Front Page, In the Mix, National Team

Samurai Blue Squad for East Asian Cup – beginning August 2nd

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Samurai Blue squad for the East Asian Cup

GKs
Higashiguchi (Gamba)
Nishikawa (Reds)
Rokutan *replaced Gonda (Vegalta)

DFs
Fujiharu (Gamba)
Mizumoto (Sanfrecce)
Niwa (Gamba)
Makino (Reds)
Morishige (FC Tokyo)
Ota (FC Tokyo)
Yonekura (Gamba)
Endo (Bellmare)

MFs:
Fujita * replaced Kashiwagi (Tosu)
Muto (Reds)
Yamaguchi (Cerezo)
Yonemoto (FC Tokyo)
Taniguchi (Frontale)
Shibasaki (Antlers)

FWs:
Koroki (Reds)
Kurata (Gamba)
Nagai (Grampus)
Kawamata (Grampus)
Usami (Gamba)
Asano (Sanfrecce)

Front Page, In the Mix, J.League

J1 2nd Stage, the story so far! What do you think?

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After three games it means VERY little and, of course the play-off spots go on overall points totals, except for the top spot (winners of each stage) but it’s interesting that (after only three games, I know) that half of the division is on a win, a draw and a loss from their three games.

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

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

Shimizu S-Pulse 0-5 Vissel Kobe

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Vissel Kobe ended the first day of the 2nd Stage atop J1 after a convincing five goal away victory over 1st Stage cellar dwellers Shimizu S-Pulse. With goals coming from all over the field, it was a total victory that can only bring confidence for the coming stage.

Leandro – rejoining Vissel from Kashiwa Reysol – and, of course, teaming up again with manager Nelsinho, was thrown straight into the starting line-up and repaid that faith with hard work, creation of chances, and an easy finish to get on the score-sheet himself.

An interesting team selection from Nelsinho – with most of the squad available to him after a 1st Stage beset by injuries – saw nominal defensive midfielder Masatoshi Mihara return to the line-up, although just behind the strikers, while Ryota Morioka seems to have settled into his defensive midfield role, while previously accepted as an attacking player. Marquinhos was selected as a supporting striker/attacking midfielder to Leandro, the lone forward – technically – in a 3-2-2-2-1 formation.

The opening goal came from Morioka, in the 7th minute, who poked home a loose ball after Leandro had controlled a Takahito Soma cross, then created space from nowhere for an excellent shot that the keeper couldn’t hold.

Shunki Takahashi was next on the mark, volleying home another excellent far post cross from Soma in the 19th minute, with Leandro getting his goal four minutes before the break, after having a 22nd minute effort blocked by the desperate home defence. The returning Brazilian’s goal was simplicity itself, as a pinpoint pass from Jung Woo Young found Shunki Takahashi on the right wing. He sprinted to beat Mitchell Duke – no slouch in the speed stakes himself – to the ball and crossed it first time where the unmarked Leandro poked it home from close range.

In the 55th minute it was Soma yet again racing forward to send in a low, early cross for Marquinhos to stab home from close range. 4-0, and Vissel were cruising.

The final goal was, perhaps, the best of the day, and a personal victory for Shohei Takahashi. The central defender won the ball, found Leandro and sprinted off behind the Brazilian forward. Leandro sent the ball long and wide to Marquinhos in the right channel and the Vissel number 18 timed his run to perfection, reaching the ball for a first time cross to Takahashi for the defender to head home the final goal of the game after completing his 70 yard dash.

And so, Vissel end the day on top of J1 and looking forward to a successful 2nd Stage. A win against Shonan Bellmare on Wednesday night is next on the cards!

Team – Yamamoto, Iwanami, Masukawa, Sho.Takahashi, Morioka, Jung, Shu.Takahashi, Soma, Marquinhos, Mihara, Leandro

Vissel Kobe goals:
7′ Ryota MORIOKA
19′ Shunki TAKAHASHI
41′ LEANDRO
55′ MARQUINHOS
75′ Shohei TAKAHASHI

Attendance: 14,037

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

J1 – we missed you! 2nd Stage starts this weekend!

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The first matches of the 2nd Stage take place on Saturday July 11th. Here are the match-ups, and kick off times.

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Matsumoto Yamaga v Urawa Reds 19.00

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Yokohama F•Marinos v Montedio Yamagata 19.00

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Kashiwa Reysol v Sagan Tosu 19.00

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Kawasaki Frontake v FC Tokyo 18.30

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Albirex Niigata v Kashima Antlers 19.00

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Vegalta Sendai v Sanfrecce Hiroshima 18.00

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Shimizu S-Pulse v Vissel Kobe 19.00

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Gamba Osaka v Ventforet Kofu 19.00

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Shonan Bellmare v Nagoya Grampus 18.00

Front Page, In the Mix, J.League

Leandro Returns to Vissel Kobe

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Vissel Kobe Welcome Back Leandro

Leandro Montera De Silva – Leandro – has arrived back in Kobe to reunite with his former Kashiwa Reysol manager, Nelsinho.

The Brazilian striker – who will be in his second stint at the club – scored 11 goals in 28 games for Reysol in the 2014 campaign and had notched five during the first stage of 2015’s season.

Leandro, who scored 27 goals in 65 games in all competitions for Vissel in 2007 and 2008 – will wear the number 11 shirt for the club.

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Front Page, J.League, JSoccer TV

Watching J.League Games LIVE Overseas, legally! USA-only for now, but …

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NGSN have announced that they the right to screen four J.League matches live per weekend until 2017. Whether the service extends to more matches, or lower divisions remains to be seen.

I am in discussion to try to get JSoccer.com / Magazine readers/followers a special deal (wait for a code, perhaps – give me a few days) to get at least the month that they are already offering free, but with more options with a code they’ll give me. Maybe two months free, or a discounted rate? Working on this/

I also hope to get more details, such as if there are English copmmentaries available, whether replay / on demand, pause, etc. is an option (since some of these games are at bad times for many).

While this service is only available in USA (soon to extend to Canada?) right now, there are many readers in USA who thids will benefit, and, of course there are also ways around the geo-blocking :-)

While, in comparison, it is not very good value compared to the J.League SkyPerfecTV On-Demand service that has ALL J1, J2, J3 games live and recorded (on demand) plus highlights shows and much more (I sound like an ad!), which runs at 3000 yen per month – about $27 right now – it is a possibility for those who do not have access to that service. (Most of the world, then!).

So, hold on while I get a better offer from NGSN, perhaps and, meanwhile, I am also putting together a guide on how to, perhaps, get Skapa On Demand outside Japan.

(What you seem to need, after assisting others with this service is some Japanese language ability to navigate the sign-ups (or some help in which buttons to press from someone else), a Japanese address to fill in and a Japanese-based credit card. Then a VPN to “pretend” you are in Japan. Not impossible but difficult. I am looking in to making it easier for those overseas to sign up… meanwhile am in those talks with the ambitious, and very welcome NGSN for more details.