Tag Archives: Kashima Antlers

Previews

J1 Preview Aug.25th – 18:30 Kashima Antlers vs Albirex Niigata at Kashima

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Kashima Antlers – FWs Osako and Dutra and DF/MF Nishi are all suspended. DF/MF Koji Nakata will be out for at least another month.
Albirex Niigata – MFs Kim, Nakamura and Ichida, and FW Suzuki are all long-term injuries.

Head to Head – surprisingly even over the years, since 2004, 7 wins for Antlers, 6 for Albirex and 7 draws.

Kashima have won one of the last three – with defeats to Sagan Tosu and Urawa Reds sandwiching a win over Jubilo Iwata. After a terrible start Kashima put some points on the board but still look like a team in disarray at times and are not yet clear of relegation this season. If they can consolidate their position in J1 the powers-that-be need to decide if they keep faith with Jorginho as coach, then they can start the rebuilding process. FW Koroki will have a lot on his shoulders with the suspensions of Osako and Dutra which could be a bonus for Albirex Niigata, who are in deep trouble.
The return of CB Suzuki from the Olympics didn’t make much difference last week in a defeat to top team Sanfrecce Hiroshima, and they are the lowest scoring team in J1, with even less goals than bottom club Consadole! FWs Hirai, Yano et al MUST take the chances that they are given, as they are few and far between.

Even with the suspensions I can not see Albirex getting anything out of this. Expect a WIN for KASHIMA ANTLERS!

Previews

J1 Preview Aug.18th – 19:00 Urawa Reds vs Kashima Antlers at Saitama

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Urawa Reds – FW Marcio Richardes is suspended. MF Naoki Yamada is out for the season.

Kashima Antlers – DF / MF Koji Nakata will be out for two months with a knee injury.

7 wins for Antlers, 6 wins for Reds and 7 draws since 2003

Urawa Reds were put in their place by Vissel Kobe last weekend, Yoshito Okubo’s penalty keeping them from moving to within a win of the top spot. Kashima Antlers have won 3 of their last 5 including a win over Jubilo Iwata last week – they are missing Koji Nakata to injury, but Iwamasa will be buoyed by a national team recall. Reds have won only two of their last five, yet still remain in reach of the top spot – a testament to the unpredictability of J1 this year – and every year! I seriously believe that anyone down to S-Pulse in 10th position can still win this league so Reds must win this to keep the lower teams at bay.

Kashima Antlers will be hoping the likes of Kuroki and Osako can score the goals that will keep them out of the relegation zone but Reds will be too strong for them today – EXPECT a WIN for URAWA REDS!

Previews

PREVIEW May 12th 14:00 Jubilo Iwata v. Kashima Antlers at Yamaha Stadium

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Jubilo Iwata – FW Kanazono is approaching a return, but not yet. GK Kawaguchi is a long term injury.

Jubilo Iwata (P10 W4D3 L3 GD +1) have hit a rough patch after a decent start, and personally I feel the real Jubilo is now showing through and they will not be challenging for honours this season! They have only won one of their last five games and are slipping down the table. Unbelievably, also, in the last ten years, they have won only once in 18 attempts against Antlers, don’t expect another win today as the resurgent Kashima team add to their decent run.

Kashima Antlers (P10 W3 D2 L5 GD -2) won three in-a-row after their dire goalless start, but have slipped to a draw and a loss in their last two outings. Coach Jorginho is getting to know his team’s strengths (and weaknesses – hello Juninho) and with a prolonged partnership up front Koroki and Otake WILL be among the goals. With Jubilo conceding nine goals in their last three games, expect the young dynamic duo to notch again, and EXPECT a WIN for KASHIMA ANTLERS!

It’s true. Get this – in 18 meetings over the last decade Jubilo have won only once – in November 2010 – to Kashima’s record of 12 wins, with five draws!

Previews

PREVIEW – Kashima Antlers v. Sagan Tosu – May 6th

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Kashima Antlers (P9 W3 D1 L5 GD -2) had begun a revival with three wins in a row, including a 5-0 demolition of Gamba Osaka last weekend, but were put in their place on Thursday by an excellent display from S-Pulse that had Antlers choking all over the field. The good work of three wins was undone and Kashima fans will be hoping for a win this weekend to put that display behind them. As noted last week, Koroki and Osako need to be given a run together and they both scored in the Gamba win…. as long as Juninho knows his place is on the bench harmony will prevail and Antlers will come good!

Sagan Tosu (P9 W4 D3 L2 GD +4) are confounding critics and fans alike with their performances so far in their first ever season in J1 and do not look like they will be returning to J2 any time soon. Four wins, and unbeaten since losing to Grampus five games ago, they will be hoping that they can keep Antlers at bay but it will be a tall order. Antlers will have partisan home support, experience being up against the odds and will be looking for that home win for their fans to forget the S-Pulse debacle! Expect a Win for Kashima Antlers!

This will be the first ever meeting between these two teams.

In the Mix, Reports

J1 Round-Up, May 3rd, Matchday 9

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J1 Round-Up, May 3rd, Matchday 9

Here are the results:

Consadole Sapporo 1-0 Cerezo Osaka
Vissel Kobe 3-0 Omiya Ardija
Kawasaki Frontale 4-3 Jubilo Iwata
Sanfrecce Hiroshima 0-1 Albirex Niigata
Sagan Tosu 1-1 Vegalta Sendai
Urawa Reds 1-2 Yokohama F. Marinos
Shimizu S-Pulse 3-0 Kashima Antlers

JSoccer.COMment:
Cerezo proved once and for all how inconsistent they are by giving Cosadole Sapporo their first win of the season! Yusuke Kondo scored the winner in the 25th minute and Consadole hold on for the three points.

Vissel Kobe fired coach Wada, put Adachi in charge for a couple of games while they work out finances with Akira Nishino, travel arrangements with Stuart Baxter, or work up enough courage to approach Pep Guardiola! (I also suggested that Michael Laudrup be considered!). The new coach will be happy to know that Vissel played with freedom and confidence and destroyed Omiya Ardija with ease! Goals from Ogawa, lee and Mogi (his first touch) sealed the points for Vissel.

Frontale found their goalscoring touch under new coach Kazama, but almost let Jubilo back into the game late on. Jubilo are being found out after their start seemed better than they deserved? Yajima scored two for Frontale.

Sanfrecce gave Albirex their first win of the season, just when it seemed Sanfrecce would make a run at Sendai on top. Were Sanfrecce bad, or did Albirex finally come good? A bit of both, it seems!

Tosu held unbeaten Vegalta to a draw, just as predicted on this very site in the previews. Is that the beginning of the end for Sendai? Will S-Pulse take them out this weekend and send them on a downward spiral? Watch this space!

Reds gave Marinos an unexpected second win in-a-row on Thursday. Saito scored a lovely goal (does he ever score simple ones!!?), Makino matched his brilliance with one of his own to make it 1-1, but old soldier Marquinos came on as a late sub and confounded us all with the winner!

S-Pulse staked their claim to be title contenders with a 3-0 drubbing of resurgent Antlers. Ito popped one in at close range very early on, then Takagi scored a screamer, and Omae another well taken volley to round out the scoring and send the away team back to Kashima under a cloud.

Note that FC Tokyo v. Kashiwa Reysol and Gamba Osaka v. Nagoya Grampus – postponed die to ACL commitments – will be played on June 27

Previews

PREVIEW – Shimizu S-Pulse v. Kashima Antlers – May 3rd

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S-Pulse to Stop Antlers Revival!

Team News
Shimizu S-Pulse – Alex Brosque and Jymmy Franca are suspended.

Match Preview
Eight yellow cards and two reds last time out and Shimizu S-Pulse (P8 W5 D0 L3 GD +1) still managed to take maximum points from FC Tokyo. Today they will be missing Franca, no big loss, and Alex Brosque – a bigger blow to be sure. Supersubs from the nine-man win over Tokyo, Takahara and Takagi may be called on to start this time and S-Pulse will be hoping to continue their fine run against a Kashima Antlers (P8 W3 D1 L4 GD +1) who have now won three games in a row after a dire start.
The mix of youngsters and experienced players is beginning t blend well for Shimizu, although Shinji Ono still appears to be carrying an injury and will be hard-pressed to comlete a full game.
Kashima scored five against Gamba Osaka in their last game, although they had big help from a dire defence and goalkeeper, but the likes of Koroki and Osako will be brimming with confidence after getting on the scoresheet, after a bad start fr the team as a whole. Influential midfielder Endo, who outplayed his famous namesake in the Gamba midfield last game, is living up to potential shown over the las few years and will be a key player for the team as the older heads like Motoyama and even Ogasawara gradually fade away and are replaced by the new generation.
Despite being weakened through players carrying injuries, and suspensions, EXPECT a WIN for SHIMIZU S-PULSE!

Head to Head
Ten wins for Kashima, four for Shimizu and eight draws over the years. Kashima won last time out but the four before that produced three of those eight draws.