Tag Archives: Vissel

Previews

J1 Preview – Sat. October 27th – 19:00 Vissel Kobe v. Kawasaki Frontale at Home's Stadium

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Team News – Vissel Kobe – DF Lee is suspended. DF Iwanami will miss the game on Japan U-19 duty.
Kawasaki Frontale – MF Ohshima and FW Kazama will miss the game on Japan U-19 duty.

Head to Head – Five wins for Vissel, six for Frontale and two draws in 13 J1 games since 2005.

Match Preview – Vissel Kobe halted a losing run with two draws in their last two outings but have dropped into relegation danger, finding themselves just three points from Gamba osaka in the 3rd relegation spot of 16th. They’Ve had some bad luck with injuries, and suspensions have not helped, but a decent group of young players need to keep hold of that J1 place in order for coach Akira Nishino to be able to build a new dynasty, as he did with Gamba osaka a decade ago. Whether the likes of Ogawa and Morioka are a match for the young Endo and Hashimoto, that Nishino had at Gamba, is another matter, but they deserve a chance, and to do that they need to win this!

Kawasaki Frontale may sit in 12th position but two fortunate wins in their last five games put them in a false position and it is only four points above Vissel… 39 points is usually enough to consider a J1 position safe but anything can happen and, with the form of the teams below them, combined with a defeat here today, they MAY find themselves scrambling for point on the final day – stranger things have happened. They changed their team manager after a few weeks of the season and they may well need to be doing that again before 2013! They are inconsistent, wasteful in front of goal, and deserve little from this season. EXPECT a WIN for VISSEL KOBE!

In the Mix, Previews

J1 Preview – Albirex Niigata vs Vissel Kobe at Tohoku Den Stadium – Oct.6, Matchday 28

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Team News
Albirex Niigata – DF Ishikawa, MFs Nakamura and Uchida, FW Suzuki all reported out injured.
Vissel Kobe – FW Tashiro is still doubtful, DF Hayashi out for the season.

Head to Head – In 18 meetings since 2004 Vissel have won just 3, with 11 wins for Albirex and 4 draws. Vissel won their home tie this season, 1-0.

Match Preview – Albirex Niigata pulled off a 5-0 win over Nagoya Grampus last weekend, after scoring only 17 goals in their previous 26 games! It was a vital win that kept them in touch with Gamba Osaka and Omiya Ardija and a win here would take them to within a point of their opponents and really out Vissel Kobe in trouble. History favours the home side and Vissel must halt their slide of four defeats in-a-row or they will find themselves heading to J2. The fight for 40 points – the probably total for safety this season? – is well and truly underway and it is VITAL for Vissel KObe that they do not lose this. A win would be even better, but it’s tough for a team who are playing reasonably well but losing to get over that losing feeling. perhaps the best that they can hope for is a point? EXPECT a DRAW!

An oldie but goodie as Emerson says goodbye to Vissel fans!

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

Previews

J1 Preview – Sept.15th -19:00 Vissel Kobe vs Jubilo Iwata at Kobe Universiade

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Vissel Kobe – DF Inoha is suspended. DF Hayashi is out for the season, MF Haneda is doubtful, but not in contention for selection anyway!?

Jubilo Iwata – MF Fujita is suspended. FW Kanazono still reported injured. GK Kawaguchi and MF Matsuoka out for the season. DFs Sakurauchi and Cho out. MFs Yamamoto, Baek and Rodrigo Souto all out injured.

8 wins for Jubilo, 7 for Vissel and 3 draws since 2003, Vissel winning both of the last two games 3-1, home and away!

Vissel Kobe lost narrowly, and probably deserved a draw, last time out at Kashima Antlers, and the team were probably disappointed with that. Then they lost in the Emperor’s Cup to lower league opposition, so plenty of players will have plenty to prove to their fans… another loss will be very upsetting for the Vissel faithful. The team are “only” nine points away from a 3rd place spot right now. ON the other hand they are also nine points away from a relegation spot – very middling. They will be looking to put on a final spurt in the last ten games with a view to finishing in the top 6. A tough call, but not impossible, they can then build on that in 2013 and become a championship-challenging team – or that is what the plan is! The likes of Ogawa and Morioka must mature together with the experience of Okubo and Kitamoto, blending together to make a real team. These are games that they must win if they are to gain the confidence to move up the table.

Jubilo Iwata remain in touch with the leaders, having held Sanfrecce Hiroshima to a draw last time out, and beating Kashiwa Reysol and Cerezo Osaka before that. Jubilo may be the top scorers in J1 this season, but they have conceded a lot, too – in fact one more goal than Vissel Kobe up to this game. Let’s go for a HIGH-SCORING DRAW!!

Previews

J1 Preview Aug.25th – 19:00 Vissel Kobe vs Sagan Tosu at Home's

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Vissel Kobe – DF Inoha, MF Nozawa, FW Okubo have all been on the injury list this week
Sagan Tosu – DF Kitani out for at least another month.

Head to Head – this year’s 3-0 home win for Sagan is the only meeting between these two teams in J1 so far. Four games in J2 in 2008 saw 3 Vissel wins and a draw.

A key point could be the injury list for Vissel Kobe – Inoha, Nozawa and Okubo have all proved to be key players this season as Vissel put a good run together. Having loaned out possible replacement Komoto to Omiya, Vissel will have to use Takagi at CB if Inoha is unfit – the player has often crumbled under pressure. Sagan are fast and efficient on the counter-attack and this position could prove crucial to the game’s outcome. As of the day before the game nothing was confirmed on any of the players from the Vissel camp.
Vissel will have Ogawa available again after suspension and Morioka is a capable replacement for either Okubo or Nozawa if needed. A win for Kobe would really boost the confidence and make them think they have a chance for a top three finish – it will be in their own hands.
Sagan Tosu continue to surprise and confound the critics. They lost at home to a rebounding Shimizu S-Pulse last week, but have been having a good run and still remain in contention for a top 3 place! How long before that bubble bursts? Or are they the real deal? MF Mizunuma is a key man and if Vissel can watch him safely, that may be the difference. EXPECT a HARD WIN for VISSEL KOBE!

Reports

August 18th, 14.00 – Consadole Sapporo 2-4 Vissel Kobe

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Consadole Sapporo 2-4 Vissel Kobe

With Ogawa suspended after last week’s harsh red card (or technically two yellows) Mogi was given his first start of the season, partnering Tashiro up front, with Okubo in a left attacking midfield role.

There was a dream start for Vissel Kobe in Sapporo, looking to build on last week’s home win over Urawa Reds, when they went 1-0 up in the opening exchanges. A superb Soma cross found Tashiro, who unleashed a bullet header and forced a fine reflex save from the keeper, but the rebound found the Vissel forward as he was falling and he volleyed it home before he hit the ground. It was Nozawa who found Tashiro for the ex-Antlers forward’s chance of a second goal but, after his initial excellent control, he skied the ball and the score remained 1-0 at the break.

Just before that break, Okubo had been carried off and replaced by Vissel veteran Yoshida and there were no further changes at the beginning of the 2nd half.

Vissel deservedly added to their lead when Nozawa earned a free kick and got up off the ground to slot it into the goal himself, 2-0 53 minutes gone. But then the game turned when Consadole were awarded a PK as Ramon collided with Mogi and went down theatrically. He soon got up and converted his chance to make it 2-1 on 66 minutes. And then came an unlikely equalizer as Uehara connected with a looping header that Tokushige in the Vissel goal saw go in off the post. 2-2 and back level with less than 15 minutes to go.

To add urgency to his attack, and go for maximum points, Vissel coach Nishino threw on Tokura, for Tanaka, and this soon paid off as the sub held off a challenge from behind – moving on to a pass from Tashiro – allowing Nozawa to scoop the ball into the net from close range for the Kobe captain’s second goal of the game, and Vissel were back in front to stay on 81 minutes,

Two minutes later, the 4-2 goal came to clinch the points after good work on the left wing saw Soma put the ball on a plate for a first time cross from Nozawa that hung in the air before Tokura headed it home at the back post. Vissel Kobe win again, three more points, and are slowly climbing the table.

Vissel’s next three games are at home to Sagan and Jubilo and away to Kashima. All three teams ate there for the taking and nine points would take Vissel into position to challenge for a top three spot come the end of the seaso… can they do it? Watch this space!

Vissel Kobe – Tokushige, Okui, Kitamoto, Takagi, Soma, Hashimoto, Tanaka (Tokura), Nozawa, Okubo (Yoshida), Mogi (Park), Tashiro

Previews

PREVIEW May 19th Game 12 – 14:00 Sanfrecce Hiroshima v. Vissel Kobe at Hiroshima Big Arch

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Vissel Kobe – CB Komoto is considered fit again after long term knee injury. MF Hashimoto is also expected to be available. FW Tashiro should still be considered doubtful. FW Okubo is not fully fit but expected to be asking to play!

Over the last decade Sanfrecce have won eight times to Vissel’s two wins, with four draws. Each team won their home fixture by a 1-0 scoreline in 2011.

Sanfrecce Hiroshima (P11 W6 D1 L4 GD +8) went ahead with Aoyama’s wonder goal from over 60 yards last weekend but eventually went down 3-1 to Yokohama F.Marinos and will be looking to get back to winning ways in front of their own fans. Hisato Sato is in sparkling form and the team have taken well to new, and young coach Moriyasu’s systems – although not too distant from his predecessor’s ideas! Mikic has been a key man this season, feeding Sato from the right wing and Vissel’s left wide will have to be on their tows to stop this pipeline. Attacking left back Soma may have to concentrate on defending this weekend! Sanfreece lie in 3rd place, despite winning only two of their last five and will be hoping to stay in touch with the top spot.

Vissel Kobe (P11 W5 D0 L6 GD -5) have publicly targeted a top 4 spot this season and interim coach Adachi will want to add to the points total so that the new coach – almost certainly to be ex-Gamba boss Akira Nishino, according to reports – will be able to come in and keep up the approach for that big season! Youngsters like Ogawa, Morioka, Mihara and Okui will be perfect base players for Nishino to build a new team to last a decade at the top. Vissel fans will be hoping that is the case. With Lee in fine form at centre back, and Kitomoto leading the team from his side, there may be no room for the ready to return Komoto, but having players on the bench with that ability will be fine for Vissel! Expect Vissel to give their all for coach Adachi and EXPECT a WIN for VISSEL KOBE!

Previews

PREVIEW May 12th 18:30 Vissel Kobe v. Nagoya Grampus at Home's Stadium

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Three Wins in-a-row for Managerless Kobe!

Vissel Kobe – Both MF Hashimoto (short-term injury) and CB Komoto (long term injury) played out a reserve team game on Wednesday and may be considered available. FW Tashiro will miss another two weeks. FW Okubo was on unused substitute last week but is not expected to be available.

Nagoya Grampus – FW Josh Kennedy managed a half, and a goal last game but is not considered fully match fit. MF Isomura is out for at least four months with a metatarsal fracture.

Vissel Kobe (P10 W5 D0 L5 GD -2) have won their last two games (home against Omiya and away at Cerezo Osaka) since firing coach Wada. Interim coach Adachi is doing a great job but is not in contention to keep that position. A new coach is expected to be named very soon. Youngsters like Ogawa, Morioka and Okui are blossoming and the experienced heads ike Kitamoto, Nozawa and Inoha are blending in well now. Vissel have publicly stated that they are aiming for a top four finish – they just might get it if they can remain consistent now.

Nagoya Grampus (P9 W4 D2 L3 GD +2) are below Vissel and struggling to start their season. Injuries to Kennedy and ACL commitments have stretched the squad and they have been inconsistent so far. Kennedy returned for a half last week, scoring a spectacular goal in the process, but will struggle to make a full game if he is selected. Players like Tamada, Fujimoto and Tulio will have to pull their weight if they are to rise up the table in the coming weeks. Today, impetus and home advantage means we should EXPECT a WIN for VISSEL KOBE!

Historically, over the last decade Nagoya won just two of the first eight meetings between these two teams but, since a 5-0 in September 2007 Vissel have managed just two wins out of the last ten meetings. Overall it’s ten wins for Grampus, three wins for Vissel, with five draws.