Wednesday night, August 17th, kick off 19.00 sees two big games, for different reasons – Gamba Osaka v. Nagoya Grampus in a battle for the top spot, and Kashima Antlers v. Cerezo Osaka, to gain points to pull away from the relegation-threatened pack. These games are the games in hand that the four ACL clubs have held since it was held back from the 3rd May to allow those clubs time for an ACL game to be played. With Reysol losing 6-1 to Jubilo yesterday, the goal difference of the Sun Kings took a huge hit. F Marinos were taken out by Vissel Kobe and dropped away, and Nagoya took full advantage by beating Sanfrecce away (while Gamba drew at Cerezo) and moving to the top.Wednesday night’s game will see Nagoya pull clear at the top if they can come away with a win, or even a draw, while Gamba can take over the top spot with a win. So it’s an early title decider??!

Yes, we’re hearing that he has been granted a working visa … hot off the press from London!

The big story, of course, this week, was the death of Naoki Matsuda aged just 34 … this, understandably was on everyone’s mind this week. See the JSoccer.com tribute elsewhere on this site.There was a moment of silence before every game today, of course, and On the Reysol bench was Masami Ihara, long-term defensive partner of Matsuda and now a coach at Kashiwa. Leandro Domingues opened the scoring for Kashiwa Reysol early on in the battle for the top spot against Yokohama F.Marinos. The Reysol no.10 then set up his compatriot Jorge Wagner for the second Reysol goal in the 2nd half. Shunsuke Nakamura hit a post with a curling free kick late on but Reysol took the points.In Saitama, Vissel Kobe took a 2-0 1st half lead through a brace from Takayuki Yoshida – dedicating each goal to his ex-team mate Matsuda by holding his three fingers in the air, signifying Matsuda’s number for Marinos. Mazolla and Tatsuya Tanaka came on for the 2nd half and each scored a goal to bring the game level before a rash Marcio Richardes tackle took down Hideo Tanaka, as he was about to unleash the shot, for a PK, which Yoshito Okubo duly converted, VERY coolly, a-la-Endo, for a very important three points for Vissel.Ventforet entertained Sanfrecce Hiroshima, hoping for the points to pull them out of the danger zone, while Sanfrecce were hoping to stay in touch at the top. Tadanari Lee conveyed a PK that he had earned himself to open the scoring for the away team and Hisato Sato lobbed the keeper from the edge of the area to take the points for Sanfrecce, 2-0.Cerezo Osaka visited Kawasaki Frontale and Kiyotake nudged home a near post corner, before sending a superb through ball for Kurata to make it 2-0 before half time. Frontale pulled a goal back through Noborizato. But the points went to Cerezo.Nozawa opened the scoring for Kashima Antlers from a trademark free kick, before Osaka made it 2-0 with a pointblank prod home from an Endo low cross. Ota pulled one back for the away team before Araiiba twisted and turned as he cut in from the left and made it 3-1 with a shot across the keeper and into the corner, giving Antlers a confidence-boosting three points.Albirex Niigata annihilated visitors Shimizu S-Pulse, although three of their four goals came in the last 30 minutes. Michel got a couple for the winning Orange!

http://www.derwesten.de/staedte/bochum/Inui-will-mit-dem-VfL-aufsteigen-id4930041.htmlGood luck, Takashi!

Naoki Matsuda passed away in hospital, two long days after collapsing during a routine training exercise for his team, JFL’s Matsumoto Yamaga. Aged just 34, Matsuda arrived unconscious at hospital on Tuesday, August 2nd. It was a shock to all of us in the Japanese football world. We were all hoping that Naoki coud win another fight, but it was not to be.Matsuda, who won 40 caps for Japan and represented his country at the 2002 World Cup, had been put on an artificial respirator after the player had

Japan international Yuto Nagatomo returned to Italy this week after consulting his personal specialist in Hiroshima, Japan about his shoulder injury, suffered innIreland last weekend. It’s the second time Nagatomo has injured this shoulder and he elected to NOT go for surgery, returning to Italy to begin rehabilitation as soon as possible. Meanwhile, the Japan 23 for the Korea friendly was announced (see separate story below) with Inoha, Komano and even Koono able to fill in at left back. The position appears covered for now, and it’s not good news for Michihiro Yasuda, at Vitesse in Holland, who would have hoped to be the replacement. fast healing is wished for Nagatomo, and gambatte to Yasuda, for another chance at a place.

Goalkeepers:

A look at the ladies who brought glory to Japanese football, from Diarmud and Mariko … Click on the magazine section on the right of the page.

Thanks for visiting JSoccer.com – Japanese Football From the Inside. Many of you will also have JSoccer Magazine by now – if not mail me at alan@jsoccer.com now for details on how to get your copy – and the web site is being re-designed in order to give you even more updates and information on all aspects of Japanese Football. Please forgive us while we catch up with the web site. Improvements are underway! It’s all about the game! Live Football!

Gamba Osaka came out eventual winners in their second game in Saitama within a week, 3-2 victors with goals from Lee, Nakazawa and SY Kim, but it was not easy.