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JSoccer Magazine Jリーグ J1 プリビュ− 9月29日

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清水エスパルス vs. ベガルタ仙台　（日本平） — エスパルス、ベガルタを苦しめる！

清水エスパルスは、ベンチスタートにはなるだろうが、高木がハムストリング筋の負傷から復帰する。アレックス・ブロスケはＵＡＥのアル・アインＦＣに、小野伸二はオーストラリアのウエストシドニー・ワンダラーズに移籍のため、エスパルス・ファンに別れを告げる。育成プログラムから上に上がって来ている石毛ら若手、大前や高木らが活躍している今、エスパルスの未来は明るいが金賢聖に得点がもっと欲しい。
経験の無さを露呈するのも時間の問題と、批判の声も多い中、ベガルタ仙台は未だに謎の存在だ。ちょうど昨年の今頃も勢いが止まり、低迷した時期があったが、それを経験としている今季はどうだろうか。２節前、サンフレッチェ戦を落としたのは確かに痛かったが、先週のヴィッセル戦では先制された試合をひっくり返して勝利を収めている。チーム内の雰囲気は決して悪くはない。ベガルタには必勝の試合だが、清水エスパルスが勝つような気がする。



Alex Brosque at Al-Ain

 

サンフレッチェ広島 vs. サガン鳥栖　（広島ビッグアーチ） — そして、鳥栖も広島を苦しめる！

前々節は頂上決戦でベガルタを倒し、前節は終了間際の森脇の決勝点で名古屋を下したサンフレッチェには、確かに勝者独特の強さがある。ただ首位を走るプレッシャーに経験の浅さがどう出るか。広島は、我慢強く、泥臭く前を向き続け、ゴールを奪い続けているが、今節の鳥栖のディフェンスは固い。サガン鳥栖は得点こそ33と少ないが、堅固な守りで広島の攻撃を凌げれば、お得意の低得点試合に持ち込めるし、豊田ら攻撃陣の調子次第では得点シーンすらあるかもしれない。大方の予想に反して、私はこの試合、引き分けと見る。


 

ＦＣ東京 vs. ジュビロ磐田　（味の素ス） — 東京、ジュビロの覇権制覇の夢を断ち切るか？

春先のＡＣＬで躓きを皮切りに、負傷者の続出、勝ったり負けたりの乱調ＦＣ東京を象徴するかのように、今月上旬、サンフレッチェに土をつけたかと思えば、大宮アルディージャに敗れ、不調のどん底にいる川崎にも星を落とす。だが、勝ち点では今節の対戦相手ジュビロとはわずか５点差しかない。この試合の１勝は、チームにも、我慢に我慢を重ねているサポーターにも大きい。
一方、上位３チームに食い込むチャンスをことごとく逃してきたジュビロ磐田。前節は弱小チーム新潟に今季初（？）の零敗を喫している。順当勝ちしていたなら、３位レッズに勝ち点１差まで迫れたのだから悔やまれる。そのレッズもガンバに大敗。上位３チームに名を連ねる代価、それがこのプレッシャーなのか。この試合、引き分け！


 

アルビレックス新潟 vs. 名古屋グランパス　（東北電ス） — グランパス、アルビレックスをさらなる奈落の底に！

ここ２試合、必死の引き分け劇を演じたアルビレックスだが、大宮、ガンバ、セレッソも勝ち点３を取っているので、降格圏から逃れるためにはもう勝利しかない。勝つには得点が絶対に必要だが、今季の新潟にはその得点力がない。26試合で17得点は貧相だ。ディフェンス力はあるので、攻撃陣に奮起を促したい。
グランパスは、前節のサンフレッチェ戦を土壇場の逆転で落としたが、勝っていれば首位まであと３ポイント差まで迫っていられただけに悔やまれる。残り８試合で現在首位とは勝ち点９差。上位チームが僅差で混戦状態にあるため、今季はどんなことでも起こり得る。厳しい道ではあるが、名古屋、まずは目の前の試合に勝つことだ。名古屋グランパスの勝利！


 

ヴィッセル神戸 vs. セレッソ大阪　（ホームズ） — ヴィッセル、勝てば実質勝ち点６！


ここ４試合で勝ち点わずか１のヴィッセル。このままでは降格争いに巻き込まれてしまう可能性もでてきた。回避するには、今後数試合で１、２勝は絶対に必要だ。セットプレーのスペシャリストの野沢、セットプレーを卒なく決める好フォワードの田代と都倉、そして小川、森岡らの若手陣、未来に向けて好材料が揃う。
対するセレッソは乱調の極み。試合ごとに内容が全く変わる。清武とキム・ボギョンを海外移籍で失い、（扇原と柿谷が続くか！）扇原と山口をロンドン五輪で欠いていたチーム事情も一貫性を欠く要因ではある。最近、監督の交代があり、クルビが復帰。天皇杯は全く眼中になく、ひたすらＪ１残留を目指す。ここ５試合で３勝は、とりあえずチームを降格圏外に出してはいるが、ガンバとアルディージャの好調さは不気味だ。この試合、ヴィッセルにもセレッソにも大きな意味を持つ。ヴィッセルの僅差勝利！

 

大宮アルディージャ vs. 横浜Ｆマリノス　（NACK5） — マリノス、大宮の行く手を阻む。
ここ５試合で３勝、現在２連勝中の大宮、今季も例年のように辛うじて降格を免れるのだろうか。ただ、セレッソもガンバも調子は上向き。最下位札幌を相手に大量５得点。ノバコビッチのハットトリックは、大宮にとってもＪ１初の記録。この煽りを受けるのはヴィッセルか、それともアントラーズか。上位も下位も混戦のＪ１だ。今節の相手マリノスは、無敗記録の後、連敗が続き、先週ようやくアントラーズに勝利。
一方のマリノスは、このところミスの多い中沢が負傷で欠場。斎藤、小野、大黒らが存在感を示す絶好のチャンスだ。シーズン当初の低迷状態から見れば、ファンにとってはＪ１中位でも満足だろうが、一時はＡＣＬ出場権すら狙える位置にいたことを考えれば、残り８試合、何かをしてくれるだろうか。好調アルディージャとがっぷり四つで、この試合は引き分けか！


 

ガンバ大阪 vs. 鹿島アントラーズ　（万博記念競技場） — ガンバ、アントラーズを降格争いに引きずり込む！

レアンドロ擁するガンバは強い！前節のレッズ戦５-０の大勝は、強いガンバの復活の兆しか。名古屋とのアウェイ戦を５-０、コンサドーレ戦を大量７点で勝利したガンバは現在Ｊ１得点王！ただ、失点もコンサドーレに次ぐＪ１ワースト２の汚名を消すべく今節も零封を狙う。レアンドロが勿論その鍵を握る。
一方のアントラーズも人材は豊富だ。若手も順調に伸びてはいるが、まだチームとしてまとまっていない。大迫や遠藤らはベテラン勢に取って代わることができるが、外人勢のもう少し良い人材を獲得したい。ガンバは、この試合に勝てば、鹿島に勝ち点２差まで迫る。安全圏はつい目の前だ。ガンバ大阪の勝利！


 

柏レイソル vs. 浦和レッズ　（国立競技場） — レッズ、前節の５-０の屈辱から立ち直れるか！

前節、ホームで強いサガン鳥栖にアウェイで敗れ、順位を入れ替えられてしまったレイソル、残すは８試合、どう立て直していくか。勝てばゲーム差１に迫る今節のレッズ戦は、実質勝ち点６の試合。ネットバイアーノの加入は、工藤、沢、田中らがそつなくゴールを決めていたチームには、やはり不必要な贅沢だった。このブラジル人選手の加入でチームはむしろ陰りが出始めている。レイソルは、はたしてその点に気づき、日本人選手を起用して戦いに勝てるか。
レッズは、前節の大敗を忘れ、リーグ制覇に向けて今後の試合に集中していく必要がある。サンフレッチェやベガルタにないシーズン制覇の経験をレッズは持っている。シーズン終盤の戦略を知るレッズには、すぐ上にいる上位２チームにないアドバンテージがある。ただ、原口にはゴールにこだわってもらいたい。最近のレッズの得点は、ＭＦやＤＦ（槙野！）からで、ＦＷに結果が望まれる。今節の試合は、浦和レッズの勝利！


 

川崎フロンターレ vs. コンサドーレ札幌　（等々力） — 札幌、不調フロンターレから勝ち点１？

前節ラッキーな勝利で、降格圏からはやや距離を置いた位置にいるフロンターレ。今節は最下位コンサドーレ、勝ち点を積み上げる絶好のチャンスだ。
一方のコンサドーレには、最下位独走、ワースト得点数、最高失点数、Ｊ１史上最弱と、前向きな言葉が出てこない。新加入のテレ、ラモンもチームの改善になっていない。エージェントの売値で安易に買い取ってしまったのか。可哀想なのは、今季ＦＣ東京から移籍したオーストラリア人選手ノースだ。何がサッカーの神を怒らせてしまったのか、首をかしげているに違いない。この試合、川崎フロンターレの勝利しかない！

In the Mix, Previews

JSoccer Magazine J1 Previews September 29th, 2012

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Kawasaki Frontale v. Consadole Sapporo at Todoroki – Sapporo to Scrape a Point Off Dire Frontale?

Team News
Kawasaki Frontale – GK Nishibe, DF Morishita, MF Inamoto and FW Kobayashi all out through injury.
Consadole Sapporo – DF Takaki is suspended. The team have no new injuries to report but a long list of players who are not match fit.

Head to Head – 2008 Nabisco Cup is the only time Consadole have beaten Frontale in 13 matches since 2003, with 10 wins for Frontale and 2 draws.

Match Preview – Last week’s fortunate win – it seems – for Frontale may well have saved them from an immediate relegation fight and, with Consadole Sapporo clinging to the bottom all season, this SHOULD be another win for Frontale, especially at home – who would bet against them in this match? But the Kawasaki club have been poor all season and, while a chance of manager brought a little mid-table hope for a while, even a top three shot at one point, it’s been all downhill for a while now and only last week’s poor display but big result and a win today will allow the team to relax for the final month or so? Then, at the end of the season, the position of the manager, and perhaps the fact that he is playing his two sons
needs to be examined a little more! If the Kazama brothers can show their true talent in the next few games, all will be good, if not …?

Consadole Sapporo – what can you say about them that isn’t negative? Bottom all season, heading for a record low in points and a record high in goals conceded, they may just be the worst team to ever play in J1? Injuries didn’t help, but then bringing in the likes of Tele and Ramon as new foreigners arguably made them worse? They must have been cheap, and recommended by agents with no qualms at taking the money. Poor Australian international Jade North – who arrived from FC Tokyo this season – must wonder what he did to upset the football gods! I can see nothing here expct a WIN for KAWASAKI FRONTALE!

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Shimizu S-Pulse v. Vegalta Sendai at Nihondaira – S-Pulse to Make it Hard for Vegalta!

Team News
Shimizu S-Pulse – Takagi is set to return, probably from the bench, after a hamstring injury. Alex Brosque will say goodbye to S-Pulse fans after making the move to Al-Ain in UAE. DF/MF Matsumura is suspended. DF Yoshida needs a fitness test.
Vegalta Sendai – MF Sekiguchi is considered doubtful.

Head to Head – Sendai’s only win against S-Pulse came in J1 in 2003. It’s 4 wins for S-Pulse and 1 draw in 5 meetings since Vegalta returned to J1 in 2010.

Match Preview – S-Pulse have lost Alex Brosque to the UAE and reports say Shinji Ono is lining up a move to the A-League. last week’s defeat may well have put paid to any lingering title hopes but a top three spot is still not out of reach and two cups are also to play for, so the money made on the sale of Brosque should be able to go to rebuilding for a tilt at the title in 2013. With the likes of Ishige coming out of the youth programme, and Omae and Takagi blossoming the future looks bright but Kim has to start scoring – then the team may look a little more complete.

Vegalta Sendai are an enigma – many critics are still waiting for the bubble to burst and the inexperience to show. Well, this time last year the bubble WAS bursting so they’ve experienced that and it may help make sure it doesn’t happen again. The loss to Sanfrecce two games back was hard to take but a plucky come-from-behind win against Vissel last week will have helped bring back the confidence. This is a must win for Vegalta, but I feel it may well be a WIN for SHIMIZU S-PULSE!

 

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Sanfrecce Hiroshima v. Sagan Tosu at Hiroshima Big Arch – … and Tosu to Make it Hard for Sanfrecce!

Team News
Sanfrecce Hiroshima – nothing to report! Mikic appears to be fit again …
Sagan Tosu – DF Niwa is suspended.

Head to Head – Tosu’s solitary win against Sanfrecce came at home in J1 this season. In the Nabisco Cup Sanfrecce destroyed Tosu and in previous J2 meetings since 2003 we see 6 wins for Sanfrecce and a draw!

Match Preview – Sanfrecce beat fellow title-challengers Vegalta two weeks ago and then got a VERY late winner last week through Moriwaki – the signs of a title winner? They do not have the experience of being on top and the pressure may tell, while Sagan Tosu have nothing to lose at all. If Tosu don’t worry about an ACL spot for 2013 and just play like they can – efficiently and calmly, the best defence in the league might well keep out J1’s top scorer, Sato. What Sanfrecce do well is being patient, persevering (see last week’s late win), and score goals… will they be able to do that against such a strong defence?

Sagan have not got that many goals this season – just 33 – but if they can hold off Sanfrecce with their solid defence I think that this can be a low scoring game with Sanfrecce dropping points, and IF Tosu’s forwards are in form, and Toyoda is fully fit they might even shock Sanfrecce with a few goals. I can see Tosu getting a point where many expect nothing? EXPECT a DRAW!

 

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FC Tokyo v. Jubilo Iwata at Ajinomoto – Tokyo to Kill Off Jubilo Title Hopes?

Team News
FC Tokyo – MF Kaga joined the injury list that includes Otake, as a long term victim. FW Hirayama, MF Kawano and DF Ota are all on the road to recovery and could be in contention for selection.
Jubilo Iwata – MFs Matsuoka, Baek, Kitaji and Sakurauchi are all out testing the midfield resources of the team. FW Kanazono is approaching fitness after a long break. GK Kawaguchi is still recovering from an Achilles operation.

Head to Head – 21 meetings since 2004 with 8 wins each and 5 draws, historically anything can happen!

Match Preview – FC Tokyo are having an up and down season, beset by injuries and having an initial unsuccessful ACL campaign to think about too, so have suffered from wild inconsistency – they beat Sanfrecce earlier this month, but then have lost to Omiya Ardija and a dire Kawasaki Frontale, who must have wondered how they got the points. They have reached what many think is the magic number of 37 points to avoid relegation, with 8 games to go, so can relax a little but, if they are to rise up the table must string some wins together. They are just five points behind Jubilo, so a win here could go a long way to placating bored fans looking for some action!

Jubilo Iwata, on the other hand, have been so close to breaking into that top three so many times, and then fall back. Last week they were held scoreless (the first time this season?) by lowly Albirex Niigata when they could have moved to within a point of Urawa Reds. who lost big time against Gamba. The injuries have piled up for Jubilo this season but they have a decent, deep squad and have pulled through quite effectively at times, when it seemed another key player was missing. Baek is still out and he IS a big loss, for me. Perhaps the pressure of aiming for that top three spot is finally telling? EXPECT a DRAW!

 

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Albirex Niigata v. Nagoya Grampus at Tohoku Den – Grampus to Push Albirex Deeper Into Trouble!

Team News
Albirex Niigata – MFs Nakamura and Uchida are long term injuries, no other problems reported.
Nagoya Grampus – Reserve GK Takagi is out, MF Isomura long term injury victim.

Head to Head – 21 meetings since 2004 with 8 wins each and 5 draws, a very even history!

Match Preview – Albirex have ground out 2 vital draws in their last two games – a late PK gave them a point at Gamba after a 2nd half onslaught and last week they held high-scoring Jubilo Iwata to a scorless draw but, with Omiya, Gamba and Cerezo all winning, they lost ground in the race for safety and must win games to survive now. To win games they need to score goals and that is something they can’t do this season – 17 goals in 26 games is a sad return but their tight defence has kept them in some games… now the forwards have to do their job! The forwards at Niigata have been a BIG disappointment this season! They can’t do worse than give Hirai an extended chance to prove himself before they hit J2. When playing regularly he hit the net with ease for Gamba, but in and out off the bench is not good for confidence.

Nagoya Grampus succumbed to a VERY late winner against Sanfecce last week when a win would have taken them to within three points of that team. Instead they find themselves off the lead by 9 points with 8 games to go – havetheir title hopes been shattered? Who knows – it is so tight at the top anything could happen but Nagoya MUST win this one to keep in touch. This week saw the news that Kennedy had been refused a move to UAE (Alex Brosque went instead) and that could be the key to their season. The big man makes space and chances for those around him and, with Tamada fit again, and Nagai returning from suspension, that Niigata defence had better beware! EXPECT a WIN for NAGOYA GRAMPUS!

 

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Vissel Kobe v. Cerezo Osaka at Home’s – Vissel Kobe to Win This Six-Pointer!

Team News
Vissel Kobe – DF Hayashi is out for the season, FW Tashiro is having treatment on a muscle injury.
Cerezo Osaka – FW Nagai has confirmed a loan move to Perth in Australia. MF Sakemoto is the only injury report.

Head to Head – Cerezo have not beaten Vissel away since 2003, and have won just 3 times in 11 meetings, with 6 wins for Vissel and 2 draws.

Match Preview – Despite some excellent performances, Vissel have just one point to show from their last four games and will find themselves slipping into the relegation dogfight if they don’t pull out a win or two in the next 3 or 4 games. They are 7 points clear of Niigata but Cerezo are just a point behind, Omiya two behind them, and Gamba – on form too – are closing in, also. If Vissel can survive in J1 – and they do probably need only 5 or 6 points, then they should be all set for a top three push in 2013, under the long-term planning of coach Nishino! But to do that they must consolidate their J1 position – little room for error! In Nozawa they have a set piece specialist, in Tashiro and Tokura they have a couple of good centre forwards to get on the end of those set pieces, and the likes of Ogawa and Morioka, Inui and more have a bright future. Just get those points on the board and plan for next season boys!

Cerezo Osaka have had a wildly fluctuating season, going from the sublime to the ridiculous from one game to the next. This can easily be blamed on the fact that they lost Kiyotake and Kim to overseas moves (and Ogihara and Kakitani seem to be the next targets!) and were without Ogihara and Yamaguchi for the duration of London 2012, too! They have recently switched coaches, bringing back Levir Culpi with the sole aim of J1 survival – the Emperor’s Cup is of no concern to the team’s management right now. Three wins in their last five games have seen them pull away from the bottom three, but they are not that far away and will be wary of the good form of Gamba and Ardija. This game is vital to both teams – for Vissel it may well be the points they need for safety, or very close. For Cerezo a win will keep them out of the clutches of the in-form teams below them. EXPECT a WIN for VISSEL – narrowly!

 

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Omiya Ardija v. Yokohama F.Marinos at NACK5 – Marinos to Halt Ardija Revival in its Tracks.

Team News
Omiya Ardija – Omiya are missing only DF Kataoka to injury.
Yokohama F.Marinos – Marquinos is suspended. DF Nakazawa has right thigh trouble and is doubtful. MFs Ogura and Taniguchi under treatment, DF Amano is out until November at least.

Head to Head – 7 wins for Omiya, 6 for Marinos and TEN draws since 2005 in 23 games.

Match Preview – With two wins in-a-row and three in their last five games, Omiya are showing their usual just-in-time-to-escape-from-relegation form, but Cerezo and Gamba are keeping up with them (which means bad news for Vissel Kobe and Kashima Antlers, perhaps? But that’s another story!) … whether they can continue winning ways against a Marinos team that pulled out of a three game losing streak with a win at Kashima Antlers next week, we will wait and see. Last week a 5-0 defeat of cellar dwellers Sapporo helped their goal difference and saw thei first ever J1 hat trick for the team from Novakovic … can’t see the Marinos defence being that kind, even if the recently mistake-prone Nakazawa is out injured.

Yokohama F. Marinos will be without the suspended Marquinos after a rush of blood to the head before half time last week, so now is the time for the likes of Saito, Ono and Oguro to stand up and be counted. After a dire start Marinos fans could be happy with a mid-table finish, but then they had that impressive unbeaten run and the fans thought of ACL qualification. Then they lost three games in a row and it was back to mid-table average-ness! What can the fans expect in their final 8 games – the struggling team, or that team that went unbeaten for so long? I fancy the latter, but Omiya are on a run, too – EXPECT A DRAW!

 

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Gamba Osaka v. Kashima Antlers at Expo’70 – Gamba to Pull Antlers into a relegation Fight!

Team News
Gamba Osaka – FW Sato missed the last game and is a doubt for this one. Long term injury victims DF Eduardo and Nakazawa, GK Kimura and FW Kawanishi still missing.
Kashima Antlers – nothing new to report, the team is missing utility players Nakata and Yamamura.

Head to Head – 8 wins for Antlers, 7 for Gamba and 8 draws in 23 meetings since 2003.

Match Preview – Gamba Osaka have Leandro, Gamba Osaka will win! That’s all! In the only J1 game that Leandro has missed since his return Gamba lost 4-1 at Sagan Tosu, in the other games Leandro has inspired them to heights not seen since last season. The 5-0 away win over Reds last week will have buoyed the team no end into thinking they are world beaters again. Added to a 5-0 (away again) thrashing of Nagoya and a 7-goal-tally against Consadole, Gamba find themselves top scorers in J1! But, Gamba are also second worst in the defensive stakes (only Consadole have conceded more goals) so will be hoping for another clean sheet after last week’s Reds demolition. It is obvious that Leandro is the key man.

Kashima Antlers have plenty of talent in the ranks, young too, but are not quite gelling as a team (yet?). The likes of Osako and Endo, are ready to replace the old guard but is Dutra as good as it gets in the import area for Kashima? Surely they can do better. And will Jorginho keep his job if the best that this season gets is just surviving relegation? This team know that there will have to be changes for 2013, just how much change may depend on what they can get out of the final eight matches but I can’t see them getting much out of this game with Gamba on fire. Gamba can pull up to within 2 points of Kashima with a win here and they will know that – safety is within reach – EXPECT a WIN for GAMBA OSAKA.

 

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Kashiwa Reysol v. Urawa Reds at Kokuritsu – Reds to Bounce Back After 5-0 Humiliation Last Week!

Team News
Kashiwa Reysol – DF Masushima is suspended, but the team reports no injuries except three reserve goalkeepers. Will not affect team selection.
Urawa Reds – MF Suzuki is suspended. No injuries to report, only Naoki Yamada’s long-term season-ender.

Head to Head – 15 matches in J1 since 2003 have produced 5 wins for each team, and 5 draws, something will have to give today.

Match Preview – Kashiwa Reysol went down to Sagan Tosu last week, mauled to death at the fortress home of Sagan Tosu 3-1, putting Tosu above Reysol in J1 with 8 games to go. If Reysol can win this, they can haul themselves back to within a win of Urawa Reds, so this is the proverbial six-pointer for both teams. Again I saw it last week, Neto Baiano is an unnecessary luxury in a team that was scoring freely – Kudo, Sawa, Tanaka and more were doing enough so in comes a Brazilian who has failed to light up the team – in fact he seems to have done the opposite. Play the Japanese forwards, win the game, Reysol!?

Urawa Reds also took a beating last week, but 5-0 at HOME to a relegation-threatened team can not have done their confidence any good at all. The only thing that the team, and the fans can and should do, is forget last week’s defeat to Gamba Osaka completely and get on with winning the coming games and pushing those top two for a championship season. I feel that Reds have the experience that Sanfrecce and Vegalta don’t when it comes to handling the pressure in the final gmes of a season and Reds will use that experience to win here, forget about the big defeat and push the top two all the way to the final day. Haraguchi MUST get among the goals, though, because, at the moment the team are scoring from midlfield and even defence (hello Makino!)… they REALLY need a forward scoring goals to make their season complete in the final months. For today EXPECT a WIN for URAWA REDS!

Archives, In the Mix

Maya Yoshida Looking Forward to Life in the Premier League

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Maya Yoshida received a baptism of fire when he replaced the injured Jos Hooiveld less than 30 minutes into Southampton’s 6-1 defeat by Arsenal but then kept his place in the convincing 4-1 home win over Aston Villa. The team may have been stuck to the bottom of the Premier League without a single point to their name prior to the Villa visit, but they had drawn plaudits for their displays and it should be remembered that they had played all of last season’s top three teams in those opening four games. Before the Villa win the fans saw a stinging defeat to Wigan, which was not teh best performance but, ask any Southampton fan if they really expected points from Manchesters City and United, or Arsenal and they’d probably say no – the only way is up! But I digress, this is about Yoshida!

Before moving to Southampton Yoshida had spent three season in Holland’s Eridivisie, making 63 appearances for VVV-Venlo, who he had joined from the J.League’s Nagoya Grampus. His bicycle kick goal for VVV-Venlo off a corner kick on September 11th against PSV Eindhoven in a 3-3 draw earned “Goal of the Year 2011-2012″ in the Dutch Eridivisie. Between 2007 and 2009, Yoshida appeared for Nagoya 101 times, scoring 11 goals. Yoshida also captained the Japan team to the semi-final in the 2012 London Olympic Games.

Yoshida joined Southampton on a three-year contract, reported to have been at a fee of £2,000,000 and arrived at the club – after Japan national team commitments – just the Wednesday before the Arsenal defeat.

“The Premier League is a very, very high level but I’ll try to do my best to win games for the supporters and the Club. When I was in the youth team of Nagoya Grampus Eight in Japan at 15-years-old, I often watched games in the Premier League with the likes of Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester United and Liverpool. I still like to watch and, now I’m here, I can play games in the Premier League. That’s a real success but I’m just standing on the starting line – now I want to show my quality in the Premier League”, the Japanese defender said to the official Southampton web site this week.

“It was a challenging game for me to play against Arsenal because they are a very big team,” he continued, “I enjoyed it because the Emirates is a great stadium and the opponent was very strong – and it was my debut in the Premier League. I played not-so-well in the 1st half – especially for the third goal, which was my mistake – but in the 2nd half I calmed down and was able to show my skill, I think. I have confidence that I can play in the Premier League. I am still looking forward to playing in our stadium and I want to show my best qualities to the Southampton supporters.”

Picture shows a page from JSoccer Magazine Issue 5, Maya Yoshida sharing the spotlight with VVV Venlo’s Yuki Otsu.

Archives, In the Mix

Alex Brosque Signs for Al-Ain, in the UAE – picture!

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Yes, he couldn’t resist the lure of that oil cash – despite most of us thinking Alex was staying after the transfer window passed, I guess the BUYING club that has no transfer window can do as it likes. The club made an obviously too-good-to-resist offer TO Alex Brosque (apparently after being priced out of the market for Josh Kennedy?) and then Shimizu S-Pulse had to make the decision to not stand in the way of progress for Alex himself. The Shizuoka club said that it is not in the habit of holding on to players against their will and accepted Al-Ain’s offered transfer fee, and Brosque signed on the dotted line. Reportedly an initial one year contract with immediate effect.

Brosque will return to Japan for this weekend’s S-Pulse home game to say goodbye to the fans.

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Jリーグ　J1 ゲーム リポート　9月22日

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コンサドーレ札幌０-５大宮アルディージャ
当然ともいえるアルディージャの勝利。大量５得点も意外ではなかった。コンサドーレは計算上は、あと２試合の結果次第でＪ２降格が確定する。勿論、何が起こるか分からないのがサッカーだが。セレッソやガンバも勝利したため、大宮の勝利は降格争いチームの順位に違いを生じさせるものとはならなかった。大宮の得点者は、ノバコビッチ（３）、カルリーニョス、長谷川。

鹿島アントラーズ１-２横浜Ｆマリノス
マリノスは、熊谷、中村俊介のゴールで宿敵（今季は不調だが）アントラーズにアウェイで勝利。低迷状態に歯止めをかけた。後半５０分、鹿島の気休めともいえるゴールは、ジュニーニョの完璧なオフサイド。

ベガルタ仙台２-１ヴィッセル神戸
田代のピンポイントのヘディングでのゴールなど、前半はヴィッセルが試合を試合していたが、焦らずに試合を進めるベガルタは、これまた見事な赤嶺のヘディングで同点に追いつく。決勝点となった後半終了間際の鎌田のオーバーヘッドは確かに見事だったが、「危険なプレー」としてフリーキックになってもおかしくない微妙なプレーだった。jsoccer.comでリプレーを見て、ディフェンダーとしてそこに自分の頭を出したいと思うかどうか意見をお聞かせ願いたい。伊野波はあえてその危険を回避した。

浦和レッズ０-５ガンバ大阪
レアンドロが戻り、得点力が上がり、勝ち癖が戻ったガンバが、強敵レッズ相手に大量５得点を奪い、堂々の勝利。チーム総得点もＪ１トップに浮上。この日埼玉スタジアムに押し掛けた４万６千人の95％は優勝を願うレッズ・サポータ‐。まず阿部が、その期待を萎ませる先制点。１発目は頭で、２発目は巧みなヒールでレアンドロが追い打ちをかけると、レアンドロとの交代出場のパウリーニョがダメ押しの２得点。ゴール前の精度が高まればもっと取れた試合だった。ガンバにとっては残留に向けての大きな１歩となったが、アルディージャとセレッソも共に勝利したため、調子の上がらないアントラーズとヴィッセルと共に、アルビレックスにもプレッシャーがかかってきた。ハイライトは、jsoccer.comで。

ジュビロ磐田０-０アルビレックス新潟
首位争いにとどまろうとするジュビロ、Ｊ１残留に勝ち点３が欲しいアルビレックス、白熱の好試合は両者相譲らず。

セレッソ大阪３-２清水エスパルス
アレックス・ブロスケが倒されて得たＰＫを大前が決め、エスパルスが先制。セレッソは、ケンペスが同点弾を決めると、前半終了直前にはＧＫのはじいたボールを柿谷が叩き込んで逆転。後半に入るとアレックス・ブロスケが見事なＦＫを決め、再度同点に追いつく。しかし終了間際、セレッソはシンプリシオが左からのクロスを右足のボレーで合わせる。来日初ゴールが決勝点となった。セレッソにとっては貴重な勝ち点３、エスパルスにとっては上位３位以内に留まる望みが薄くなる敗戦だった。ハイライトは、jsoccer.comで。

ＦＣ東京１-２川崎フロンターレ
味スタを埋めた３万５戦人の目の前で、後半１分には楠神、９分にはジェシと、フロンターレは10分足らずで２点を連取。東京も、途中出場のエジミウソンのゴールで１点を返したが、時すでに遅し。川崎にとっては安全圏への勝ち点３。

名古屋グランパス１-２サンフレッチェ広島
ハーフタイム直前の清水のゴールで、サンフレッチェ広島は試合の主導権を握る。名古屋も闘莉王のヘディングで同点に追いつくが、広島の底力が出たのは後半ロスタイムだった。途中出場の石原が突破し、右へクロス。駆け上がっていたのはＤＦの森脇。頭で合わせたボールは、楢崎の頭上を越えて、ゴール隅へと吸い込まれた。首位広島、２位仙台が共に勝利し、順位に変動はない。ハイライトは、jsoccer.comで。

サガン鳥栖３-柏レイソル
サガン戦に敗北するということは、柏レイソルにとっては、首位までの勝ち点差が11、ＡＣＬ出場権までの勝ち点差が６と開き、対戦相手のサガン鳥栖との順位も入れ替わってしまうことを意味する。サガン鳥栖は、昨年のレイソルの再現なのか。それとも１期限りの突発的なものなのか。いずれにせよ、2013年度の活躍に期待を持たせて余りある奮闘ぶりではある。試合は、サガンが前半の43分、46分と立て続けにゴール。さらに後半８分の３点目で試合の行方は大方決まってしまう。後半20分、レアンドロドミンゲスの得点はレイソルには逆転への期待をかすかに起させるものだったが、力尽きた。

In the Mix, Reports

J1 Round-Up Matchday 26, September 22nd …

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Consadole Sapporo 0-5 Omiya Ardija
Omiya Ardija surprised no-one by winning at Consadole, even the five goals probably didn’t surprise too many. Consadole will be officially, mathematically in J2 within two games unless they can win a few… but it will just be delaying the inevitable. Is that what Omiya are doing – they won, yes. But so did Cerezo and Gamba…. so no real changes at the bottom! Omiya got the goals from Novakovic (3), Carlinho and Yu Hasegawa.

Kashima Antlers 1-2 Yokohama F.Marinos
Marinos halted their slump with an away win at perennial (but not very good this year) rivals Antlers on goals from Andrew Kumagai and Shunsuke Nakamura. Antlers 95th minute consolation was a way offside tap in from Juninho!

Vegalta Sendai 2-1 Vissel Kobe
Vissel opened the scoring on a pinpoint header from Tashiro early in the game but Vegalta eventually came back into the game through another great header from Akamine. A spectacular, but dangerous, scissor kick from Kamata in injury time won it for Sendai but I’d like to see the referees be a bit stronger and give a free kick for dangerous play, rather than think, wow, what a great goal. Take a look at the highlights elsewhere on jsoccer.com and tell me, would you have stuck your head in there? Inoha certainly didn’t risk it! Highlights elsewhere at jsoccer.com


Urawa Reds 0-5 Gamba Osaka
Gamba Osaka saw the return of Leandro, and the return of goals and winning ways. The relegation-threatened team became J1’s highest scorers (although also J1’s 2nd-worst defence!) with this easy five goal away thrashing of Urawa Reds – putting a huge dent in the Saitama team’s title hopes. Abe opened the scoring in front of over 46,000 fans – about 95% being Reds supporters – with a left foot shot through a forest of legs, Leandro scored a couple of beauties before being replaced by Paulinho late on. The substitute added a couple more late goals but Gamba could have had a few more with better finishing. A huge step toward staying in J1, but with Omiya and Cerezo winning, the pressure is on Albirex now – as well as struggling Antlers and Vissel, perhaps! Highlights elsewhere at jsoccer.com

Jubilo Iwata 0-0 Albirex Niigata
Jubilo looking for a win to stay in the title race. Albirex looking for three points to stay in J1. Stalemate, but an entertaining game, we hear!

Cerezo Osaka 3-2 Shimizu S-Pulse
S-Pulse went ahead, Brosque being upended for a PK which Omae converted. Kempes got the equaliser, and Kakitani got the go-ahead goal in added time of the first half, slotting home a rebound off the keeper. Alex Brosque scored a nice free kick to bring the game level on 70 minutes and then it was Simplicio’s turn to get the winner with a couple of minutes to go. A very important three points for Cerezo, and the end of S-Pulse’s faint hopes of ending in a top 3 place? Highlights elsewhere at jsoccer.com

FC Tokyo 1-2 Kawasaki Frontale
Almost 35,000 fans at Ajinomoto Stadium saw Frontale go two goals up through goals from Kusukami and Jeci in the first ten minutes of the 2nd half. Edmilson, a 75th minute substitute, gave FC Tokyo faint hope with a goal in the 88th minute, but it was too late and Frontale probably made their season safe, if not a little disappointing!

Nagoya Grampus 1-2 Sanfrecce Hiroshima
Sanfrecce Hiroshima took the lead on a superb solo run ans shot from Shimizu five minutes before the break. In some nice symmetry, Tulio equalised five minutes after the break and it was stalemate until deep into injury time when Moriwaki came storming up the filed from his own half to get on the end of a far post cross and send the ball looping back over Narzaki, to creep in under the bar to give Sanfrecce the three points and keep them in the top spot, by two points from Vegalta Sendai, who had also scored a VERY late winner. Highlights elsewhere at jsoccer.com

Sagan Tosu 3-1 Kashiwa Reysol
Defeat at Sagan Tosu leaves Kashiwa Reysol 11 points off the lead and six points out of the ACL places, and also allows Sagan to leapfrog them into 5th place. Sagan are this year’s Reysol? In their furst season in the top flight Sagan have won many friends and surprised many pundits with their results and J1 2013 will be interesting for them! One season wonders, or consolidating and improving? The home team scored three goals between the 43rd and 53rd minutes before Leandro Domingues got one back in the 65th to rekindle some faint hope for Reysol, but no, not today!