Tag Archives: Osaka

Previews

J1 Preview – Sat. October 27th – 14.00 – Urawa Reds v. Cerezo Osaka at Saitama Stadium

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Cerezo to do S-Pulse a BIG Favour and hold off Reds?

Team News – Urawa Reds – MF Yajima will miss the game on Japan U-19 duty.

Cerezo Osaka report no injuries or suspensions.

Head to Head – Eight wins for Reds, five for Cerezo and two draws in a decade of J1 and Nabisco Cup meetings.

Match Preview – Urawa Reds have lost three out of their last five when they could have been challenging for the top spot, and find themselves six points adrift of the top two, WAY behind in goal difference too, AND under attack from the trio of teams on 45 points, just three behind them as we go into the last five games. Reds’ lack of a real striker has been their downfall – relying on late Popo goals is not a strategy for a winning team and having to start him as a lone striker shows desperation! Keep this team together, add a real striker and maybe, just maybe, a 2013 Championship challenge might be seen. But today a resurgent and relaxed Cerezo Osaka may put paid to a top spot dream altogether and even knock them out of the top three.

Cerezo re-hired coach Levir Culpi to keep them in J1, nothing more, and it looks as if he has done that. Cerezo realistically need another 2 or 3 points from their final games to be sure and then they can plan ahead for next season, try to keep their best players from oving on, and find a coach that can bring out the potential that these players, this team has. They are relaxed indeed under Culpi but he is not staying, they’ll win a few more games for him before he goes home, though. Including this one? Maybe! EXPECT a DRAW!

In the Mix, Previews

J1 Preview – Vegalta Sendai vs Gamba Osaka at Yurtec Stadium – Oct.6, Matchday 28

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Team News
Vegalta Sendai – DF Kamata is suspended. MF Sekiguchi is very doubtful.
Gamba Osaka – Long term injuries GK Kimura, DFs Nakazawa, Eduardo and FW Kawanishi are all, no new injuries reported.

Head to Head – with Vegalta only returning to J1 in 2010 there have only been 5 meetings since then, 2 wins for Gamba, 1 for Vegalta and 2 draws. In the 2003 season each team won the away leg of their games!

Match Preview – Vegalta Sendai were beaten at S-Pulse last weekend and GK Hayashi had a nightmare, the confidence will be shot, the pressure is on to claw back the five point deficit at the top and who is visiting? Gamba Osaka, who hit five goals past Reds and Grampus away in recent games. Sendai do have the experience of falling from grace in the final weeks of the season (see 2011) so will that see them know what to avoid? A slow start, followed by a decent period after settling in, saw Wilson hit the net regularly, but he has stalled again now that other teams know what to expect and his failure to score puts it all on the shoulders of Akamine. If the porous Gamba defence can keep Akamine under wraps, the game is as good as theirs.
Gamba Osaka have not lost a game that Leandro has started in – since he arrived he has scored 11 goals in nine games – missing the 4-1 defeat to Sagan Tosu. If Leandro is fit and firing on all cylinders expect J1’s top-scoring team (54 goals, from 16th spot?!) to add a few more, but, as always we can’t expect a clean sheet for Gamba can we!? It looks tough on paper for Gamba, but they have performed better away from home against the top teams! EXPECT a high-scoring game and a WIN for GAMBA OSAKA!

In the Mix, Reports

Vissel Kobe 2-3 Cerezo Osaka – extended report, see highlights below!

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Vissel Kobe 2-3 Cerezo Osaka

This game started with a bang, as Hashimoto, Okubo and Mogi all had shots within the first 30 seconds as Vissel went for it from the whistle, but to no avail, but it didn’t take long for the home team to open the scoring when, in the 7th minute, Tokura controlled a pass, turned and threaded the ball to Ogawa running into the channel and the youngster made no mistake to give Vissel the lead. Kobe should have been 2-0 up in the 13th minute when a Nozawa free kick was headed on to Lee, who volleyed home with aplomb. The flag was up for offside on the flick-on, the only problem being that the flick-on was from a defender’s head – how both officials missed that is anyone’s guess, but a grave injustice for the ever-improving Korean centre back.

Vissel did eventually make it 2-0 just three minutes later when Ogawa turned provider, setting up Okubo who’s shot was too hot to handle for the keeper, who could only palm it out to a quickly-reacting Tokura, who turned the ball back across the goal where Soma was waiting to pop the ball into the open goal!

Cerezo were back in the game in the 22nd minute, when a long distance shot from Maruhashi moved wickedly in the air, giving Tokushige problems, the keeper only able to palm the ball out and Simplicio followed up and blasted the ball home to make it 2-1 – game on! Could have been, should have been 3-0, but now it was 2-1 – game changer from the officials, unfortunately.

Lee then got himself a yellow card as he came up behind Cerezo keeper Kim as he tried to throw the ball out. The keeper’s arm caught the retreating defender and the Cerezo players screamed at the ref. What else could the official do but pull out his card – it wasn’t the last time that the away team surrounded the official demanding cards. The interesting thing is that Kim was handling the ball often – including in this instance – as he tried to get distance on his throws. Standing on the line, his arms were often over the line when his throws were completed. I guess the sharp-eyed Assistant Referee who saw the non-offside wasn’t as sharp-eyed as we thought, after all! He also missed Kempes (and Kakitani) in an offside position when Kempes got his head onto a deep cross and got the ball on to the bar!

Just hitting the hour mark Maruhashi earned himself a straight red card for a dangerous challenge on Nozawa, who needed treatment and the away team were down to ten men with 30 minutes remaining. Then another game changer, perhaps from the officials? Lee challenged Kakitani on the wing, just yards away from the assistant referee, the Cerezo player grabbing the Kobe defender’s shirt all the way then going down. The referee gave the foul FOR Cerezo, the crowd went wild, the Cerezo players begged for a card and basically put enough pressure on the referee that whatever Lee did next he would be yellow carded. Vissel coach Nishino had no choice but to replace Lee – Takagi came on – lest Vissel also go down to ten men soon. Sugimoto – just on as a sub – hit the bar with a glancing header from the free kick and it wasn’t long before Simplicio had his second goal of the game, stealing in totally unmarked from a midfield position at the back post to head home a Kakitani cross to make it 2-2.

Edamura made an appearance for Cerezo in the 78th minute and, as it turned out, he was the game winner for Cerezo although it was that man Takagi who gifted him the chance, but what a finish! It was just a simple throw-in on the half way line but Takagi completely misjudged the bounce of the ball, it went over his head, Edamura broke, advanced, Kitamoto blocked him off from moving inside but the S-Pulse loanee didn’t need to – he let fly from 20 yards and the ball flew into the corner – 3-2 Cerezo, game over! Well, not quite, Mogi, Kitamoto, Ogawa, Okubo AND Fernand all had half chances in the final minutes as Vissel piled on the pressure looking for a point but it was not to be. Cerezo moved up and, arguably, safe, Vissel dropped into danger.

Vissel Kobe – Tokushige, Mogi, Lee (Takagi, 68), Kitamoto, Soma, Tanaka (Morioka, 78), Hashimoto, Nozawa, Ogawa, Tokura (Fernand, 77), Okubo

In the Mix, Previews

JSoccer Magazine J1 Preview Sept.22nd, Matchday 26 – 18:00 Cerezo Osaka vs Shimizu S-Pulse at Kincho Stadium

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Cerezo Osaka – FW Nagai has left the club, on loan, to Perth in Australia. MF Sakemoto is out injured.
Shimizu S-Pulse – DF Yoshida out, FW Takagi working on a hamstring injury but very doubtful.

Five games since S-Pulse won this one, with 6 wins for Cerezo, 4 for S-Pulse and 5 draws since 2004.

Despite a win against Marinos in his first game back in charge, and a vital six-pointer in the next game against Albirex, Cerezo coach Culpi now knows what he is up against and he must be aware that the team could still be dragged down into the relegation mire, especially if Ardija and Gamba continue to pick up points. A home loss to Grampus last time out put paid to the Cerezo revival and with rumours sweeping the team of the likely departures of Ogihara and Yamaguchi – joining a long line of players who have moved on in the last year or two – it can only get worse for Cerezo if they do not win this match.

Shimizu S-Pulse will be disappointed that they didn’t get maximum points last week against FC Tokyo, a couple of extra points would have taken them up to 6th, within touching distance of the top 3, or even the top spot. It’s still not an impossible ask, but three points from these kinds of games are now a must if they are to continue their slow rise back up the table.
Genki Omae is back in the goals, and new signing Kim has contributed everything but a J.League goal so far, it is his time! Coach Afshin Ghotbi has cleared out some of the players who were not part of the philosophy and is blooding the youngsters, like Ishige, slowly but surely. EXPECT a WIN for SHIMIZU S-PULSE!

Previews

J1 Preview – Sat. Sept.15th – 18:00 Cerezo Osaka vs Nagoya Grampus at Nagai

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Cerezo Osaka – DF Sakemoto out for about two months.
Nagoya Grampus – FWs Kennedy and Tamada are back in action, although still to get more match fit! Reserve GK Takagi injured.

5 wins for Cerezo, 8 for Grampus and 5 draws in the last decade or so.

Cerezo have won their last two and are on a one-loss-in-five run and seem to be finally back at full strength after injuries and London 2012 Olympic duties decimated their team. They are five points clear of the drop zone and will be looking for 2 or 3 more wins in their final ten games to reach a safety plateau of around 38 points. Defender Sakemoto is their only injury and they will be looking to build on that decent run.

Nagoya Grampus have Nagai back from London 2012, Kennedy and Tamada back from injury and have won their last two, after two defeats before those games. They are still within reach of the top spot (7 points) or an ACL spot (4 points) and will be looking for a third win in-a-row to keep their hopes alive. If Kennedy is on form, he takes defenders out of the game and creates space for those around him, expect Nagai to take advantage of that, if the Cerezo defence allow it.
EXPECT a DRAW!

Previews

J1 Preview – Sat. Sept.15th – 19:00 Gamba Osaka vs Albirex Niigata at Banpaku

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Gamba Osaka – GK Kimura, DF Nakazawa and FW Kawanishi all out with broken legs. DFs Kaji and Eduardo out injured. FW Leandro is hopeful of returning from injury.
Albirex Niigata – MFs Uchida and Nakamura injured

7 wins for Gamba, 5 for Albirex, and 5 draws over the last decade, all in J1

Gamba have Leandro to thank for inspiring them to an unbeaten run that got them out of the bottom three and, sure enough, when he was out injured in the last league game Gamba went down to Sagan Tosu. This game is a real six pointer in the battle against relegation and Gamba will be hoping their Brazilian hot shot is fit. If so, expect goals – Gamba ARE the 2nd highest scorers in J1, even though they are in the lower reaches – and the points to go to Gamba.

The Gamba defence is still leaking goals, too, though, but the incoming loan of Iwashita seems to have settled them a little. Albirex are struggling to score goals but Gamba rarely keep a clean sheet, so perhaps we can expect a high scoring game? Albirex Niigata, though, are the lowest scorers in J1, having notched only 16 goals in 24 matches, and have lost three of the last four – surely the form of a team bound for J2?

EXPECT a WIN for GAMBA OSAKA!

Previews

J1 Preview Aug.25th – 19:00 Cerezo Osaka vs Yokohama F.Marinos at Kincho

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Cerezo Osaka have no injuries or suspensions to report.
Yokohama F.Marinos – DF Amano out for the season.

Head to Head – 6 wins for Marinos, 2 for Cerezo and 5 draws, since 2003, all in J1 competition.

Cerezo Osaka looked on course for a win away at Jubilo Iwata before they conceded two late goals to Maeda and took a loss at 4-3. The dynamic duo of defensive midfielders Ogihara and Yamaguchi returned from London 2012 – along with Sugimoto, who had confirmed the end of his loan period at Verdy just before the Olympics – but these players, along with new incoming are yet to gel and they do not have much time to form a team. Having to replace two players of the calibre of Kiyotake and Kim will be hard but the team need 2 or 3 wins in the next month or so to ensure that a team of promising individuals can grow together in J1 next season. They have to start that against a team who have not lost since … can anyone remember?!
Two draws in the last three games have seen Yokohama F.Marinos sustain their unbeaten run but they must feel that they should have taken all three points last week after being up 2-0 over Kawasaki Frontale. Despite having scored only 29 goals in their 22 games, they find themselves in 5th position, poised for a run at an ACL place. To confirm that – or better – they have to win games like this, and they need someone other than Marquinos to share the goal burden. Whatever happened to the promise of Yuji Ono? Oguro will always score goals, but will miss many chances while doing it, and have his dry patches. This game could be one of them. EXPECT a WIN for CEREZO OSAKA!

Previews

J1 Preview Aug.25th – 19:00 Gamba Osaka vs Consadole Sapporo at Expo'70

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Gamba Osaka – GK Kimura, DF Nakazawa are out with broken legs. FW Kawanishi is working hard to return from a broken leg but not yet match fit. RBs Kaji and Eduardo both injured!
Consadole Sapporo – FW Sakaki joins a long injury list.

Head to Head – Gamba won 4-0 away earlier this season and in 2008 there was a draw and another Gamba victory. That’s all between these two.

Gamba Osaka are on a roll, at last, and are entertaining the bottom team on the back of a 5-0 away thrashing of 2010 Champions Nagoya Grampus, so will be expecting another high-scoring win to take them out of the relegation zone and improve their goal difference. Two wins and two draws in the last four games have seen them come within touching distance of that safe 15th spot, although they will be setting their sights on a much higher position if they can win this one. The return of ace Leandro has kick-started the team into action, Konno scored his first goal for the club last week, Paulinho is a decent back-up player who is scoring goals and Sato sees himself high up in the scoring charts. Amazingly, even in such a lowly position, only three teams in J1 have scored ore goals this season!
Consadole Sapporo have been hit by numerous injuries over the season but seemed to be destined for an immediate return to J2 from the start of the season. They have now conceded 52 goals in their 22 games – scoring just 17 in the process – and bringing in the likes of Tele and Ramon does not seem to be the answer – they have certainly not proved themselves to be J1 players, although, being completely honest, the team are probably already rebuilding for a season in J2 in 2013! Forwards Kondo and Maeda seem set to return from injuries, but will they be given a place over the Brazilian imports? The last four games have seen two wins for Consadole – over Vegalta and Grampus – but the fans have probably accepted that the team are headed for J2 – perhaps this is the only change they have – playing without pressure because they know they are doomed already!?
EXPECT a WIN for GAMBA OSAKA!