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Good luck Montedio Yamagata!
All posts by Alan Gibson
The New J-Talk Podcast!
Part 1 with Thomas Birch on the J1 title race runs to 34:10, then Steve Barme chats about the two-horse Relegation Dogfight to 49:45. Jon Steele and Stuart Smith then discuss the J2 playoffs and the J2/J3 promotion/relegation playoff to the end of the podcast at 1:18:29.
https://archive.org/details/TheJ-talkPodcast-2014J1Matchday33
Just Who is the Man They Call “JLeague Fan Chris” ?!
It’s always great to see interest in the Japanese game from overseas and one of the names we see regularly on Twitter is
@JleaguefanChris who follows the game from afar. I thought I’d find out a little more about the man behind the Tweets and the web site: http://jleaguefanchris.wordpress.com
JS: Chris, thank you for agreeing to tell us about yourself. The first question is obvious: who are you!?
JLeague Fan Chris: Well, a short intro is needed first… My name is Chris Rowcroft aka JLeaguefanChris, and I am from a small town in County Durham in the North East of England, where my “main team” in English Non League Level is Spennymoor Town FC, who currently play in the Evo-Stik Northern Premier League First Division North, I have been a fan of Spennymoor (United, which folded in 2005 and evolved into the current incarnation) since I was ten years old,. For the past six years I have been a volunteer at the club; as a steward, selling programmes and also filming games, but I’ve been given the full role of the club’s cameraman for this season after stepping down as a steward.
JS: Wow, that is certainly deeply involved in the club. How do you find time to watch Japanese Football and, of course, why? And how?!
JLFC: How I got into Japanese Football is an interesting story. When I was in college a few years ago, I stumbled across a news article on the Japan Times website about Tokyo Verdy’s financial problems. Tis struck a nerve and I felt sorry for the club as a team close to my heart – and closer to home, of course – Spennymoor United, had folded a few years before due to financial problems, so I instantly made a decision to follow Verdy, and support them. I also did a bit of research on the team, and the J.League at that time, but I didn’t really do much more than keep up with Tokyo Verdy’s results to begin with.
JS: I am guessing there is more to this story on the way then ….
JLFC: Indeed, a few years later (on March 15th, 2013, to be exact) I started my Twitter account and immediately got more involved in the Japanese game through people like yourself at JSoccer Magazine and Angus at Japan Footy on Twitter being extremely helpful with anything I asked or discussed with my account. So I soon got started updating the 2013 J.League season matchdays at 5 or 6 o’clock in the morning – UK time – while watching a live game. I was then up till maybe 12 noon before heading out to watch Spennymoor play either home or away, and film the game.
JS: An interesting story. It’s fun to hear how people got into a certain team, or league, or player. Just a little sympathy for Verdy started it all! And then came a web site, too!
JLFC: In September 2013 I started a WordPress blog for all things J League. It began with an Emperor’s Cup 2013 1st/2nd, 3rd Round Draw article and, here I am, still blogging about J.League to this very day. I love learning new things about Japanese Football these days – from the JFL to the Women’s game – Nadeshiko League and Challenge League.
JS: I am sure I’ve seen a soft sport for another team in your writings?
JLFC: Yes, indeed. Another team I follow closely in the Japanese football world is A.C Nagano Parceiro – currently playing in Division 3. of course, I watched a live match when Parceiro were playing in the JFL and they stormed the game, playing some really good football and I instantly fell in love with the club.
JS: Another love at first sight meeting in Japanese Football! So, when are you coming
over?!
JLFC: My dream is to travel to Japan and watch a game from each of J.League divisions 1, 2 and 3, as well as the JFL and some Regional League games, It has been a dream of mine to visit Japan because of a love of anime/manga, in addition to the football! Can I take this opportunity to thank you – Alan – since a few of my articles have made it onto JSoccer. com and JSoccer’s Facebook page, thank you for the support.
JS: No, thank YOU for YOUR interest and support ofJSoccer – the magazine and the web site – and all things Japanese Football. It’s always nice to have enthusiastic new faces on the “scene”. And now you’ve also “made it” into the magazine. Keep up the good work, sir!
Jleague Fan Chris is Chris Rowcroft Follow him on Twitter @jleaguefanchris Check out the web site:
http://jleaguefanchris.wordpress.com
Gamba Set Up Tight Finish in J1 after Beating Reds
The destination of the J.League title looked like a foregone conclusion during the month of September after Urawa Reds put together an incredible run of form to lose only two matches from April to September. Just when it seemed that they would comfortably seal the title with weeks remaining, Reds have been stuttering in the title race. Their main title contenders, Gamba Osaka, have a midweek Emperor’s Cup match against Shimizu S-Pulse, but they are expected to put up a huge fight in the remainder of the league season. Betfair places Gamba Osaka at 4/7 to win against Shimizu in the Cup clash tonight.
Just one win in the last four matches meant that Reds came into last weekend’s top of the table clash against Gamba Osaka will less than stellar confidence and a 2-0 win for Gamba Osaka has now thrown the league title race wide open with two match days remaining. The prospect of an astonishing collapse for Urawa Reds now looks real due to the difficult end to their campaign.
Gamba Osaka are up against Vissel Kobe and Tokushima Vortis in the remaining two matches. The former does not have much to play for due to their mid-table position, while Tokushima are rooted to the foot of the table.
Gamba Osaka have not won the league title since 2005 and the first half did not give them a lot of confidence. Reds could have gone ahead just before half-time after Daiki Niwa came close to putting the ball into his own net before it was acrobatically saved by goalkeeper Masaaki Higashiguchi.
Reds coach Mihailo Petrovic will be extremely unhappy about the defeat considering that his team have been in imperious form in front of their own supporters this season. This was their first defeat at home since March.
At the coming weekend, Urawa Reds have to deal with a difficult away match against Sagan Tosu, who are still mathematically in with a chance of the title. Ironically, Sagan inflicted Reds’ previous home defeat and they have not lost against this opposition since 2012. Even if their title hopes are slim, a top three finish and a chance to play in the AFC Champions is a very real possibility for the Kyushu team. Urawa Reds complete the campaign with a home match against mid-table Nagoya Grampus, but given the nervousness that they showed against Gamba Osaka, this match is unlikely to be a certain three-pointer.
Momentum plays a huge role in league title races and the J.League is no different in this aspect. Gamba Osaka clearly have the momentum on their side, as they have dropped just five points since the start of September. This is an astonishing run in any league and it is not surprising to see them just two points off the top.
Despite this incredible run, there was always the danger of Gamba Osaka running out of matches. Akihiro Sato put those fears to bed after scoring against Reds with just two minutes of normal time remaining. While for long periods of the match there was nothing to separate the two teams, and both created a similar number of opportunities, Sato’s late goal seemed to take the wind out of Reds’ sail. Their efforts to get the much-needed equaliser resulted in Shu Kurata confirming three points with an injury time goal to make the final score 2-0 to the away team.
Urawa now have a full week to prepare for their high profile clash against Sagan Tosu whereas Gamba will concentrate on reaching the final of the 2014 Emperor’s Cup before looking ahead to their weekend league meeting with Vissel Kobe. They also have only two days of preparation for this match, but Gamba manager Kenta Hasegawa will have every reason to believe that the club’s momentum will carry them through these tough matches.
Shimizu S-Pulse are the opponents – and the underdogs – against Gamba with Betfair placing them at 19/5 for a victory. The winners will be playing at the Nissan Stadium against Montedio Yamagata or JEF United.
Gamba coach Hasegawa may feel the pressure, but having led the team to Nabisco Cup success recently and with an Emperor’s Cup semi-final place in the bag, he can afford to let the team ride on the momentum. After all, the Japanese league title is technically still Urawa Reds’ to lose!
http://int.soccerway.com/national/japan/emperor-cup/2014/s9143/final-stages/
Caio for Japan! A Brazilian Samurai in the Making?
Caio for Japan
A Brazilian Samurai in the Making – EXCLUSIVE!
by Tiago Bontempo
The Samurai Blue could have a naturalized Brazilian by the next World Cup – unless Brazil calls him first! At 20 years old and in his debut season as a professional, Caio Lucas Fernandes is one of the brightest prospects in the J.League. His impressive performances for Kashima Antlers have supporters wondering whether he would be willing to represent Japan at international level.
“I would accept it, without any doubt”, he replied without hesitation in an interview with JSoccer Magazine. “This country has helped me a lot, I turned professional here. I think I owe a lot to Japan”, he added.
Born in the city of Araçatuba, Caio played for Brazilian giants São Paulo FC’s youth levels between the ages of 11 and 16 years old. In 2011, when he was 17, he attended a player selection trial promoted by Chiba International High School in Brazil. Caio impressed and was invited to go to Japan to study and play football for them.
The youngster left his family in Brazil and moved alone to the Land of the Rising Sun to see what Japanese football had to offer. But he also needed to study and so began the process of learning the Japanese language. “[At school] everything was in Japanese, the only person who spoke Portuguese was the headmaster. He didn’t speak much, but he helped me a lot.” Now Caio can manage his everyday life on his own and does not need a translator.
In the school’s football team, Caio had the company of a compatriot: Wellington Daniel Bueno, affectionately known as Bueno. One year younger and playing at centre-back, he arrived in Japan via the same route as Caio.
“In the beginning it was difficult to pay attention in the classes, I understood very little. Eventually things improved, but to start with it was really complicated”, Bueno reveals.
Taking part in the Japan national high school tournaments, the two got noticed by scouts of some of the big clubs in J.League. Caio recalls: “We helped take Chiba Kokusai to a historical fourth place [in a national tournament], something that had never happened before. For us personally, too, everything went well and, thankfully we caught the attention of some clubs.”
Caio got a contract with Kashima Antlers in January this year, and, in August, Bueno signed with Shimizu S-Pulse.
In Japan, the transition from high school to professional football often takes a while, with most rookies getting little playing time in their first season in the J.League. “To tell the truth, many didn’t believe I would play”, Caio admitted. “But I am indeed playing, scoring goals, and helping my team”, said the promising youngster.
The Antlers’ no.33 got his J1 debut in matchday 3, against Sagan Tosu, as a substitute. In matchday 6 he got his first start, scored against Gamba Osaka, and cemented his place in Toninho Cerezo’s starting eleven. Deployed mainly as a left midfielder in Antlers’ 4-2-3-1, at the time of writing the Brazilian has seven goals and two assists in 28 J1 games (23 as starter). It’s the most promising start in Kashima Antlers’ history for a player coming straight from high school.
Despite having naturalization in mind, Caio can’t help also thinking about the possibilities of playing for the Brazilian national team, especially after seeing Eduardo, a centre-back who plies his trade in Kashiwa Reysol, receiving a call-up for Alexandre Gallo’s Brazil Olympic squad. “It gave me more motivation”, he told us. “It gave me one more reason to try even harder because you can see they are scouting the whole world. Of course every Brazilian footballer dreams about playing for his national team. It is nice to hear, sometimes, the people here in Japan saying they want me to play for the Samurai Blue. Of course, I still have to wait a while to get the citizenship. But I really feel like doing it”, he admits.
To his mentor, Toninho Cerezo, Caio is, “…still a boy who is shaping himself here in Japan. He grew a lot this year. He is a fast player, who can hold the ball well. He has powerful right-foot finishing. He just needs to refine his vision and make better use of his shooting ability, but these he can improve with training.”
Regarding an eventual naturalization, Cerezo says: “I don’t know. He’s making his own history here in Japan. But he could still be called to Brazil U21. I think his dream is inclined towards Japan because he lives here, he speaks the language, he studied in a Japanese school. He certainly has Japanese traits, like discipline and respect for the opponent. But he still has that Brazilian ‘swing’! He knows how to protect himself and avoid harsh plays. He still needs to mature, but he is on the right path. His future choices will be his alone.”
Follow Tiago on Twitter @GunnerTNB
Images (C) Kashima Antlers, with thanks.
The NEW J-Talk Podcast is here!
https://archive.org/details/TheJ-talkPodcast-SeanCarrollMikeDenHeijer
Sean Carroll joins Ben Maxwell to talk about Gamba Osaka’s win in the Nabisco Cup final and their treble dream, before we discuss the Japan squad for the friendlies against Honduras and Australia (to 28:45).
Then, after a brief J2 and J3 review (to 33:40), Mike Den Heijer, a New Zealand Under 17 international and Kashiwa Reysol Under 18s player, guests to talk about his move to Japan and experience with Reysol this year.
Japan Samurai Blue schedule v Honduras, Australia
Fri. 14 November 2014: Japan vs Honduras
Toyota Stadium/Aichi Kickoff 19:35
TV Broadcast: ASAHI TV
Tue. 18 November 2014 Japan vs Australia
Yanmar Stadium Nagai/Osaka Kickoff 19:20
TV Broadcast: FUJI TV
Urawa Reds v Gamba Osaka – the match for the season!
J1 Table with three matches to go …
1 Urawa Reds 61 31 18 7 6 50 27 +23
2 Gamba Osaka 56 31 17 5 9 54 30 +24
3 Kashima Antlers 54 31 16 6 9 58 36 +22
4 Sagan Tosu 53 31 17 2 12 38 32 +6
5 Kawasaki Frontale 51 31 15 6 10 52 39 +13
6 Kashiwa Reysol 51 31 14 9 8 41 38 +3
7 F.C.Tokyo 46 31 12 10 9 45 29 +16
8 Sanfrecce Hiroshima 46 31 12 10 9 41 34 +7
9 Vissel Kobe 45 31 11 12 8 46 43 +3
10 Yokohama F･Marinos 44 31 12 8 11 33 27 +6
11 Nagoya Grampus 41 31 11 8 12 41 44 -3
12 Albirex Niigata 41 31 11 8 12 27 32 -5
13 Ventforet Kofu 36 31 8 12 11 25 31 -6
14 Vegalta Sendai 34 31 8 10 13 30 44 -14
15 Shimizu S-Pulse 34 31 10 4 17 39 55 -16
16 Omiya Ardija 32 31 8 8 15 40 56 -16 J2
17 Cerezo Osaka 30 31 7 9 15 32 39 -7 J2
18 Tokushima Vortis 13 31 3 4 24 15 71 -56
Gamba Osaka – Nabisco Cup Winners 2014
Sanfrecce Hiroshima 2-3 Gamba Osaka
http://www.gamba-osaka.net/en/news/no/2399/
Goalscorers – Sanfrecce – Sato: 20 (PK), 35 / Gamba – Patric: 39, 54, Omori: 71
On Saturday 8th November, Saitama Stadium – the home of Urawa Reds – was the venue for the J.League Yamazaki Nabisco Cup Final between Sanfrecce Hiroshima and Gamba Osaka. It was a pulsating contest, with classy football played by both teams – rare was it to see a long pass, and never an aimless one! After going two goals down, Gamba stormed back to take the trophy with a 3-2 scoreline.
An interesting selection by team boss Kenta Hasegawa saw Tomokazu Myojin selected as the key defensive midfielder, with Yasuyuki Konno on the left of a midfield diamond, Yasuhito Endo at the top, and Hiroyuki Abe completing the central four.
Sanfrecce went ahead in the 20th minute on a dubious penalty decision when referee Mr. Nishimura judged Keisuke Iwashita to have handled in the area. Hisato Sato barely converted the penalty kick – Masaaki Higashiguchi in the Gamba goal getting a firm hand to the ball before it made its way in at the post.
In the 35th minute, Sato made it two goals for him – extending his record number of goals in this competition to 28, one more than Masashi Nakayama and Juninho who had held the record before this match – and two goals for Sanfrecce, after a little pinball in the area, the predatory forward doing what he does best – stabbing home from close range.
Minutes later the Gamba comeback commenced, with Patric heading home a Yasuhito Endo cross to make it 2-1 to the boys in purple at half time.
With Gamba looking to be on top Hasegawa juggled the formation at half time, with Kotaro Omori replacing Myojin for the second half. Konno moved into the central defensive position and Omori played as an attacking force, and how well that turned out!
With the changes in position, Gamba came out with all guns blazing in the second period and were level in the 54th minute. Patric again, this time from a Takashi Usami cross. By this time Takutp Hayashi in the Sanfrecce goal had already been forced into making two fine saves from Patric and Hiroyuki Abe but could do nothing to prevent the Brazilian no.29 scoring his second.
Patric could have had his hat trick in the 66th minute as Kotaro Omori and Usami combined on the left to find space for the latter to send in a low cross that Patric slid in to connect with. The ball went over the bar from two yards out!
Gamba did finally go ahead for good when Hayashi was again forced into action to parry a superb shot from Abe – who was in fine form – only to see Omori following in to head home the winner.
So, Gamba win in Saitama… and their fans will be hoping for another win at the same stadium when J1 play returns – away to Urawa Reds in the all-important matchday 32! Don’t miss it!