Antlers 0-1 CerezoBellmare 1-4 RedsFC Tokyo 0-2 SanfrecceAlbirex 2-1 FrontaleSanga 1-2 Marinos….. Nagoya on 38 play Gamba (31) Sunday. Albirex (34) took out Frontale (35). It’s getting tight at the top … tomorrow’s games see Gamba at Nagoya, S-Pulse away to Jubilo in the Shizuoka derby, as well as a couple of relegation battles between Montedio and Vissel, and Ardija and Vegalta. Tight at both ends, just as the J.League wants it! A fight to the finish!

Nagoya, all the way down to Albirex must still fancy their chances!? Personally, I reckon one of the Osaka clubs is going to surprise us all! REALLY!

Albirex Niigata 4-1 Shimizu S-Pulse 30,076Gamba Osaka 1-1 Kashima Antlers 20,046Yokohama F Marinos 0-1 Montedio Yamagata 12,184Urawa Reds 1-1 Vegalta Sendai 32,231Cerezo Osaka 4-1 F.C.Tokyo 9,086Kawasaki Frontale 4-0 Nagoya Grampus 22,407Shonan Bellmare 2-2 Kyoto Sanga 9,302Sanfrecce Hiroshima 1-2 Omiya Ardija 9,945Jubilo Iwata 3-2 Vissel Kobe 8,049

It was Gamba all the way, but for a ballboy who gained an assist for the Antlers goal!!

This hot, humid, August week sees Gamba Osaka entertain Kashima Antlers – with the chance to pull within two points of them in 3rd place with a win on Tuesday night – followed by a trip to Nagoya, sitting at the top of the league this week.

Make or break for Gamba at the top, and Vissel at the bottom … both will know whether their seasons will have meaning by Sunday night! Cerezo also have the chance to pressure the top 3 this week, while Kyoto Sanga can accept they are heading for J and start rebuilding NOW!

Tuesday August 17th games:19.00 Albirex v. S-Pulse at Tohoku19:00 Gamba v. Antlers at Banpaku19:30 Reds v. Vegalta at Saitama19.30 Yokohama F Marinos v. Montedio at MitsuzawaWednesday August 18th games (all 19.00):Frontale v. Nagoya at Todoroki Shonan v. Kyoto at Hiratsuka Iwata v. Kobe at Yamaha Cerezo v. FC Tokyo at Kincho Stadium Hiroshima v. Omiya at Hiroshima.B

Gamba march on … with an all-Japanese starting line-up! NICE!

Listen as Joe and I apologise to an Urawa resident for slamming their town (but their team is still in dire straits) and try to make something of the borefest that was a 0-0 draw!http://japanleaguesoccer.podbean.com/

Hashimoto earns the points for Gamba with his 2nd goal in two games!