the League Cup with Arsenal, but a loan switch to the Reebok Stadium on transfer deadline day has seen him immediately involved in Owen Coyle’s first team.

Named in the Trotters’ starting eleven for the first time after impressing on his Premier League debut against Wigan Athletic seven days earlier, Miyaichi needed just four minutes to stamp his impression on the cup tie. Sprinting onto a quick free kick from Sam Ricketts, Bolton’s number 30 cleverly cut across Millwall full-back Alan Dunne before firing an unstoppable shot into the far corner of the net.

Millwall 0-2 Bolton Wanderers (Miyaichi goal)

Japan Football Association technical director Hiromi Hara had informed the press on Friday that Miyaichi’s club had been contacted with regard to the forthcoming World Cup qualifier – for which Zaccheroni will be able to call upon his overseas-based players.

Takashi Usami, who once again sat on the Bayern Munich bench at the end of a week in which he reiterated his intention to leave the club this summer, is also on the standby list.

Hannover 96 4-2 VfB Stuttgart (Okazaki goal)

TALKING POINTS
- In the Bundesliga, VfB Stuttgart slumped to a 4-2 defeat at Hannover 96 but Shinji Okazaki at least gave away fans one reason to smile with a spectacular overhead kick to complete the scoring on 79 minutes.
- In-form Shinji Kagawa is set to miss out for Japan after rolling an ankle in training with league leaders Borussia Dortmund on Thursday.
- Tadanari Lee scored his first goal in the English Championship to round off a comfortable 4-0 win for Southampton at home to Derby County. ]]>

Okazaki and Kagawa on target as Usami ponders options

Ben Mabley — 2012-02-13T17:48:46+09:00

Borussia Dortmund attacking midfielder Shinji Kagawa was once again the pick of the Japanese internationals in action across Europe over the weekend, scoring the only goal as the reigning Bundesliga champions held onto top spot with victory at home to Bayer Leverkusen.

The 22-year-old collected the ball from teammate Jakub Błaszczykowski to cleverly burst past one defender and cut back inside a second, before hitting a low shot off balance that found its way inside the far post via the outstretched leg of Leverkusen ’keeper Bernd Leno.

The win keeps Dortmund two points clear of Bayern Munich at the summit.

Borussia Dortmund 1-0 Bayer Leverkusen

Kagawa’s Samurai Blue teammate Shinji Okazaki was another with plenty to celebrate as his 32nd-minute header was the third in a 5-0 romp for VfB Stuttgart against struggling Hertha Berlin. The former Shimizu S-Pulse man broke free in the opposing penalty area to benefit from a perfectly-placed cross from Dutch full-back Khalid Boulahrouz.

Gotoku Sakai also made his full debut for Stuttgart after completing an 18-month loan agreement from Albirex Niigata over the winter.

VfB Stuttgart 5-0 Hertha Berlin

One player moving in the other direction, meanwhile, is former Japan forward Kisho Yano, whose return to Niigata was announced on Wednesday following a difficult 18-month period in Germany with Freiburg – who were beaten 3-2 by Makoto Hasebe’s VfL Wolfsburg on Saturday.

Elsewhere in the Bundesliga, Hajime Hosogai put in another strong performance for Augsburg as they drew 0-0 with Nürnberg yesterday afternoon, while Takashi Usami has been given a vote of confidence after seemingly being set to leave Bayern Munich just a few weeks ago.

The 19-year-old has spent much of the season in the reserves, with the Bavarians declining their option to turn his loan from Gamba Osaka into a permanent deal, but has now been called back onto the first team bench for the last two league matches with new reports suggesting that the club are in fact keen to extend his rental arrangement for a further year.

Bayern defender Jerome Boateng has added his support, telling Goal.com: “[Usami] is a great guy and a good player. It would really please me if he stays at Bayern.”

However, Usami himself has expressed reluctance at the idea of a lengthened loan. Speaking to the Munich-based tz newspaper, he said: “I am not really positive if this could work... I would like to join another club where I could play more regularly and grab myself a more important role.”

TALKING POINTS
- Yuto Nagatomo came on as a late substitute but was unable to prevent a shock 1-0 home loss for Internazionale against Serie A’s bottom club Novara on Sunday. Takayuki Morimoto was not in the matchday squad for the visitors.
- Mike Havenaar played his first full 90 minutes for Dutch side Vitesse Arnhem in a 3-1 defeat away to Feyenoord.

]]>

Gonda handling errors costly as Japan’s Olympic side hit stumbling block

Ben Mabley — 2012-02-06T19:35:25+09:00

A 90th minute goal out of nothing condemned the Japanese men’s U-23 team to a 2-1 defeat against Syria on Sunday which sees them relinquish top spot in Group C of the Asian qualifying section for the London Olympic Games this summer.

Nominally the away side despite the game being played in Amman, Jordan due to the current political situation in Syria, Japan were placed onto the back foot after 19 minutes when goalkeeper Shuichi Gonda let a Mohammed Fares free kick spill through his hands via a slight deflection off the head of Yuya Osako.

The Kashima forward, who had only entered the fray moments previously as a replacement for the injured Ryohei Yamazaki, atoned for his unfortunate initial intervention in first half stoppage time – playing the ball through for Kensuke Nagai to squeeze it past Ibrahim Alma and just inside the far post.

Osako could have clinched all three points for Japan with ten minutes remaining, but struck a tame shot off balance that Alma was able to push behind for a corner.

However, with the match seemingly headed for a draw, Syria defender Ahmad Al Salih was the surprise hero right at the death with a speculative looping shot from fully 30 yards. Gonda attempted to block with both hands stretched above his head but misjudged the flight of the ball and looked back in horror to see it nestle in the net behind him.

The setback sees Japan fall behind Syria in the Group C table on goals scored, ahead of their remaining fixtures away to already-eliminated Malaysia on 22 February and at home to third-placed Bahrain on 14 March. Only the three group winners are guaranteed a ticket to London, with the runners-up being placed into a further round-robin to determine the final qualifier.

------------

The European transfer window closed with Keisuke Honda still a CSKA Moscow player after his anticipated switch to Serie A side Lazio fell through at the last minute.

While conceding that the player had been keen to leave Russia – a poorly-kept secret for some time – CSKA were quick to blame the Italians for their insistence on paying the reported €14 million transfer fee in instalments; an accusation rejected by Lazio officials who accused the selling party of ‘playing games’.

Honda himself was quoted by Goal.com as saying, “It’s true that I was looking forward to Italy. All I can say is that this time things didn’t work out with Lazio. But there may be an even brighter future in store for me. My goals haven’t changed and I don’t intend to change them.”

One Japan international who was able to put an end to an unhappy spell in Europe was Masahiko Inoha, who joined Vissel Kobe from cash-strapped Croatian side Hajduk Split. The defender had reportedly not received his wages for several weeks and severed ties with the club in mid-January.

Meanwhile, German giants Bayern Munich have announced that they will not be taking up their option to complete a permanent deal for Takashi Usami, who is currently on a year-long loan from Gamba Osaka.

]]>

Football Japan Minutecast