In the Mix, Previews

J1 Preview – Kashima Antlers vs FC Tokyo at Kashima Stadium – Oct.6, Matchday 28

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Team News
Kashima Antlers – NO suspensions, the only injuries are Nakata and Yamamura – both long-term.
FC Tokyo – FW Hirayama is said to be ready to return, MF Kaga is out, DF Ota is doubtful, MFs Kawano and Otake, DF Hiramatsu are long term absentees.

Head to Head – Tokyo have not beaten Antlers since 2008 and just 3 times in total since 2003, with Antlers winning 10 and 4 games ending as a draw.

Match Preview – Kashima Antlers held Gamba Osaka to a draw away last time out but remain just 4 points away from the drop zone – in the shape of Gamba Osaka in 16th place – and will be desperate for a win here, at home against a slightly improving FC Tokyo. A loss for Antlers, especially with the form of those teams around them could spell trouble for the Kashima team but their only win in their last five was a fortunate three points against Vissel Kobe and they will be hard-pressed to pull out a win here against an FC Tokyo team that have won three of their last five and are looking to hit the top six, or even better, in the final games of the season. Some of the injuries that have affected the team are history and recent signing Vucicevic is settling in and getting among the goals – I think we should EXPECT an FC TOKYO WIN here!

In the Mix, Previews

J1 Preview – Yokohama F.Marinos vs Sanfrecce Hiroshima at Nissan Stadium – Oct.6, Matchday 28

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Team News
Yokohama F.Marinos – DF Kurihara, MF Tomisawa, FW Marquinos are all suspended. No new injuries reported, MF Taniguchi is touch and go.
Sanfrecce Hiroshima – DF Moriwaki is suspended. No injuries reported.

Head to Head – 16 meetings since 2004, with Marinos winning 8, Sanfrecce 5 and 3 draws.

Match Preview – Sanfrecce have won their last three as Sendai have faltered and now enjoy a five point lead at the top. This is often the time that a J1 team bottles it – it happens over and over, the team at the top, fail to extend their lead. Let’s see what Sanfrecce can do – they have little experience of holding on to the top spot, but their fate is in their own hands and nothing less than a win is what they will want. Urawa Reds will be looking for any hiccup to take advantage and close in. The influential Moriwaki is suspended and will be missed, not least in the goal celebrations! Hiroshima won 4-1 last week against Tosu, although they scored from a doubtful PK and then a shot that saw deflections galore – of course, they deserved the win, but the luck is going their way too. Will it continue?
Since their long unbeaten run Yokohama F.Marinos have lost three-in-a-row before they beat Antlers, and then drew with Ardija last week to arrest that slide. The likes of Ono are not coming up with the goals, and Marquinos is suspended, can they hold off a rampant Sanfrecce for another 0-0 draw? I think so – EXPECT a (scoreless?) DRAW!

In the Mix, Previews

J1 Preview – Cerezo Osaka vs Sagan Tosu at Kincho Stadium Oct.6, Matchday 28 – JSoccer Magazine

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Team News
Cerezo Osaka – DF/MF Maruhashi is suspended.
Sagan Tosu – No suspensions or injuries reported.

Head to Head – Cerezo won 5-0 in the Nabisco Cup this year, and held Sagan to a 0-0 draw away. Other meetings were in J2 since 2007, all in 6 wins for Cerezo, 5 for Tosu and that scoreless draw.

Match Preview – Cerezo Osaka pulled six points away from the drop zone with last week’s come-from-behind win away at Vissel Kobe and have now won four of their last five. Finally, some consistency from a team that have been decimated by players leaving or missing games through Olympic duties. Coach Levir Culpi returned with the express job of keeping Cerezo in J1 – with 7 games to go I estimate they need only 4 or 5 points but would like to keep the wins going. They were perhaps fortunate last weekend to get the win at Kobe, but they all count and they never gave up. I expect them to make it hard for Sagan.
Sagan Tosu have drifted to seven points away from a top three finish but, let’s face it, who expected them to do this well anyway!? They were outclassed 4-1 by Sanfrecce last weekend but will fancy their chances against Cerezo but I think the best that they can expect this time is A DRAW!!

Uncategorized

J1 Top Scorers after 27 Games …

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SO nice to see Japanese players doing well this season…. but check out Gamba’s Leandro, staking a claim for Player of the Season if he carries on like this – certainly saving a team’s J1 status qualifies, no!? Let’s see if he can get another 6 or 7 goals and Gamba stay up in the last 7 games – if that happens there can be no other MVP for me!

What do YOU think?

1 Hisato SATO Sanfrecce Hiroshima 20 (2 of 3 PKs scored)
2 Ryoichi MAEDA Jubilo Iwata 12 (1 of 2 PKs scored)
3 Masato KUDO Kashiwa Reysol 11
3 Genki OMAE Shimizu S-Pulse 11 (3 of 4 PKs scored)
3 LEANDRO Gamba Osaka 11 (1 PK scored)
3 Akihiro SATO Gamba Osaka 11
3 Yohei TOYODA Sagan Tosu 11
8 WILSON Vegalta Sendai 10 (2 PKs scored)

Genki Omae scores S-Pulse’s 100th J1 goal – poster page from JSoccer Magazine Issue 5

In the Mix

JSoccer Magazine Jリーグ　J1 ゲーム リポート　9月29日

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サンフレッチェ広島４-１サガン鳥栖

広島が攻めの形を貫き、鳥栖の堅守を突き崩した。前半30分、右サイドの清水が仕掛け、守備陣にひるむことなくネットに突き刺す。その４分後のＰＫは、守備側への間接ＦＫとなるべきファウルだったが、誤審によりイエローカードまで受ける始末。佐藤寿人が確実に決め、これで２点差。３点目は、相手ミスからボールを奪った佐藤が、一対一でＧＫをかわすと、中央を駆け上がってきた森崎浩にどんぴしゃのパス。鳥栖は後半47分に豊田がヘディングで１点を返すが、その直後、佐藤が今日２点目となるループシュートでとどめを刺した。

柏レイソル１-２浦和レッズ

柏の先制点は奇想天外なＯＧだった。ゴール前に入ったボールがディフェンダーに当たり、さらにＧＫの頭に当たってクロスバーを叩くと、その跳ね返りがサイドＧＫに当たってゴールイン。しかし浦和は前半39分、マルシオリシャルデスのシュートはＧＫに止められたが、そこに梅﨑が詰めて同点に追いつく。その後、柏木が二度ほど勝ち越しのチャンスを得たが、決め切れない中、またしても意外なプレーから決勝点が生まれる。ＤＦとＧＫの間にあったボールをポポが触ると、ボールはペナルティエリアを転がり、ゴールに転がり込んだ。首位サンフレッチェを追走するレッズには貴重な勝ち点３となった。

清水エスパルス３-１ベガルタ仙台

アウェイの仙台は、前半14分、ノーマークの菅井が先制点。ところが、仙台は鎌田が累積警告で退場となり、後半は10人での戦いを強いられる。エスパルスは後半25分、金賢聖が同点弾。39分には瀬沼がＧＫとＤＦの間に飛び込みヘディングシュート。さらに終了間際、金がこの日２点目を見事なロングシュートで叩き込み、ダメ押し。ＧＫは処理しなければならないボールだった。エスパルスはこれでまた順位を上げた。

川崎フロンターレ１-０コンサドーレ札幌

Ｊ１残留の徳俵に足が掛かった札幌は、川崎の猛攻を必死で凌ぐ。しかし後半35分、途中交代のレナトに強烈な左足をシュートを決められ万事休す。残り７試合を残しての降格決定は史上最速。

ＦＣ東京２-１ジュビロ磐田

先制はジュビロ、前半９分の菅原のヘディング。東京も反撃。ＣＫから、まずは高橋のヘディングがポストを叩けば、前半終了直前、ルーカスのヘディングがＧＫのファインセーブに阻まれる。同点弾は、後半９分。ブチチェビッチのシュートがＧＫにセーブされたところをエジミウソンが押し込む。決勝点もブチチェビッチがからむ。渡辺の右サイドからの低いクロスをきれいに合わせ、逆転劇を演じた。

ガンバ大阪２-２鹿島アントラーズ

立ち上がりはガンバだったが、先制したのはアントラーズ。前半９分、レナトが中距離弾を決める。しかしガンバは25分、スローインを二川が頭で落としたところをレアンドロが見事なボレーで同点に追いつく。ガンバはその後、遠藤のクロスに今野が頭で合わせるも、強烈なヘディングはバーをわずかに越えた。アントラーズの勝ち越し点は前半の38分。レナトの中距離弾をＧＫ藤川がファンブル。そこをドゥトラがすかさず詰めてゴールに蹴り込んだ。
試合はこのまま鹿島の勝ちかと思われた後半のロスタイム。ガンバを救ったのは、またしてもこの男、レアンドロだった。抜群の得点感覚、殺し屋のような冷静さでゴールを量産中だ。８試合で11得点は見事の一言に尽きる。

大宮アルディージャ０-０横浜Ｆマリノス

両者互いに相譲らず。大宮は、村上のシュートがポストを叩けば、ノバコビッチのシュートがバーに嫌われる。マリノスも小野裕二が再三のチャンスを逃す。10人で戦った大宮が、体を張った守りで勝ち点１を手にした試合だった。

ヴィッセル神戸２-３セレッソ大阪

先制は神戸。前半７分、都倉からのコントロールされたパスを小川がきっちりと決める。13分にも追加点のチャンス。野沢のＦＫのヘディングによる折り返しを李光善がゴールに入れるが、無情にもオフサイドの旗。明らかにディフェンスが触ったボールを二人の審判が見逃す誤審だった。しかしそのわずか３分後、ヴィッセルは相馬が追加点を決める。セレッソの反撃は22分、丸橋の長距離弾が大きくブレながらゴールを襲う。処理に困った徳重がはじき返したボールをシンプリシオが詰めた。同点弾もシンプリシオ。後半28分、中盤で奪い取ったボールが柿谷から出るところをヘディングで決める。勢いに乗るセレッソは、後半36分、今度は枝村がゴール隅に叩き込んで勝ちを引き込んだ。

アルビレックス新潟５-０名古屋グランパス

試合は後半になって急に動き出す。きっかけは、これまた微妙な判定。後半10分、金珍洙がスルーパスに反応、ペナルティエリアに侵入したところを後ろから倒されＰＫを獲得。ミシェウが決める。ナビスコ杯でのエスパルスが受けたＰＫの判定にも物議が醸し出されたが、これもそれに負けず劣らずの「選手には厳し過ぎる」判定だった。結局、新潟に傾いた流れは、８分後、ミシェウがこの日２点目を決め、ＯＧと続く。４点目はブルーノロペス。さらにはロスタイムに坪内がダメ押しの５点目を入れる。降格争いを演じるチームに大量失点で負けることに癖づいてしまったかのようなグランパスの試合だった。

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

Reports

J1 Round Up Sept. 29th, matchday 27.

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Sanfrecce Hiroshima 4-1 Sagan Tosu

Sanfrecce started the day looking to cement their hold on the top of J1, and they did so in style with this convincing victory over Sagan. A shot from Shimizu, which deflected off THREE players before finding its way into the net, opened the scoring. A penalty kick – converted by Sato – that should have been an indirect free kick to the defender made it 2-0 – a terrible decision by the referee – the defender even got a yellow card for his troubles! Koji Morisaki made it 3-0 after Sato pounced on a defensive mistake, before Toyoda slid in with a header at the far post to give Sagan a consolation in added time. Even then, Sato scored his 2nd in added time, lobbing the onrushing keeper, the ball bouncing into the empty net to make it 4-1.

 

Kashiwa Reysol 1-2 Urawa Reds

A bizarre own goal put Reysol a goal up early on, the ball going in from a corner via a deflection from a defender, the goalkeeper’s head, the crossbar, and in off the keeper again! Umesaki equalised from close range, after Marcio Richardes was denied by the keeper and Kashiwagi twice came close to giving Reds the lead, before another bizarre goal gave Reds the win in added time, Popo nipping in between a defender and the keeper leaving the ball to each other on the edge of the area – a vital win for Reds keeping them in touch with top team Sanfrecce!

 

Shimizu S-Pulse 3-1 Vegalta Sendai

An unmarked Ota opened the scoring for the away team in the 14th minute before S-Pulse clawed their way back for a well-deserved three points. By the time S-Pulse equalised through a Kim header, from a Jong-a-Pin left wing cross, Kamata had seen red and Sendai were down to ten men – makes a change for S-Pulse to have the full number and the other team to lose a man!! Senuma saw his header from an 84th minute corner sneak between the keeper and the defender on the post to see the orange team take the lead and Kim made it 3-1 with his second – a speculative 40 yarder that the keeper completely messed up! S-Pulse rise again, bring on Jubilo Iwata next week!

 

Kawasaki Frontale 1-0 Consadole Sapporo

Sapporo looked like they would hold on to their J1 life for at least another game, by gaining a point here before a late goal from Renato consigned the away team to relegation with 7 games left of the season.

 

FC Tokyo 2-1 Jubilo Iwata

Suganuma opened the scoring for Jubilo with a far post header in the 9h minute while Tokyo came close to the equaliser from two corners – the first saw Takahashi heading against a post and the second, Lucas forcing a fine save from the keeper with his glancing near post header just before the break. The equaliser came on 54 minutes as Edmilson poked home at the second attempt after Vucicevic has forced a save from the keeper after first-timing Ishikawa’s left wing cross. Maeda had a header rightly disallowed for offside then, before Vucicevic blasted home the late winner from a low right wing cross from Watanabe.

 

Gamba Osaka 2-2 Kashima Antlers

Although Gamba began well they were soon a goal down after Renato placed his left foot shot into the top corner from 20 yards out in the 9th minute. Leandro made it 1-1 with a superb volley from a Futagawa headed on throw-in, and the score was 1-1 with Gamba seemingly in control again. Konno almost made it 2-1 with a bullet header from an Endo cross flying just over the bar, but then, the away team were back in front from nowhere. Renato shot from 25 yards, Fujigaya should have saved with ease in the Gamba goal, but let the ball bounce out of his arms, and Dutra was first on the spot to slam home the rebound – even Dutra doesn’t miss gifts like that! Half time, 1-2 Antlers.

Into added time and it was that man Leandro again, scoring a superbly controlled equaliser in the 92nd minute to give Gamba a deserved point. Leandro must be putting forward his case for player of the season, and even challenging for the top scorer award, and that after playing in just 8 games for his 11 goals so far!

 

Omiya Ardija 0-0 Yokohama F.Marinos

Murakami hit a post and Novakovic hit the bar for Ardija, while Yuji Ono missed chances for Marinos as it seemed that no-one would ever break the deadlock! 0-0 it stayed!

 

Albirex Niigata 5-0 Nagoya Grampus

It was all square, 0-0 at half time but the 2nd period soon changed everything, although it took a VERY dubious penalty to set things in
motion. Better not say too much but if FC Tokyo’s PK against S-Pulse in he Nabisco Cup was enough to have the player persecuted then take a
look at this one! Michel converted the undeserved PK in fhe 54th minute, then made it 2-0 eight minutes later, before an own goal made it 3-0. Bruno Lopes actually scored a superb goal by the time Grampus heads had dropped in the final minute of normal time, before Tsubouchi
put the final nail in the Grampus coffin with a stooping header at the far post in the 95th minute. Of course Nagoya are getting used to
being beaten 5-0 by relegation-threatened teams now!

Vissel Kobe 2-3 Cerezo Osaka – see separate report above ….

Archives, In the Mix

Shinji Ono arrives in Sydney – ready for action!

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Western Sydney Wanderers’ “marquee signing”, former Japanese international, Shinji Ono arrived in Sydney on Monday morning and was even greeted at the airport by a few of the fans of the new A-League team.

“I’m surprised there are so many people here, [especially] to sing a song about me already,” Ono said to gathered reporters. “Now I just want to give my everything for the club. It’s very exciting to play here. I think I’ll be ready (for Saturday’s match in the A-League against Central Coast Mariners at Parramatta Stadium) but I need to speak with the manager of the team. I feel ready to play. I want to play here. I want to show the people what I can do. I hope a lot of people come to the stadium to watch the game.”

Ono had received tips on living in Sydney from former teammate at Shimizu S-Pulse, Alex Brosque, who himself also made a move this weekend – to a new life in the UAE!

Ono has had a storied career over 17 years since he actually originally spurned the advances of his local team – S-Pulse,  in 1998, signing for Urawa Reds where he played from 1998 to 2001, returning for a second stint in 2006-07). He also played for Feyenoord, in Holland’s Eredivisie (2001-05),Vfl Bochum in Germany (2007-10) before returning to Reds, an then finally returning “home) to join Shimizu S-Pulse in 2010.

Ono also has 56 caps for Japan, including a shock inclusion for the France 1998 World Cup (when Kazuyoshi Miura was dropped at the last minute), as well as the 2002 and 2006 World Cups.

West Sydney Wanderers coach Tony Popovic said,

“(Shinji) is an experienced player at all levels and has played on some of the biggest stages in the world, his professionalism at the top level will be good for all to see.”

Ono had not been playing regularly at S-Pulse this season, due to niggling ankle injuries and the emergence of new players at the club and S-Pulse coach Afshin Ghotbi was not going to stand in the player’s way when this offer came along. The club and the Iranian coach agreed to cancel his contract in order for the move to be transfer-free, and wished him the best of luck in his new venture.

“It is a new chapter in his career and, as he was not playing at S-Pulse, we were not going to hinder his progress by asking for fee or making ti difficult for Ono to find another club. He moves on with our best wishes and our thanks for his service to S-Pulse”.