To review J1 Matchday 2, played last Saturday and Sunday, a J-Talk record five (5) guests joined Ben Maxwell to discuss the games they watched. Many thanks to Sam Robson, Steve Barme, Alan Gibson, Bryan Cooper and Cesare Polenghi for being so gracious with their time.

Following our chats, the episode ends with Ben on a quick look back at J2 Matchday 2, and a brief look ahead to the J3 season, which kicks off this Sunday.

If you’d like to skip to a particular J1 game, the guest and game(s) they chat about are: Sam – Kawasaki v Shonan from start; Steve – Omiya v Kashiwa from 13:15 ; Alan – Kobe v Niigata and Kofu v Gamba Osaka from 24:10; Bryan from 41:18; and Cesare from 51:00. I briefly round up the other three from 1:09:23.

Kashiwa Reysol (above)

Vegalta Sendai (above)

Kashima Antlers (above)

Venforet Kofu (above)

Gamba Osaka (above)

Sanfrecce Hiroshima (above)

Machida Zelvia (above)

Tokushima Vortis

Ehime FC (above)

Nagoya Grampus (above)

The only Japanese team with a fixed place in the 2016 AFC Champions League before the Emperor’s Cup victory – Sanfrecce Hiroshima – are in Group F with FC Seoul and Buriram United, plus a play-off winner to be determined.

With Gamba’s Emperor’s Cup victory over Urawa Reds the Osaka team slot into Group G of the 2016 AFC Champions League where they will face Melbourne Victory, Suwon Samsung Bluewings, and another from February’s playoffs.

Emperor’s Cup runners-up Urawa Red Diamonds, meanwhile, slip into Group H where they will meet reigning champions Guangzhou Evergrande, Sydney FC, and the winner of a Playoff that could well be (should be?) Pohang Steelers.

Meanwhile, a place in Group E is up for grabs by FC Tokyo – Japan’s fourth team in the competition – should they beat the winner of the clash between Chonburi and Yangon United in their playoff 2 on February 9th.

Group E

1. Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (Korea)
2. Jiangsu Sainty (China)
3. Becamex Binh Duong (Vietnam)
4. Winner Playoff 2 (FC Tokyo?!)

Group F

1. Sanfrecce Hiroshima
2. FC Seoul (Korea)
3. Buriram United (Thailand)
4. Winner Playoff 3

Group G

1. Melbourne Victory (Australia)
2. Gamba Osaka
3. Suwon Samsung Bluewings (Korea)
4. Winner Playoff 4

Group H

1. Guangzhou Evergrande (China)
2. Sydney FC (Australia)
3. Urawa Reds
4. Winner Playoff East 1

Playoff Stage – East (February 9, 2016)

FC Tokyo v Winner of Chonburi  (Thailand) v Yangon United  (Myanmar)

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Goalkeepers:
Nishikawa (Reds)
Higashiguchi (Gamba)
Hayashi (Sanfrecce)

Defenders:
Nishi (Antlers)
Makino (Reds)
Ota (FC Tokyo)
Morishige (FC Tokyo)
Nakazawa (F•Marinos)
Endo (Bellmare)
Yonekura (Gamba)
Shiotani (Sanfrecce)
Chiba (Sanfrecce)
Mizumoto (Sanfrecce)

Midfielders
Ogasawara (Antlers)
Caio (Antlers)
Kanazaki (Antlers)
Shibasaki (Antlers)
Abe (Reds)
Kashiwagi (Reds)
Nakamura (Frontale)
Nakamura (F•Marinos)
Leo Silva (Albirex Niigata)
Endo (Gamba)
Aoyama (Sanfrecce)
Kashiwa (Sanfrecce)

Forwards
Muto (Reds)
Cristiano (Reysol)
Okubo (Frontale)
Ademilson (F•Marinos)
Usami (Gamba)
Patric (Gamba)
Douglas (Sanfrecce)

＜ ２０１５Ｊリーグ　優秀選手賞　受賞選手（32名） ＞
※下記32名の中から「最優秀選手賞」、「ベストイレブン」が選ばれます

■ゴールキーパー（3名）
西川　周作 　浦和レッズ
東口　順昭 　ガンバ大阪
林　卓人 　　サンフレッチェ広島

■フィールドプレーヤー（29名）
●ＤＦ
西　大伍 鹿島アントラーズ
槙野　智章 浦和レッズ
太田　宏介 ＦＣ東京
森重　真人 ＦＣ東京
中澤　佑二 横浜Ｆ・マリノス
遠藤　航 湘南ベルマーレ
米倉　恒貴 ガンバ大阪
塩谷　司 サンフレッチェ広島
千葉　和彦 サンフレッチェ広島
水本　裕貴 サンフレッチェ広島

●ＭＦ
小笠原　満男　　鹿島アントラーズ
カイオ　　　　　鹿島アントラーズ
金崎　夢生　　　鹿島アントラーズ
柴崎　岳　　　　鹿島アントラーズ
阿部　勇樹　　　浦和レッズ
柏木　陽介　　　浦和レッズ
中村　憲剛　　　川崎フロンターレ
中村　俊輔　　　横浜Ｆ・マリノス
レオ　シルバ　　アルビレックス新潟
遠藤　保仁　　　ガンバ大阪
青山　敏弘　　　サンフレッチェ広島
柏　好文 サンフレッチェ広島

●ＦＷ
武藤　雄樹　　　　浦和レッズ
クリスティアーノ　柏レイソル
大久保　嘉人 　　 川崎フロンターレ
アデミウソン　　　横浜Ｆ・マリノス
宇佐美　貴史　　 ガンバ大阪
パトリック　　　　ガンバ大阪
ドウグラス 　　　 サンフレッチェ広島

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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?!

It must be confidence-boosting for Sanfrecce and Vissel to be “riding high” and for the likes of Reysol, Grampus and Kofu, for example, to be gaining points and entering the top 6.

A long way to go but confidence and a winning mentality always help in the long run.

Points shown only

1 Sanfrecce Hiroshima 9
2 Vissel Kobe 7
3 Kashiwa Reysol 6
4 Kawasaki Frontale 4
4 Ventforet Kofu 4
6 Nagoya Grampus 4
6 Gamba Osaka 4
8 Sagan Tosu 4
9 Urawa Reds 4
9 F.C.Tokyo 4
11 Kashima Antlers 4
11 Shonan Bellmare 4
13 Montedio Yamagata 3
14 Albirex Niigata 3
15 Matsumoto Yamaga F.C. 3
16 Yokohama F･Marinos 2
17 Shimizu S-Pulse 2
18 Vegalta Sendai 1

The cover – Takashi Usami – running rampant in J1 and finally settling into the national team after Halilhodzich overruled Hara and his cronies from blocking his selection!
Also Yuki Ogimi – exclusive interview – as she looks to help Nadeshiko Japan retain their World Cup crown.

There’s an extensive and exclusive pictorial look at Gamba and Reysol in the ACL including this Reysol spread for the fans!

We begin our continuing look at unusual shirts worn in the J.League with this spread on Nagoya Grampus, and there are more “Collector’s Corner” pages throughout Issue 16.

We have an exclusive interview, and some nice pics, with Yuki Ogimi!

The featured team in this issue – after our very well-received “potted history” of Ventforet Kofu in the last issue is Vissel Kobe. Pictures through the ages and a Collector’s Corner double page spread of that rare green shirt!

We have Kazu!

A quick look at Kyoto Sanga… written six weeks before publication, but spot-on, it seems!

We visited FC Ryukyu… interview and pictures!

… Tochigi Uva get some exposure!

… and we begin a new game! Kakurenball! Spot the ball in our two pictures to win prizes …

…. and loads more! Get your copy now!

FC Seoul put a slight damper on the proceedings with a fortunate goal in stoppage time, but Gamba Osaka must be happy to come home with a two goal lead and three away goals in this Asian Champions league Last 16 tie.

Gamba boss Kenta Hasegawa said he wanted an away goal… he got more that requested as Gamba took their hosts to the cleaners!

The unstoppable Takashi Usami scored two classy goals and Koki Yonekura added his contribution to the score-sheet as Gamba destroyed their hosts with ease.

Usami showed the traveling fans a textbook volley from a pinpoint Hiroki Fujiharu cross to open the scoring just after the hour mark, while Yonekura then showed that he can execute a volley to compare with the best his forwards have to offer, and this was also from a Fujiharu cross. Usami then completed his team’s scoring with four minutes on the clock to give Gamba a three goal lead as the game entered additional time.

Yu Jun-tae then gave his side some faint hope / made the 2nd leg interesting (delete as applicable) with a speculative shot from the edge of the area that seemed to bobble in front of the unsighted Masaaki Higashiguchi in the away goal.

Gamba didn’t get a single shot on target in the first period, but their best chance of the half was actually foiled by the referee! With Seoul goalkeeper Yu Sang-hun on the floor after a melee the ball rolled free to Yasuyuki Konno who looked to have a shot into an unguarded net. Inexplicably, the Japan national team midfielder was upended by the referee – getting in his way in the penalty area. Replays showed that it was yellow card offence by the man with the whistle, at the very least!

Shu Kurata replaced Koyato Omori at half time and had a shot on goal within 80 seconds of the restart. Kurata and Fujiharu then made mincemeat of the right side of the home defence and it was Gamba’s game!

Gamba entertain Seoul in the 2nd leg on Wednesday May 27th at Banpaku – do not miss this one, as they look to enter the quarter final draw in the competition.

Images courtesy of World Sport Group