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My story of the Last Day of the J1 Season, 2005

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Let me take you back to the final game of the 2005 J1 (single stage, thankfully) season … with less than a minute to go in normal time at Nagai Stadium, Cerezo were top of the league and cruising towards a J1 title, leading FC Tokyo 2-1.

The table looked like this as we went into the final 90 minutes:

1 Cerezo Osaka 58 pts GD +8
2 Gamba Osaka 57 pts GD +22
3 Urawa Reds 56 pts GD +24
4 Kashima Antlers 56 pts GD +18
5 JEF United 56 pts GD +13

Going into the final day both Cerezo and Gamba in Osaka, Urawa Reds, JEF United AND Kashima Antlers ALL still had a chance to win the league!

I personally watched a guy in a suit put on his white gloves and take out the (a) J1 trophy from a box, place it on a display pedestal and begin decorating it with pink ribbons. Holding a press pass I was able to be pitch-side as the game approached its conclusion. 1988 was the year I first watched Matsushita Denki, “chosen” as they were the closest team to my new home in Kobe at the time – I VERY much believe in supporting your local team. So, as a long-term Gamba Osaka watcher it was with mixed feelings that I was also watching as a long-term J.League writer – someone who SHOULD be neutral – and seeing Cerezo Osaka about to pick up the trophy. On the field were some friends – some of whom I am still in touch with on a regular basis, including Hiroaki Morishima – still at Cerezo as a team Ambassador.

There were 43,927 packed into the stadium on a bright, sunny day of 12 degrees C. The referee was Toru Kamikawa, and he had signaled that the game was going into additional time.

I looked at the clock, I looked at the trophy and … well, let’s go back a little!

Gamba Osaka had gone ahead 3-2 at Kawasaki Frontale through a Yashito Endo penalty kick with 11 minutes to go. Meanwhile Kashima Antlers were cruising against Kashiwa Reysol, but were not going to become champions unless both Osaka teams lost.

Cerezo had gone ahead through Akinori Nishizawa, before conceding an equaliser to Norio Suzuki and it was level at the break.

Nishizawa scored his second and put Cerezo on top of J1 in the 48th minute … and so back to what I was looking at with seconds to go in the season.

… an FC Tokyo corner in the 90th minute came across. The shot was well-saved by Motohiro Yoshida in the Cerezo goal. The “second ball” fell to Konno who hit it on the bounce, his left foot shot finding its way through a forest of legs to make the score 2-2 and, with one swing of a leg Cerezo dropped from 1st to 5th and Gamba – who eventually won 4-2 at Frontale – were champions.

I looked at the stadium clock as the ball went in – 89 minutes 57 seconds – and then I looked at the man in the suit who had put his white gloves back on and put the trophy back in the box!

Later that night the party arrived at Banpaku…

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Beer was sprayed, my shirt was signed, and I still have the “parka” 8and the signed shirt) from that night!

I’ll be in Tokushima tomorrow, looking forward to another waste of beer! But there’ll be no enumeration of as yet unborn poultry … a win and the J1 Championship is Gamba’s. Period. But a draw or a loss, and that man in the suit, wearing the white gloves may yet be cursing his luck again!

How it ended:

1 Gamba Osaka 60 pts GD +24
2 Urawa Reds 59 pts GD +28
3 Kashima Antlers 59 pts GD +22
4 JEF United 59 pts GD +14
5 Cerezo Osaka 59 pts GD +8

Front Page, In the Mix, J.League

Just Who is the Man They Call “JLeague Fan Chris” ?!

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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

jleague_fan_chris

Front Page, In the Mix, J.League, National Team

Caio for Japan! A Brazilian Samurai in the Making?

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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.

(C) Kashima Antlers
(C) Kashima Antlers

“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.

(C) Kashima Antlers
(C) Kashima Antlers

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.

Front Page, J.League

The NEW J-Talk Podcast is here!

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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.

Front Page, In the Mix, J.League, Previews

J1 Table with three matches to go …

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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

Front Page, J.League, Reports

Gamba Osaka – Nabisco Cup Winners 2014

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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!