Here’s how it stands at the top of J1 with two games to go:1 Kashiwa Reysol 68 32 22 2 8 61 40 +212 Nagoya Grampus 65 32 19 8 5 63 36 +273 Gamba Osaka 64 32 19 7 6 74 50 +244 Yokohama F.Marinos 55 32 16 7 9 45 36 +95 Vegalta Sendai 53 32 13 14 5 37 24 +13The penultimate games for the title-chasing teams are:Kashiwa Reysol v. Cerezo OsakaNagoya Grampus v. Montedio YamagataGamba Osaka v. Vegalta Sendai … and final games, on December 3rd (all kick-off 15.30) are:Urawa Reds v. Kashiwa ReysolAlbirex Niigata v. Nagoya GrampusShimizu S-Pulse v. Gamba OsakaRemember 2005, Konno scores!!!

1 Kashiwa Reysol 68 32 22 2 8 61 40 +212 Nagoya Grampus 65 32 19 8 5 63 36 +273 Gamba Osaka 64 32 19 7 6 74 50 +244 Yokohama F.Marinos 55 32 16 7 9 45 36 +95 Vegalta Sendai 53 32 13 14 5 37 24 +13The penultimate games for the title-chasing teams are:Kashiwa Reysol v. Cerezo OsakaNagoya Grampus v. Montedio YamagataGamba Osaka v. Vegalta Sendai … and final games, on December 3rd (all kick-off 15.30) are:Urawa Reds v. Kashiwa ReysolAlbirex Niigata v. Nagoya GrampusShimizu S-Pulse v. Gamba OsakaRemember 2005, Konno scores!!!

Yokohama F.Marinos 1-2 Nagoya GrampusShimizu S-Pulse 1-2 Kashiwa ReysolThose three results leave Reysol clear at the top with two games to go…. Nagoya 2nd, Gamba 3rd. But, remember, anything can happen in J.League. Here’s my report on the Gamba match.

#JSoccerMagazine 第二号好評発売中！！日本国内は送料込み８００円！

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2011/nov/11/misaaki-toma-fa-cup-referee-brentfordCan only be good for the game. Hope he enjoys it, learns something too. I have spoken to him in English before, so he will be able to understand the insults thrown at him, also!

Last 16 games in Emperor’s Cup … match-up of the day? Marinos v Yamaga – Matsuda’s two teams up against each other – wow! Fate!Nagoya Grampus v Kashiwa ReysolKashima Antlers v Kyoto SangaKawasaki Frontale v. Shonan BellmareMito HollyHock v FC TokyoEhime FC v Urawa RedsCerezo Osaka v. Vegalta SendaiShimizu S-Pulse v. JEF UnitedYokohama F.Marinos v. Matsumoto YamagaAt least one J2 team (from Mito v FCT) in last eight then!

SEVEN teams in the last 16 of the Emperor’s Cup 2011 are from outside J1! Congratulations, especially, to Matsumoto Yamaga (spurred on by the spirit of Naoki Matsuda, no doubt) who beat Niigata to represent the JFL in the final 16 this year.Fukuoka Univ. 0-3 Bellmare (J2)Gamba 2-3 Mito (J2)FC Tokyo (J2) 2-3 VisselKashima 2-1 Toyama (those four games after extra time)Jubilo 0-1 JEF (J2)Hiroshima 0-1 Ehime (J2)Reysol 6-1 KofuReds 2-1 VerdyMarinos 3-0 TochigiNagoya 1-0 KitakyushuYamagata 2-3 Kyoto Sanga (J2)Frontale 4-0 TrinitaS-Pulse 5-0 GainareCerezo 3-0 FagianoVegalta 3-1 AvispaAlbirex 0-1 Matsumoto Yamaga (JFL)

Did you know? North Korea are the new Unofficial Football World Champions, after Japan held the title for a decent 16 unbeaten matches. Meanwhile, the North Korean nation probably don’t realise they hold the title as their Internet access is probably quite limited!The Japan game itself was broadcast on North Korean TV well after the fact, on delay, and the Japanese national anthem was edited out of the TV broadcast – shame – quite impressive booing and shrieking accompanied the live rendition before the game.Around 1 million homes have TVs in the North, but no estimate made as to how many people watched on each TV – it was probably obligatory to watch the game, though, somehow!Apparently the TV and newspapers have not mentioned the fact that the team has actually been knocked out of qualifying for Brazil 2014!!!As for the Japanese team (and fans) – it apparently is a relief to just get out of the country safely, and the result was not deemed important, at all, in the final scheme of things.

A full round of cup games tomorrow night to ease us back into the J.League at the weekend. Down to 32 teams.13.00 kick offYokohama F. Marinos v Tochigi S.C. – Mitsuzawa19.00 kick offNagoya Grampus v Giravanz Kitakyushu – MizuhoKashiwa Reysol v Ventforet Kofu – HitachiAlbirex Niigata v Matsumoto Yamaga – Big SwanKashima Antlers v Kataller Toyama – KashimaMontedio Yamagata v Kyoto Sanga – ND SoftKawasaki Frontale v Oita Trinita – TodorokiFukuoka University v Shonan Bellmare – NACK5 (Omiya)Gamba Osaka v Mito HollyHock – BanpakuF.C. Tokyo v Vissel Kobe – AjinomotoSanfrecce Hiroshima v Ehime F.C. – Big ArchUrawa Reds v Tokyo Verdy – SaitamaCerezo Osaka v Fagiano Okayama – KinchoVegalta Sendai v Avispa Fukuoka – YurtecShimizu S-Pulse v Gainare Tottori – NihondairaJ

Don’t you just love Internet translations? Here’s the English version of the story below:J1 / G Osaka practiced closed in a practice field in Suita-shi, Osaka on 14th. Niigata round (Tohoku electric ス) and the important match of the league continue this week by middle 2nd on Mito round (an international exposition), 19th of the Emperor’s trophy on 16th. Manager Nishino tightened a team for [the minus number figures end] and the Emperor’s trophy and 2 crown conquest of the league match. The team circumstances are severe. As for MF Endo of the central pillar, FW 李根鎬, the match of 16th is absent by World Cup preliminary participation. FW ラフィーニャ of the score source took time for the recovery of the left shoulder wounded in, and absence became strong with two games. The commander expects FW Hirai, FW Kawanishi, MF 金承龍 in a substitute. [I do Mito and a dull match, and don’t influence it on the weekend.] ] which a member organizes in the main premise that finishes winning. The appointment in 19 days suggests it if I play an active part in the match of 16th. For title capture for the first time in two years, I demanded the stirring up of the Class reserve.Ｊ１・Ｇ大阪は１４日、大阪府吹田市内の練習場で、非公開練習を行った。今週は１６日に天皇杯の水戸戦（万博）、１９日にはリーグの新潟戦（東北電ス）と重要な試合が中２日で続く。西野監督は「負けたら終わり」と、天皇杯とリーグ戦の２冠制覇に向けてチームを引き締めた。　チーム事情は厳しい。大黒柱のＭＦ遠藤、ＦＷ李根鎬はＷ杯予選出場で１６日の試合は不在。得点源のＦＷラフィーニャは、負傷した左肩の回復に時間がかかり、２試合とも欠場が濃厚となった。　指揮官は代役にＦＷ平井、ＦＷ川西、ＭＦ金承龍らを期待する。「水戸とつまらない試合をして週末に影響しないように。勝ちきる大前提でメンバー編成する」。１６日の試合で活躍すれば１９日での起用も示唆。２年ぶりのタイトル奪取のために、控え組の奮起を求めた。Story from Twitter – http://eag.ly/y/mF773 J.League News