All posts by Alan Gibson

In the Mix, Reports

Sumo Celebrating Sanfrecce 3-2 Ulsan Hyundai

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Sanfrecce Hiroshima 3-6-1
GK Nishikawa
DF Shiotani Mizumoto Hwang
MF Aoyama Takahagi Yamagishi Ishikawa Morisaki Morisaki
FW Sato

Newly-crowned first-time J.League Champions came from an early goal down to beat AFC Champions league winners Ulsan Hyundai 3-2 in the FIFA Club World Cup 2012 5th place play-off yesterday, in Toyota Stadium.

Hiroki Mizumoto put through his own goal in the 17th minute when goalkeeper Shusaku Nishikawa came off his line, but didn’t communicate well enough with his centre back and Mizumoto’s back pass trickled over the line to give the Korean team the lead.

Ulsan, featuring the ex-Gamba triumvirate of Lee Keun Ho, Rafinha and Kim Seung Yong, pushed hard for another goal but Sanfrecce held them at bay and the equaliser came in the 35th minute as Hisato Sato glanced a header on from a Koji Morisaki free kick. The keeper got to the ball but it fell kindly for the in-rushing Satoru Yamaguishi to blast over the line from inches out as the despairing Kim Young Kwang tried to keep the ball out.

It was Yamagishi again who made the difference in the 56th minute as Sato got on the end of a left wing inswinger from the influential Sanfrecce midfielder. Sato hardly touched the ball as it swung in and his miskick (or, debatably, not even a touch?!) fooled the keeper and the ball sneaked in at the far post to give Sanfrecce the lead.

By the time the 3rd goal came, Sanfrecce had been running the match and the goal had been only a matter of time, although there was an element of luck about it in the end, as the pass found Takahagi, who regained control of the ball after the defender’s challenge, and slipped it sideways to Sato, who made no mistake.

Ulsan made pulled the deficit back to a single goal with the last kick of the game, a Yong Lee free kick from the left finding its way through everyone and in at the far post.

Sato said after the game, “We didn’t make the semi-final, but I’m happy we managed to win this game in front of Japanese fans and showed the Sanfrecce style of football to the world. This will give us confidence and experience for our ACL campaign next season.”

Coach Hajima Moriyasu was satisfied with the finish to his team’s season, “Credit to the players. We were on a tight schedule after ending the J.league season and the players pulled on their energy reserves and gave their all to the end. I’m happy we ended with a win.”

Ulsan Hyundai starting XI:
YK Kim, Y.Lee, Kwak, YS Kim, CG Kim, H.Lee, SY Kim, SK Ko, SW Kim, KH Lee, Rafinha

In the Mix, Previews

Emperor's Cup – next up for the last 16.

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As featured in the forthcoming JSoccer Magazine Issue 6 (out Dec.14th), here’s a look at the 92nd Emperor’s Cup . . .

J.League (and JFL) teams are in action again this Saturday, December 15th, with the 4th Round of the Emperor’s Cup – staggered kick offs and all available live, or recorded on Japanese TV.

The number before the kick off time is the match number – then you can work out who the winners of each tie play in the quarter final, and follow the possible permutations through to the final on New Year’s Day.

73 – 13.00 Gamba Osaka v Machida Zelvia (Recorded broadcast 20.00 NHK BS-1)
74 – 17.00 Cerezo Osaka v Shimizu S-Pulse (Live SkyPerfect 581 / 801)
75 – 13.00 JEF United Chiba v Fukushima Utd (Recorded broadcast 18.00 NHK BS-1)
76 – 13.00 Kashima Antlers v Jubilo Iwata (Recorded broadcast 22.00 SkyPerfect 580 / 800)
77 – 16.00 Urawa Reds v Yokohama F. Marinos (Recorded broadcast 16.50 SkyPerfect 580 / 800)
78 – 15.00 Nagoya Grampus v Roasso Kumamoto (Live NHK BS1)
79 – 13.00 Omiya Ardija v Kawasaki Frontale (Recorded broadcast 23.00 SkyPerfect 581 / 801)
80 – 13.00 Kashiwa Reysol v Yokogawa Musashino (Live NHK BS1)

Winner of 73 to play winner of 74 in quarter finals (Osaka Derby coming there? More likely S-Pulse will pull though, though? What do you think). Winners of 75 and 76 meet, 77 and 78, 79 and 80…. those quarter finals will be held on December 23rd.

The semi-finals take place December 29th, with the final, as always, on New Year’s Day, 14.00 kick off.

In the opinion of JSoccer Magazine, it is great to have some kind of drawing to decide the teams, like we did at the 4th Round stage – adds excitement and unpredictability — the magic of the cup! Now just make it a draw right from the start :-)

Uncategorized

Sanfrecce bow out of the Club World Cup 2012

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African champions, Egyptians Al-Ahly beat Sanfrecce Hiroshima 2-1 tonight to knock the Japanese team out and move on in the tournament. Sanfrecce will be regretting the missing of a hatful of chances, with Sato, uncharacteristically, being the main culprit tonight. Sato acknowledged as much in his post-match interview, but the fans won’t blame him for an off day after helping bring the Championship to the club for the first time in their history!

The season is not quite over for Sanfrecce – who are already out of the Emperor’s Cup, which resumes with Round 4 on December 15th – they will take on AFC Champions league winners, Korea’s Ulsan Hyundai at Toyota Stadium next Wednesday as a consolation game, and bragging rights between Japan and Korea!

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Club World Cup 2012 Update Dec.8th

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CF Monterrey, who play Ulsan Hyundai in Match 2, will hold their official training session and press conference at Toyota Stadium. They will train at 16.00.

Ulsan Hyundai will train at the Minato Soccer Field at 16.00.

Al-Ahly will be at Toyota Stadium for official training at 19.30.

Their opponents in Match 3, Sanfrecce Hiroshima, will train at Itsutsugaoka Soccer Field at 16.00.

Stats of the Day

CF Monterrey, who play Ulsan Hyundai in Match 2, were unbeaten in last year’s FIFA Club World Cup. After drawing their opening game 1-1 against Kashiwa Reysol but losing on penalties, Monterrey then beat Esperance Sportive de Tunis 3-2 to seal fifth place.

Archives, In the Mix, National Team

Going . . . Going . . . Gon! Masahi Nakayama Retires.

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Going . . . Going . . . Gon! Masahi Nakayama Retires.

Masashi Nakayama, Jubilo Iwata and Japan legend – with a few appearances for Consadole Sapporo thrown in for good measure – announced his retirement this week, at the age of 45, his body, in his own words – in a nutshell – not responding any longer! The player managed a couple of minutes as a substitute in Consadole’s final match as his swansong, but held back the announcement until Tuesday. I find that interesting, since the J.League Awards on Monday night feted ex-Jubilo players Makoto Tanaka and Toshiya Fujita on their retirement. Did Nakayama not want to take their moment, or did he want his own later in the week!?

Nakayama – affectionately known as “Gon” is the J.League’s all-time leading scorer, with 157 goals, and also holds a few other records in the Japanese – and world – game. He was Japan’s first-ever scorer in World Cup Finals, with
his 74th minute strike in the 2-1 defeat to Jamaica at France 1998. Incidentally, he then broke a bone in his leg later in the match, but the full extent of his injury was not known until he completed the game!

“Gon” notched 21 goals in 53 internationals for Japan between 1990 and 2003, and 235 goals for Jubilo Iwata (also including four seasons pre-Jubilo Iwata as Yamaha Motors) in almost 500 appearances. In 1998 he was J1’s top scorer with 40 goals, which included a streak of hat tricks (in fact four and five goal hauls) in four successive games, and he holds the record for the fastest ever international hat trick – scoring three goals in 183 seconds against Brunei in 2000!

He was a popular character with fans and fellow players alike and was always good for a quote after a game, win or lose, and often talked to the fans via megaphone after a win. There should be more like him – bringing fun to the game, while enjoying life.

For me, the biggest memory of “Gon” that I will ever hold is watching live TV in Kobe, Japan, in the dark hours of the night of October 28th, 1993, and the enduring image of the player collapsing to the ground as he realised that Japan were not going to the World Cup, USA 1994. The game I was watching – Japan against Iraq, in Doha, went into injury time with Japan leading 2-1 and heading to USA. The rest is history. It became known as the Doha Tragedy (ドーハの悲劇 Dōha no higeki), as Japan gave away the ball in the middle of the pitch, Iraq advanced, gained a corner and scored from it! The draw sent both teams out and South Korea went to USA 1994. Incidentally, Korea also has a name for this event – the Miracle of Doha (도하의 기적/도하의 奇跡 or Doha ui Gijeok to give it its Korean name) . . . Going . . . Going . . . Gon!

In the Mix, Reports

Gamba and Vissel relegated!

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Shimizu S-Pulse 0-0 Omiya Ardija Outsourcing 14,729
Vissel Kobe 0-1 Sanfrecce Hiroshima Home’s 22,224
Urawa Reds 2-0 Nagoya Grampus Saitama 51,879
Yokohama F･Marinos 1-0 Sagan Tosu Nissan 26,642
Jubilo Iwata 2-1 Gamba Osaka Yamaha 14,389
Kashima Antlers 2-0 Kashiwa Reysol Kashima 19,141
Cerezo Osaka 2-2 Kawasaki Frontale Nagai 18,487
Albirex Niigata 4-1 Consadole Sapporo Tohoku Den 28,055
F.C.Tokyo 6-2 Vegalta Sendai Ajinomoto 30,944

For the final table see our TABLES link above!

Previews

Vissel Kobe vs Sanfrecce Hiroshima at Home's Stadium 15.30, Dec.1st

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Team News
Vissel Kobe – MF Tanaka is suspended. FW Yoshida undergoing tests, DF Hayashi out for the season.
Sanfrecce Hiroshima – no suspensions,

Head to Head – 9 wins for Sanfrecce, just 2 for Vissel, and 4 draws since 2004.

Match Preview – Vissel Kobe simply need a win to save themselves. A draw would see both Gamba and Albirex able to overtake them with a win. If Cerezo, one place above Vissel lose, it would allow Vissel to overtake them . . . plenty of permutations and Vissel have their fate in their own hands, unlike Gamba and Albirex below them. Tanaka is suspended while Sanfrecce have no suspensions or injuries or . . . anything to play for!

Sanfrecce clinched the Championship last week and could well be hungover, or just simply unmotivated. Either way Vissel fans will be hoping for an underpar Championship-winning team to visit! Vissel have previous experience in surviving on the final day and this could stand them in good stead for this huge game. Vissel fired coach Nishino two games back and caretaker boss Ryo Adachi won the first match in charge (again – he also took over Vissel temporarily earlier in the season when coach Wada was moved on!) but went down, narrowly, to Kashiwa Reysol, with ten men for the best part of the game, and now find themselves with this final big match to finish off the season, again! This is tough to call but I think we should EXPECT a DRAW – which may still not be enough for Vissel!

Previews

Cerezo Osaka vs Kawasaki Frontale at Nagai 15.30, Dec.1st

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Team News
Cerezo Osaka – MF Yamaguchi is suspended. MFs Yoshino and Maruhashi are injured.
Kawasaki Frontale – DFs Jeci and Komiyama injured, DF Morishita is back from injury but not match fit, no suspensions.

Head to Head – 5 wins for Kawasaki, 3 for Cerezo and 2 draws in 10 games since 2005, but Cerezo have not won since early 2006.

Match Preview – Cerezo Osaka are in trouble – not as much trouble as the two teams who will be trying their best to overhaul them of course – but, after bringing in Levir Culpi to save their J1 status, presuming they were safe after three 3-2 wins in-a-row, offering the Brazilian a contract to manage them next season, they have gone five matches with just two points to show from them and they can still drop to J2 with wins from Gamba and Vissel and a loss today for the pink half of Osaka! Last week they were destroyed by Sanfrecce, who clinched the Championship with their 4-1 win. They’ll be without three midfielders and under pressure in front of a nervous crowd.

Kawasaki Frontale have had an inconsistent season of ups and downs. A good start, and then good and bad spells from coach Kazama’s team have frustrated fans and team alike but they are now on a good spell to end the season – three wins in a row and ten goals in their last four games – and are hoping to finish the season on a high. A win for Frontale could, depending on results around them, see them finish in the top 6, a great incentive to finish off the season in style! EXPECT a WIN for KAWASAKI FRONTALE!

Previews

Jubilo Iwata vs Gamba Osaka at Yamaha 15.30, Dec.1st

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Team News
Jubilo Iwata – no suspensions, MF Matsuoka injured, but MF Baek reported as recovered but still doubtful to start.
Gamba Osaka – DF Iwashita is suspended. GK Kimura is back in training after a broken leg. DF Kaji and FW Sato out for the season.

Head to Head – 9 wins for Gamba, 7 for Jubilo and 4 draws in 20 meetings since 2003.

Match Preview – While Jubilo Iwata haven’t won since a fortunate victory over Vissel Kobe in mid-September their J1 place was assured for 2013 on other results of the teams around them. The loss of Baek in their midfield has hit them big time and the team will be looking forward to a new season to restart. The home fans will be frustrated and loud in their final game – it may go against them. The Maeda curse may be in effect!! (Look it up!)

Gamba Osaka simply MUST win this game AND hope that two of Albirex, Vissel and Cerezo lose their games. Their injuries have finally cleared up and CB Nakazawa returned last week, just in time for the suspension of Iwashita. This game promises goals – Gamba are top scorers in J1 (believe it or not!), while Jubilo have hit 55 goals this season, the teams attacks have managed 121 goals between them. On the other hand these two teams have conceded 105 goals between them. Yes, that is 226 goals in 66 games! Jubilo Iwata have little to play for and are in a huge depression, Gamba have their survival to play for and, even a win does not guarantee safety, but they WILL go for it! EXPECT a highscoring WIN for GAMBA OSAKA!

Previews

Shimizu S-Pulse vs Omiya Ardija at Outsourcing 15.30, Dec.1st

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Team News
Shimizu S-Pulse – DF Yoshida is suspended, MF Hattanda is doubtful with an injury.
Omiya Ardija – no injuries or suspensions.

Head to Head – 9 wins for S-Pulse, 4 for Ardija, and 5 draws since 2005.

Match Preview – Omiya Ardija have put a superb run together and are now safe in J1 for another season of struggle in 2013 – or are they? Will they finally improve next season or will they mess it up, again? Survive, and shoot themselves in the foot! Many fans feel that the biggest improvement has been Komoto at centre back and, if all is well he will hold off the S-Pulse attack today, while the likes of Cho and Higashi finally live up to their potential! Another win against S-Pulse and the team can go out on a high for the season – unbeaten since two defeats to Sanfrecce and Vegalta way back in August – and try to build on that.

Shimizu S-Pulse’s youngsters have buckled since the Nabisco Cup final defeat and seem to have given up the ghost going on recent results. Having said that, coach Afshin Ghotbi stated that their performance in the defeat to Kawasaki Frontale last weekend was one of their best in a long time but, nevertheless they have gone down to three league defeats in a row and are ending their season on a down. If the team stay together there will a decent season to look forward to but, for now, the team may well have their focus on the Emperor’s Cup? EXPECT a DRAW!