Consadole Sapporo 0-1 Albirex Niigata 7,673

Shimizu S-Pulse 0-0 Kawasaki Frontale 14,133

Urawa Reds 4-3 Sagan Tosu 30,047

Kashima Antlers 1-0 Omiya Ardija 12,787

F.C.Tokyo 3-2 Gamba Osaka 24,633

Yokohama F.Marinos 1-1 Cerezo Osaka 9,751

Sanfrecce Hiroshima 2-0 Jubilo Iwata 12,769

Vissel Kobe 0-1 Vegalta Sendai 15,062

Kashiwa Reysol 1-2 Nagoya Grampus 25,459

Starting at the top, Vegalta Sendai were very lucky to come away from Kobe with all three points, the home team having the lion’s share of possession and easily doubling the number of goal attempts over their visitors but it was Vegalta – in the shape of Akamine – who scored the decisive goal that separated the teams. Vissel coach Akira Nishino was satisfied with the performance, if not the result, as he begins to mold Vissel into shape, but they will have to take their chances if they are to challenge for the top spots. 19 goal attempts, 7 corners and plenty of the ball, but no points to show, Vissel will win more games in the coming weeks. Vegalta – well, playing under so much pressure and still coming out with an away win – the sign of a winning team! but how much longer can they hold on at the top?

At the bottom Consadole Sapporo went down, again, this time to their nearest challengers for relegation, Albirex Niigata. A single Atomu Tanaka goal gave the visitors maximum points and took them above Gamba Osaka, who lost narrowly to FC Tokyo in a thriller at Ajinomoto Stadium. In a familiar story, Gamba took control of the game, especially in a 2nd half onslaught, but failed to put away their chances and slipped below Albirex in the table at the half-way stage.

Shimizu S-Pulse failed, again, to score a goal – they are still looking for their 1000th J.League goal – being held, at home, by Kawasaki Frontale. There WERE goals, however, in Saitama as Urawa Reds stormed ahead – in more ways than one, the rain was torrential – against Sagan Tosu. Reds were up 1-0 at the break and then added three goals in a hectic five minute spell after the restart to look as if they were coasting to victory. It was then the away team’s turn, and they duly scored three goals in five minutes to bring the game back to 4-3 with a good 20 minutes left. But the gallant Sagan didn’t manage to get another goal and Reds hung on for three valuable points.

Kashima Antlers left it late, while registering 23 goal attempts, Daigo Nishi scoring the winner with a quarter of an hour left against Omiya Ardija, Antlers pulling away from the bottom, if only a little.

Yokohama F.Marinos managed a goal against Cerezo Osaka – Tomisawa finding the roof of the net from close range early on, before Kakitani again earned a point for Cerezo with a late equaliser. How much longer will he (and, while we are on the subject, Ogihara!) last at the team before he follows Kagawa, Inui, Ienaga and Kiyotake out of the revolving pink doors of Cerezo Osaka?

In the six-pointer between the 2nd and 3rd place teams, Sanfrecce dispatched the over-achievers of Jubilo and sent them slipping down the table. Sanfrecce stayed in touch at the top with goals from Koji Nakajima (76 minutes) and Koji Morisaki in added time.

Finally, for Saturday’s games – the halfway point of the season – Kashiwa Reysol’s impressive surge up the table came to an abrupt halt as Nagoya Grampus stole in and took the points. A cheeky back flick from Kennedy after a scintillating run at the defence from Nagai, and a cruel own goal from an inswinging corner gave Grampus the win.

Vegalta say top, with Sanfrecce on their heels and then it is just two wins separating the teams from Reds in 3rd to Vissel in 12th. AT the bottom, Consadole are still anchoring the division, while Gamba slip deeper into trouble as Albirex pull away.