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)

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!

Two goals late in the first half – from Kudo and an own goal by David Vrankovic – sent Reysol on their way to the win before efforts from Kim Chang-soo, Kudo and Hidekazu Otani ensured the 2013 semi-finalists claimed all three points.

Reysol, who kicked off their campaign with a draw against Jeonbuk Motors on Matchday One, were rarely troubled by a Binh Duong side who battled hard despite the gulf in class before claiming a late consolation through Ganiyu Bolaji Oseni.

Kashiwa were quick out of the blocks and Cristiano should have scored just four minutes into the game when he had time and space behind the Binh Duong defence to do better than fire over the bar, while four minutes later Yuki Otsu sent his effort wide from six yards out.

Otsu tried his luck from long range in the 12th minute as Reysol cruised through the opening phase of the game, with only Le Cong Vinh presenting any threat for the Vietnamese when his free kick was collected by Takanori Sugeno in the home side’s goal.

Reysol, though, continued to dictate the tempo of the game; Kudo’s header was weak and straight at Nguyen Quoc Thien Esele in the 25th minute while Eduardo should have scored when the goalkeeper dropped the ball at his feet, only to stab over the bar.

With six minutes to go and against the run of play, Cong Vinh created the best chance of the half but his curling effort from just inside the Reysol half was deflected wide of goal.

That finally nudged Reysol out of their slumber in front of goal and, in the 43rd minute, Kudo put the home side in front with a crisp finish to the goalkeeper’s left after a low, firm cross from the right by Cristiano.

Two minutes later, Tatsumi Yoshida’s team doubled their lead when Vrankovic headed into his own goal, ensuring the scoreline better reflected Reysol’s dominance.

Nguyen Thanh Son introduced Mai Tien Thanh at the start of the second half as the Binh Duong coach sought a way back into the game and, eight minutes after the restart, he went close to opening the Vietnamese side’s account, only for the midfielder’s spectacular effort to cannon back off the cross bar.

But the result was put beyond any doubt three minutes later when Kim Chang-soo latched onto Akimi Barada’s perfectly weighted through ball before slotting home.

Kudo claimed his second of the game with a close range header in the 67th minute after Otsu glanced Barada’s corner across the face of goal while, eight minutes later, Otani found the back of the net when his shot from outside the area was deflected past substitute goalkeeper Bui Tan Truong.

Oseni pulled one back for Binh Duong nine minutes from time when he was played in on goal by a well-placed pass from Cong Vinh before sliding a fine finish beyond Sugeno, but it was not enough to spark an unlikely revival.

Report: http://www.the-afc.com
Picture: World Sport Group

Second leg 12th October 2014
Kashiwa Reysol v Sanfrecce Hiroshima at Hitachi
Kawasaki Frontale v Gamba Osaka at Todoroki

The “Nabisco Cup” Final will be played on 8th November at Saitama Stadium 2002

Head to Head – 10 wins for Antlers, just 2 for Reysol, and 5 draws since 2003. Both of Reysol’s wins came last season in their Championship winning year.

Match Preview – Kashima Antlers now have nothing left to play for, having gained J1 safety last week due to an away defeat of Nagoya Grampus. Coach Jorginho will be looking for a win that could pull his team up a couple of players, but it would still not be as high as the fans would have expected. Will a Nabisco Cup win be enoughfor Jorginho to keep his job? We shall see. Koroki should be back from injury but Dutra is coming good, finally, and might benefit from being show the team has confidence in him by leaving him in the starting XI?

For Kashiwa Reysol this is a do or die match for a place in the 2013 ACL and, even if they win, they have to rely on Sagan Tosu not winning. Influential C is back and in form and the other decent Brazilian they have, Jorge Wagner, scored the match-winning goal against Vissel Kobe last week . . a big finish for this team and then they have to wait and see what happens in Tosu. EXPECT a DRAW anyway!

Head to Head
7 wins for Reysol, 6 for Marinos and 4 draws since 2004.

Match Preview
Yokohama F.Marinos had a terrible start to the season, then went on a long unbeaten run, then hit a losing streak, and are now unbeaten in their last five – it’s time to make it count and keep winning if they are to have any chance of making that final ACL-qualifying spot in 3rd place. They are one of six teams who realistically have a chance and a win against Reysol would knock that team out of contention. They’ll have to do it without Tomisawa, who is suspended, and with just, seemingly, Marquinhos on form of their striking options.

Meanwhile, Kashiwa Reysol have missed the influential Leandro Domingues recently but are still just three points off that 3rd spot. A return for the Brazilian would be a huge boost for the team who have lost to Ardija and drawn with Gamba in their last two matches. Marinos should be a bigger test for them and for any chance of finishing 3rd and taking that final ACL spot they must win this game. Marinos, along with Sanfrecce, have the best defence in the league and have drawn a J1 record 14 times this season – EXPECT a DRAW here today, also!

Reysol 2-2 Gamba
S-Pulse 0-1 Albirex
Sanfrecce 3-0 Consadole
Vegalta 1-1 Cerezo
Frontale 4-2 Reds
Ardija 0-0 Antlers
Vissel 1-2 Marinos
Nagoya 1-0 FC Tokyo
Tosu 3-2 Iwata

Updated table at: http://www.jsoccer.com/tables/

Head to Head – Just one draw in 17 meetings between these two teams since 2003! 10 wins for Gamba, 6 for Reysol. Kashiwa have won the last three matches!

Match Preview – While Kashiwa Reysol harbour slim hopes of an ACL-qualifying 3rd place finish, they have had to do without talismanic 2011 J1 MVP Leandro Domingues. Say what you like about the Brazilian, he pulls this team up from avaerage when he plays. Whether he returns for this game may be the key to whather Reysol get anything from a team that will give its all. They seem too reliant on their two decent Brazilians! Their third Brazilian Neto Baiano should not be relied on for anything!

Gamba Osaka know that a defeat could well seal their fate, as they may find themselves 5 or 6 points adrift of safety with just three games to play after today. Sure they are top scorers in J1, but their defence is the second-worst after Consadole Sapporo and that is what has let them down this season. Whether J1 or J2 next season, a rebuilding must begin, starting with a goalkeeper – they were unfortunate that the keeper promoted to the 1st XI this season broke a leg just weeks into the season and hit them hard, but this aging team need leadership and, if it wasn’t for Leandro, they’d already be relegated. EXPECT a WIN for GAMBA OSAKA, especially if Leandro is in for them, and Reysol’s Leandro is out!