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Staring in J1, the top of the “overall” table (both stages combined) is the one that really matters and here it is… as you can see, with three games to go Sanfrecce and Reds are neck and neck and will be fighting it out for the “most points” title, and therefore going into the “final Championship” match without a play-off.
What’s important here is that the top three are the ones that qualify for the play-offs – and Gamba Osaka are on the up right now and pressurising FC Tokyo for that third spot! Excitement awaits.
At the bottom of J1, S-Pulse are down, and Montedio are all but gone, but mathematically in with a chance of survival as I write. Again, worth noting just in case there is any confusion, the relegation places are decided on the overall season/two stages combined table. Matsumoto Yamaga need to make up five points on Vissel Kobe, or six on Sagan or Albirex to reach safety. A tall order, right?
At the top of J2, Omiya Ardija appeared to have the Championship sewn up weeks ago but are now doing their best to lose it. Jubilo are just two points clear of Avispa Fukuoka with the top two going up to J1 without a play-off fight. Fukuoka seem to be the favourites of many now, while Cerezo Osaka have faded away in the last few games although are still well withing the play-off spots.
The play-offs will be 3rd-placed team v 6th placed, and 4th v 5th, over two legs, with a final play-off for a spot in J1 between the winners of those two ties.
Verdy have dropped a few points recently, while Ehime have also flirted with that 6th spot. Giravanz looked good for the play-offs earlier in the season but are not five points away, while the unlikely names of Roasso Kumamoto and Tokushima Vortis have risen into the frame, although it would be a huge surprise, but there are still 15 points to play for in five remaining games. Anythong COULD (and will?) happen.
At the bottom of J2 Tochigi are six points away from safely, although only two points away from earning a play-off spot – as opposed to straight relegation – against the 2nd placed J3 team. FC Gifu have flirted with wins but have dropped back into danger, just four points clear of Oita in that 2nd relegation (play-off) spot. With five matches to go Kyoto Sanga and Mito HollyHock are still well within reach of the lower teams, too.
At the top of J3 Yamaguchi Renofa are looking good for promotion as the Champions, while Machida Zelvia have pulled away from Nagano going for that play-off spot.
At the bottom of J3 we see the J.League Under 22 selection who, of course couldn’t be relegated anyway, although it seems will be replaced by an Under 19 team next season?! Fujieda MYFC are ten points clear of Y.S.C.C. although it should be noted that no teams will be relegated this season as the J3 expansion continues. With rumours of four (at least) “2nd XI” teams from J1 being added to J3 next season, including Gamba Osaka and Urawa Reds, interesting times are ahead! Not necessarily well-received times, though?!
JSoccer Magazine Issue 17 is here! Order your copy before September 15th and you qualify for FREE WORLDWIDE delivery.
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If you prefer the Pay-What-You-Like PDF, we are ready for you!
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Shinji Okazaki is on the cover and there is SO MUCH MORE inside… here are a few page grabs to whet your appetite.
The Nabisco Cup semi-final (two legs) take place October 7th and 11th, the Emperor’s Cup next round takes place over 10, 11, 14 Oct.
The Emperor’s Cup – despite giving the winner an Asian Champions league place – is getting very little interest compared to J.league, national team (as usual)… but perhaps you should be taking a closer interest in a tournament that saw, last night, two J3 teams knock out two J1 teams, as Fujieda MYFC took out Shimizu S-Pulse and Machida Zelvia beat Nagoya Grampus.
BUT… I have to throw this out there… I know a fixture list is a tough one to keep efficient but Gamba Osaka could well be without any (or all) of Usami, Niwa, Yonekura, Fujiharu, Kurata, Higashiguchi, and even Konno when the national team play their games during this week. Would there be a case for asking for a postponement of the two legs IF (unlikely, I know, but consider the theory) if Gamba lost six or seven of those players to Samurai Blue duty?
As for The Emperor’s Cup, there’ll be some team in the 3rd round hit by national team selections (and don’t forget some of our teams have internationals from other countries, too – Korea, North Korea, Australia, Slovenia, and more) – how can a tournament offering a place in the ACL take place, fairly, when one team or another is at a disadvantage?
What is ironic about Gamba v Grampus, of course, is that the player that got game time because forward Nagai was selected, scored two of their three goals in the tie! While Gamba, missing four key players won the tie, in the end.
Your thoughts on how (and / or when) the ties should be scheduled in the future?
Cesare Polenghi is this week’s guest, the chat coming straight after the final whistle blew on Japan’s 6-0 win over Afghanistan on Tuesday night. After discussing that game, and the win over Cambodia last week, we move on to the Nabisco Cup 1/4s, the fixtures for J1 Matchday 27 and the Emperor’s Cup 2nd round.
The latest J-Talk Podcast is HERE!! We’re right back into the swing of things on this week’s podcast, with Alan Gibson guesting first to chat about all of the results from J1 Matchday 26, Japan’s upcoming World Cup qualifiers and the new issue of JSoccer Magazine (to 39:00).
Then Richy Palmer returns to discuss all of the cupsets and major results from the first round of the Emperor’s Cup.
1 GK Nobuyuki Kojima 17 January 1966 (aged 32) 5 Japan Bellmare Hiratsuka
Currently seen on Japanese TV commentating – from the studio, usually – on national team matches.
2 DF Akira Narahashi 26 November 1971 (aged 26) 29 Japan Kashima Antlers
3 DF Naoki Soma 19 July 1971 (aged 26) 50 Japan Kashima Antlers
Currently manager of Machida Zelvia.
4 DF Masami Ihara (Captain) 18 September 1967 (aged 30) 116 Japan Yokohama Marinos
Currently manager of Avispa Fukuoka.
5 DF Norio Omura 6 September 1969 (aged 28) 31 Japan Yokohama Marinos
6 MF Motohiro Yamaguchi 29 January 1969 (aged 29) 56 Japan Yokohama Marinos
Currently seen on Japanese TV commentating – from the studio, usually – on national team and J.League matches. Former manager of Yokohama FC.
7 MF Teruyoshi Ito 31 August 1974 (aged 23) 2 Japan Shimizu S-Pulse
8 MF Hidetoshi Nakata 22 January 1977 (aged 21) 21 Japan Bellmare Hiratsuka
Retired from the game at the top, after excelling in the game in Italy and England. Pops up now and again with various charity matches, or on TV in an interview from an exotic location.
9 FW Masashi Nakayama 23 September 1967 (aged 30) 27 Japan Jubilo Iwata
Currently seen on Japanese TV commentating – from the studio, usually – on national team and J.League matches.
10 MF Hiroshi Nanami 28 November 1972 (aged 25) 44 Japan Jubilo Iwata
Currently manager of Jubilo Iwata.
11 MF Shinji Ono 27 September 1979 (aged 18) 2 Japan Urawa Red Diamonds
Still playing in J2 at Consadole Sapporo.
12 FW Wagner Lopes 29 January 1969 (aged 29) 10 Japan Bellmare Hiratsuka
Managing/coaching in Brazil. Popped up with an ill-fated stint as Gamba Osaka manager, when working visa issues prevented him from actually doing the job he’d been signed on for.
13 MF Toshihiro Hattori 23 September 1973 (aged 24) 6 Japan Jubilo Iwata
14 FW Masayuki Okano 25 July 1972 (aged 25) 25 Japan Urawa Red Diamonds
General Manager at Gainare Tottori.
15 MF Hiroaki Morishima 30 April 1972 (aged 26) 36 Japan Cerezo Osaka
Mr. Cerezo Osaka – an “ambassador” role at the club.
16 DF Toshihide Saito 20 April 1973 (aged 25) 14 Japan Shimizu S-Pulse
Managed (and played for) Fujieda MYFC.
17 DF Yutaka Akita 6 August 1970 (aged 27) 27 Japan Kashima Antlers
Managed Kyoto Sanga, currently seen on Japanese TV commentating – from the studio, usually – on J.League matches.
18 FW Shoji Jo 17 June 1975 (aged 22) 24 Japan Yokohama Marinos
Currently seen on Japanese TV commentating – from the studio and live – on national team matches.
19 DF Eisuke Nakanishi 23 June 1973 (aged 24) 7 Japan JEF United Ichihara
20 GK Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi 15 August 1975 (aged 22) 27 Japan Yokohama Marinos
Still playing in J2 at FC Gifu.
21 GK Seigo Narazaki 15 April 1976 (aged 22) 2 Japan Yokohama Marinos
Still playing in J1 at Nagoya Grampus
22 MF Takashi Hirano 15 July 1974 (aged 23) 10 Japan Nagoya Grampus Eight
Host of J
Goalkeepers
Nishikawa (Urawa Reds)
Higashiguchi (Gamba Osaka)
Rokutan (Vegalta Sendai)
Defenders
Yoshida (Southampton, England)
Niwa (Gamba Osaka)
Makino (Urawa Reds)
Morishige (FC Tokyo)
Hiroki Sakai (Hanover 96, Germany)
Gotoku Sakai (VfB Stuttgart, Germany)
Yonekura (Gamba Osaka)
Nagatomo (Inter Milan, Italy, as I type!)
Midfielders
Hasebe (Eintracht Frankfurt, Germany)
Yamaguchi (Cerezo Osaka)
Wataru Endo (Shonan Bellmare)
Gaku Shibasaki (Kashima Antlers)
Haraguchi (Hertha Berlin, Germany)
Kagawa (Borussia Dortmund, Germany)
Forwards
Honda (Milan, Italy)
Nagai (Nagoya Grampus)
Takashi Usami (Gamba Osaka)
Muto (Mainz, Germany)
Koroki (Urawa Reds)
Okazaki (Leicester City, England)
Goalkeepers
西川周作（浦和レッズ）
東口順昭（ガンバ大阪）
六反勇治（ベガルタ仙台）
Defenders
吉田麻也（サウサンプトン）
丹羽大輝（ガンバ大阪）
槙野智章（浦和レッズ）
森重真人（FC東京）
酒井宏樹（ハノーファー）
酒井高徳（ハンブルガー）
長友佑都（インテル）
米倉恒貴（カンバ大阪）
Midfielders
長谷部誠（フランクフルト）
山口蛍（セレッソ大阪）
遠藤航（湘南ベルマーレ）
柴崎岳（鹿島アントラーズ）
原口元気（ヘルタ・ベルリン）
香川真司（ドルトムント）
Forwards
本田圭佑（AC ミラン）
永井謙佑（名古屋グランパス）
宇佐美貴史（ガンバ大阪）
武藤嘉紀（マインツ）
岡崎慎司（レスター）
興梠慎三（浦和レッズ）
Pictures courtesy of World Sport Group
Report from AFC web site:
The Chinese Super League champions were handed the lead after just five minutes courtesy of an own goal from Kashiwa captain Daisuke Suzuki before mid-season signing Paulinho (pictured) doubled the advantage before half-time with an eye-catching 40-yard set-piece.
Guangzhou, who beat Kashiwa 4-0 in their 2013 AFC Champions League semi-final first leg in Japan en route to claiming the continental title, added a third at the start of the second half through China striker Gao Lin.
Kashiwa striker Masato Kudo was able to pull a goal back inside the final minute, but Guangzhou will still take a substantial advantage into next month’s second leg.
Guangzhou coach Luiz Felipe Scolari was without Brazilian striker Elkeson although compatriot Paulinho was handed a first start in the competition, while Kashiwa were without injured duo Hidekazu Otani and Naoki Wako.
And Paulinho was quickly into the action in front of a vibrant capacity crowd at Hitachi Kashiwa Stadium as Huang Bowen’s fifth minute free-kick from the left was headed into his own net by Suzuki as the Kashiwa captain looked to stop the delivery from reaching the Brazilian close to the penalty spot.
The visitors continued to dominate as the half progressed with Zhang Linpeng and Zheng Long flashing efforts off target for Guangzhou with Kashiwa struggling for a foothold in the game with the absence of experienced midfielder Otani and defender Wako being particularly felt by the home side.
And five minutes before half-time, with the home side having not registered a shot on target, Guangzhou doubled their lead as Paulinho’s vicious swerving free-kick spectacularly found the top corner from all of 40 yards with Kashiwa goalkeeper Takanori Sugeno rooted to the spot.
Kashiwa striker Cristiano was unable to match his compatriot’s effort 10 minutes into the second half as the Brazilian’s free-kick from just outside of the penalty area drifted wide, although it did signal an improved display from the home side at the start of the second 45 minutes.
But seven minutes before the hour mark Guangzhou added a third as Gao’s angled glancing header from Huang’s chipped left wing cross into the penalty area looped over Sugeno.
Cristiano and substitute Ederson threatened for Kashiwa inside the final 20 minutes but Guangzhou goalkeeper Zeng Cheng remained largely untested.
But after Kosuke Taketomi saw a late header rebound off the crossbar, Zeng was beaten inside the last minute of normal time as Kudo converted from close range to give Kashiwa a glimmer of hope for the return meeting in three weeks’ time.
http://www.the-afc.com/afc-champions-league-2015/acl-qf-kashiwa-reysol-1-3-guangzhou-evergrande
South China Morning Post report:
Guangzhou Evergrande took a major step towards booking a berth in the semi-finals of the AFC Champions League with a 3-1 win over Kashiwa Reysol in Japan on Tuesday night.
Paulinho, making his debut in the competition after joining Guangzhou from the English Premier League club last month, scored with a sensational free kick from close to 40 yards and was also instrumental in his side’s opener as the 2013 champions looked in good touch.
“That was definitely the best goal of my career,” said the 27-year-old, whose long-range effort left Kashiwa goalkeeper Takanori Sugeno rooted to the spot.
The Chinese Super League champions were handed the lead after just five minutes courtesy of an own goal from Kashiwa captain Daisuke Suzuki before Paulinho doubled the advantage before half-time with his super strike.
Guangzhou, who beat Kashiwa 4-0 in their 2013 AFC Champions League semi-final first leg in Japan en route to claiming the continental title, added a third at the start of the second half through China striker Gao Lin.
Kashiwa striker Masato Kudo was able to pull a goal back inside the final minute, but Guangzhou will still take a substantial advantage into next month’s second leg.
Despite the result, Scolari remained cautious, saying: “It was an exciting game and both teams were very strong. We were able to make good decisions on the pitch and that was the main difference, but the result of the first leg is not decisive in this kind of competition.
“I am very confident about my team’s performance in the second leg, but I also respect Kashiwa and we will not underestimate them. I think Kashiwa is the strongest opponent I have faced in my 12 games in charge of Guangzhou so far. The Kashiwa coach had prepared his team very well and they put us under a lot of pressure.”
Jeonbuk Motors 0-0 Gamba Osaka
Gamba Osaka came out of this AFC Champions league quarter final with a goalless draw, which should not be considered a bad result, but an all-important away goal was not in the stars tonight.
It was the big Brazilian who had a decent low shot saved early in the second half, while Usami and Kurata also had half chances as Gamba’s possession and passing game started to look like it might reap dividends but then, just as it seemed more likely that the away team would make the breakthrough, Jeonbuk poured forward and found space and a final mis-cued shot/pass found Lee Dong-gook with the goal at his mercy on the far post, but he put the ball wide from yards out.
Myojin had been felled twice, but got up and played on each time and when Yosuke Ideguchi was called on from the bench it was a surprise to see Hiroyuki Abe replaced. Kudos to Myojin for an excellent veteran’s performance when it mattered!
And so to the 2nd leg, which will take place at Banpaku on Wednesday, September 16th. Konno will be back and available, but Gamba will have to do without Usami, who picked up his second booking of the knockout stage and will be suspended.
Team – Higashiguchi, Niwa, Iwashita, Kim, Fujiharu, Myojin, Endo, Abe (Ideguchi, 72), Omori (Kurata, 46), Usami (Lins, 86), Patric
Team sheet and pictures courtesy of the AFC and World Sport Group