Tag Archives: Consadole Sapporo

Previews

Albirex Niigata vs Consadole Sapporo at Tohoku Den 15.30, Dec.1st

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Team News
Albirex Niigata – FW Michel is suspended, GK Higashiguchi and MF Uchida Consadole Sapporo are long-term injuries.
Consadole Sapporo – no suspensions, DF Osanai is out injured, MF Miyazawa is in training but would probably not be risked in a meaningless game?

Head to Head – 5 wins for Albirex, 2 for Consadole and 1 draw. Sapporo’s 2 wins both came in J2 in 2003, though!

Match Preview – it all comes down to this match and Albirex Niigata know they MUST win this match to have any chance of staying in J1. if they can win this and Vissel Kobe AND Gamba Osaka get anything less than wins then Albirex can leap frog those two teams and survive. A tall order but nothing is impossible in the J.League! The fact that they are playing the bottom team, long-relegated, nothing to play for, at home can only help, surely! Two away wins in their last four games has got them to this position, but it is two home defeats in those four games that have kept them down here. Is it a home jinx? Are the fans on their backs? Will the pressure be too much?

Consadole Sapporo have lost their last four, conceding 13 goals in that time and have only pride left to play for. Hang on, maybe they don’t have any pride left? We shall see! 27 defeats out of 33 games is soul-destroying for anyone and being away from home on the final day, they will have few fans to play for. I see a team playing out their final game trying not to concede more goals against a team that are under o much pressure to score, yet have manged only 20 goals in 32 games this season (discounting a freak 5-0 win in there somewhere). EXPECT a low-scoring DRAW and relegation for Albirex.

Previews

J.League J1 preview Matchday 32 – 17:00 Consadole Sapporo vs Sagan Tosu at Sapporo Dome

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Team News
Consadole Sapporo – DF Kushibiki is suspended. DFs Kim and North are still fitness concerns as is FW Uehara.
Sagan Tosu – MF Kim is suspended. DF Yeo is injured.

Head to Head
13 wins for Tosu, 10 for Consadole and 5 draws in ten seasons between these two teams. All in J2 except for Sagan’s home win this season in J1.

Match Preview
What can we say about Consadole Sapporo – possibly the worst team that J1 has seen in it’s two decades of history? 22 goals scored all season, 79 conceded, a goal difference of -57. Can anyone see them winning this game? Famous last words, perhaps, but Sagan Tosu have impressed in their maiden season in J1 and have nothing to lose, no pressure on and most of us watching will expect them to walk this match with ease. That, of course is a dangerous attitude! After being confirmed as relegated Sapporo managed to beat Urawa Reds, away, and it looked as if they were suddenly relaxed, knowing their fate was decided. But that was it, they are back on the losing road now!

Sagan Tosu have a great defence, a strong home record and their supporters are really enjoying their first ever season in J1. There were rumours at the start of the season that their ace striker Toyoda would move to a “bigger” club and they must be grateful he didn’t, having scored 14 goals for his team so far this season. They will be hard-pressed to keep him if bigger clubs come calling, though, after he has proved he CAN do it in J1. If they can keep him, and continue their fine performances, confidence will grow even more and their players will surely believe that they do not need to move to gain success. The final three games are important for Sagan to show they are not in a fluke position. 2 or even 3 wins will top their season perfectly and they will not allow Sapporo to spoil this day. EXPECT a WIN for SAGAN TOSU!

In the Mix, Previews

J1 Preview Nov.7th 19.00 – Sanfrecce Hiroshima vs Consadole Sapporo at Big Arch

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Team News
Sanfrecce Hiroshima – MF Notsuda will miss the game on Japan U-19 duty.
Consadole Sapporo – MF Sakaki will miss the game on Japan U-19 duty. DF North is undergoing tests, FW Maeda may be back from injury, fitness tests.

Head to Head – In 2003 J2 play Sanfrecce won 3 out of 4 then and won their encounter this season in J1. Just the one draw for Consadole in five outings.

Match Preview – who can see anything else but a win for the top team against the bottom team here today? Consadole Sapporo have never beaten Sanfrecce and lost at home, easily, earlier in the season. Sapporo’s injury list is still long, but shortening slowly, and Kondo and Maeda, if fit, would be adecent forward line, but ateam that has scored just 22 goals all season against a Sanfrecce team that has conceded just 31? Don’t expect an away win here today!

Sanfrecce Hiroshima know they MUST put the wins together in the final month of the season to ward off Vegalta Sendai and, who knows, S-Pulse – if they put a decent run together. Simply put, wins for Sanfrecce (and Vegalta) mean S-Pulse can not catch them. One less team to worry about on the final day?! Surely Sanfrecce won’t waste this chance to keep the pressure up on those chasing them, and, perhaps to improve their goal difference at the same time?! Bad timing on transfer rumours that Moriwaki has been approached by Urawa Reds – perhaps intentionally released by Reds! Hopefully, for Sanfrecce fans, that won’t unsettle the, EXPECT a WIN for SANFRECCE HIROSHIMA!

Previews

J1 Preview – Sat. October 27th – 17:00 FC Tokyo v. Consadole Sapporo at Ajinomoto Stadium

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Team News – FC Tokyo – MF Hasegawa is suspended, MF Hashimoto will miss the game on Japan U-19 duty. DF Ota and MF Kaga are back in training and could be selected. DF Hiramatsu and MF Otake are long term injuries.
Consadole Sapporo – DF Kushibiki is suspended. MF Sakaki will miss the game on Japan U-19 duty. FW Kondo is back in training but not match fit.

Head to Head – Three wins for Tokyo, just one for Consadole and a draw in only five previous meetings.

Match Preview – FC Tokyo find themselves JUST clear of the relegation zone in a season that promised so much. Just like Reysol, perhaps, they suffered from an ACL campaign stretching their resources, as well as a glut of injuries not helping. They have won only one in their last five, while their opponents today have suddenly found their shooting boots – winning one and drawing the other of their two games since relegation was confirmed. On 41 points, and with a goal difference of minus 4, FC Tokyo can not be said to have set the season alight and may find themselves below Cerezo Osaka by the end of the day.

Consadole Sapporo seem to have had a load lifted by being relegated – it can’t get any worse, it would seem and they have relaxed. They’ve also cleared a few of their injuries up and could / should be planning for a season in J2 already. That does not necessarily mean Tele and Ramon should be playing! I feel that Sapporo have relaxed a little and now feel no pressure, while FC Tokyo are in a slump, lacking confidence and cohesion . . . EXPECT a WIN for CONSADOLE SAPPORO!

In the Mix, Reports

J1 Matchday 29 Round-Up

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

Table, as always, at http://www.jsoccer.com/tables/

It gets ever-more tight in J1 after this weekend’s results after Sanfrecce Hiroshima – sitting atop the league with a five point lead two games back – losing, at home to Kashiwa Reysol, and finding they are now on top on goal difference alone. Meanwhile 2nd placed Vegalta Sendai took out 3rd placed Urawa Reds (3-2) to, realistically make the race for the Championship a two horse race now but, as we all know in J.League, anything can still happen! Shimizu S-Pulse fans will be hoping, no perhaps that should be dreaming that the unexpected CAN occur as they close in on Urawa Reds, albeit with a home draw (1-1) against Vissel Kobe. With a win, S-Pulse might still be dreaming of a final run that brings them the title, but now, they probably have to settle for stealing that 3rd spot off Reds?! BUt, Kashiwa Reysol’s win over the top team meant that they sneaked into 4th spot and are also ready to attack Reds’ position.

Moving on down J1, Nagoya battered Sagan’s usually impregnable home fortress and took all three points (1-3) tp push them down into 9th spot, while Jubilo were indeed battered by Yokohama F.Marinos in a 4-0 win that could well have been 6 or 8-0 from many accounts. Marinos (7th) moved above Iwata (8th) with that win, albeit by just one point, and having equal goal difference.

The mid-table match-up – and mid-table is a compliment / testament to Cerezo, after their season! – ended 1-1, points shared and those teams are in 10th (Tokyo) and 11th (Cerezo) position. Moving into the relegation dogfight, Cerezo on 39 points couldn’t possibly go down now (could they!?) and sitting on the same points total are Kawasaki Frontale, who were beaten at home in a see-saw 3-2 defeat by Gamba Osaka, who have now scored 58 goals (four more than top dogs Sanfrecce!) but have a goal difference of +1! The win was vital for Gamba, as it pulled them to within one point of safety as Omiya Ardija and Albirex Niigata fought out a 1-1 draw. Omiya remain one spot (and one point) above Gamba, but have a 15 goal deficit in the goal difference category, compared to the Osaka team! Could be very important on that final day!

To round off the matches, Kashima Antlers, after “winning” an away point in a scoreless draw in Sapporo, are still not mathematically safe, having 38 points to their name, while that away point at an in-form S-Pulse was vital for Vissel, who sit in 14th position, just one, two and three points clear of Ardija, Gamba and Albirex respectively. It looks as if J1 will be going down to the final day at the top AND the bottom?!

In the Mix, Previews

Matchday 29 – JSoccer Magazine Previews J1 Saturday October 20th

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13:00 Vegalta Sendai vs. Urawa Reds at Yurtec.S – Reds to Kill Off Sendai Title Hopes?

Urawa Reds need a win to match the 51 points of Vegalta Sendai – a loss and they go six points back with just five games to go. They’d probably have to give up on their championship hopes so need at least a draw, but preferably a win. Sanfrecce will probably be hoping for a draw or, perhaps a Reds win.

On Sendai’s side, a win will give them 54 points, which is what Sanfrecce sit on now – it’s tight at the top and points will be at a premium in the coming month. Reds have lost two of their last three, while Vegalta have lost two of their last four … both teams need some consistency to finish the season to overtake Sanfrecce. Something’s gotta give in this match, and I think that will be Vegalta.

Reds need a goalscorer, instead of relying on last-gasp goals from Popo, but they’ll do enough in this match – EXPECT a WIN for URAWA REDS!

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14:00 Yokohama F.Marinos vs. Jubilo Iwata at Nissan.S – Bore Draw in Order Today?

One of the best defences in J1 at home, entertaining one of the best attacks in the league? Or alternatively, Marinos don’t score too many, while Jubilo have conceded quite a few. Anything could happen! Since their extended unbeaten run came to and end Marinos have gone downhill, boring even their own fans. They’ve won one in their last five and are in No-Man’s land on 40 points.

Having said that, Jubilo are only two points ahead, but four spaces up and were stung by S-Pulse in the Shizuoka Derby last time out. They will be missing international forward Maeda to injury and may struggle to break down this stubborn Marinos defence. Nothing less than a win for either team would be enough to keep them in touch with that 3rd spot and an ACL place in 2013. But I feel this will be a DRAW! Not enough for either team!

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15:00 Omiya Ardija vs. Albirex Niigata at NACK5.S – A Point Each for Relegation Battlers?

This match really is the proverbial relegation dogfight six-pointer. While Albirex have scored only 22 goals (five of them in that one wild game against Grampus), Ardija have just 28, we shouldn’t expect a goalfest! Added to that Albirex have conceded only one more goal than leaders Sanfrecce, BUT have lost their ‘keeper Higashiguchi for the season, and much longer.

Omiya Ardija have been close to relegation over and over, that experience MAY come in useful. They have won two and drawn three of their last five games – an unbeaten run that has seen them move out of the bottom three, just. Albirex have also turned it around with three draws and a win in their last four… it looks very much to me like a DRAW today!

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15:00 Kawasaki Frontale vs. Gamba Osaka at Todoroki – Gamba to Earn Vital Win!
Gamba Osaka will feel hard done by after their loss at Sendai last league match and find themselves three points adrift of safety with the two teams above them playing each other. Gamba are the highest scorers in J1 but also have the second-worst defence in the division, but Kawasaki Frontale are not the best team to take advantage of that.

While Frontale managed to win two out of their last three to hit 39 points and be very close to safety. They lost on a single goal to Reysol last time out and, while their injury woes have cleared up, their teamwork has not really gelled all season … coach Kazama may be looking for a new job next season even if he racks up a few wins before the end of the season.

The desperation of Gamba Osaka will trump the average season that Frontale are having and, presuming that talisman Leandro is fit and raring to go, expect a VITAL WIN for GAMBA OSAKA!

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15:00 Shimizu S-Pulse vs. Vissel Kobe at OUTSOURCING.S – S-Pulse Hangover? Or Extended Run of Success?

Shimizu S-Pulse beat off FC Tokyo for a place in the Nabisco Cup Final last weekend and will either be on a high ready to add to their three wins in-a-row, including that semi-final OR they’ll be hungover from the celebrations and succumb to a Vissel Kobe that REALLY needs the points! Will they build on that today?

Vissel Kobe have been hit by centre back problems, with Kitamoto suspended and Inoha returning from national team duty to report he is three weeks out of the game. They also have Tashiro in and out of the treatment room up front, and Okubo confirmed as missing at least two weeks. It’s time for a big game from Tokura, and Vissel have to pray that the error-prone Takagi is on form if he is selected as a cover centre back today.

Both teams have been rebuilding and, with some luck it could have been Vissel in that top six spot but, instead, they find themselves fighting relegation and need the win. Do they need it more than S-Pulse? EXPECT a DRAW! Shared spoils.

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15:00 Sagan Tosu vs. Nagoya Grampus at Saga – Sagan Home Form to Return!

Just a single point separates these teams in 7th and 8th places and Sagan’s home fortress has been breached recently, although they have still conceded only 30 goals in their maiden J1 season so far and have out-paced all the critics’ expectations, but are fading now as the season draws to a close. Cerezo Osaka took them out last game and they will want to show their home fans that they have not given up on their season yet.

Even though they have only scored four goals in the last five games, two of those were wins… they have lost two of their last three, though, including that confidence-killing 5-0 defeat from Albirex Niigata. Three or four wins in their final month could give them an air of respectability, while three or four losses would see them in the bottom half… what do they have left in them? They will miss Josh Kennedy if he continues to suffer from those back injuries but Tamada, Nagai et al should take on the goalscoring and creating among themselves.

EXPECT a WIN for SAGAN TOSU!

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16:00 Consadole Sapporo vs. Kashima Antlers at Atsubetsu – Surely Sapporo Can’t Win Two In-a-Row!

Last time out in J1 everyone had Consadole Sapporo down for a thrashing at the hands of Urawa Reds, but the surprise of the day, week, month (season?) saw Reds capitulate to the already-relegated team – at home! Once the “relief” of knowing their destiny sweeps over a doomed team, perhaps a change takes place! Could they win another? They’d have to go against history, having never even gained a point against today(s opponents in the past, but nothing is impossible, is it!?

Kashima Antlers made short work of Reysol last week in their Nabisco Cup semi-final and thrashed FC Tokyo 5-1 in their last league match, their up and down season will be on an up this time out and they’ll be hoping to continue their run with a win against Consadole. Osako got back among the goals recently and, with Maeda injured and Havenaar not having the best games in the national team jersey, perhaps Osaka will feel the chance to attract the eye of national team coach Alberto Zaccheroni over the next month or so – it’s now or never, Osako! EXPECT a WIN for KASHIMA ANTLERS!

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18:00 Cerezo Osaka vs. FC Tokyo at KINCHO.S – Cerezo to Continue Rise!

Cerezo Osaka are on the up – four wins in their last five games have taken them to the brink of safety. Re-hired coach Levir Culpi has almost completed his job and will be on his way in early December, leaving a space for a new coach – who that is, and whether Cerezo can hold on to their players for 2013 will decide the future of the team. They will give their all to get the win that will almost guarantee safety.

FC Tokyo have lost two of their last three and sit two points above Cerezo on the 40 points that probably does see them safe, but losing to Cerezo will dent the confidence indeed. Morishige is an influential player to lose on an away trip to a team in form and coach Popovic has not yet shown enough faith in Vucicevic to give him the start, but he looks more the apart than Edmilson – a stopgap at best? I EXPECT a WIN for CEREZO OSAKA!

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19:00 Sanfrecce Hiroshima vs. Kashiwa Reysol at Hiroshima.B – Sanfrecce to Consolidate Top Spot.

Sanfrecce Hiroshima are unbeaten in their last five and showing the form that should keep their head above water if it continues … with the two teams closest to them playing each other it is their chance to pull away from at least one of them, perhaps both – if there is a draw there! They are reporting no new injuries and have no suspensions and will be confident and ready to consolidate their place at the top. Losing this game will be a tragedy and they will NOT let that happen. Sato will be buoyed by his recognition of national team selection – although he didn’t play on the European tour – and will be on a high that his team will join.

Kashiwa Reysol have lost three of their last four – including a Nabisco Cup semi-final against Kashima Antlers and are missing Leandro Domingues and the reliable Sugai, they realistically have nothing left to play for? Six points out of 3rd place and playing the top team today, they can expect little chance of bouncing back from their cup defeat here today. With Sanfrecce knowing how much this game means I can’t see anything other than a WIN for SANFRECCE HIROSHIMA!

Follow Alan on Twitter @JSoccerMagazine

In the Mix, Previews

J1 Preview – Urawa Reds vs Consadole Sapporo at Saitama Stadium – Oct.6, Matchday 28

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Team News
Urawa Reds – only the long-term injury of Naoki Yamada is affecting Reds this week.
Consadole Sapporo – FW Maeda is facing a fitness test, FW Tele is doubtful.

Head to Head – In J1 2008 home and away Reds won both games, and this season Reds won the away match – that’s all there is between these two teams!

Match Preview – Consadole Sapporo were mathematically relegated last weekend, with 7 games to go. 70 goals conceded, just 20 scored, and showing a goal difference of minus 50, this must be the game that Urawa Reds make the 2nd spot their own. With me expecting Vegalta Sendai to falter again against Gamba, Reds can rack up some goals today and pull back some of the 12 goals that separate their goal difference from Vegalta’s, ready to take 2nd and start putting pressure on Sanfrecce for the top spot. Despite scoring only 37 goals all season, and having that 5-0 home loss to Gamba to think about, Reds are still in position to make a grab for the title. Imagine if they’d had a decent all-out centre forward who could score goals this season (Leandro and Reds? What a combination that might have been!). There is no reason to look at the chances of Consadole in this game, unless we think that, now that they’ve been relegated the pressure is off?!! Didn’t think so? If Haraguchi can keep his mind on the game after being subbed very early last week, and the midfield boys provide the chances (and convert them) EXPECT a high-scoring WIN for URAWA REDS!

Previews

J1 Preview – Sat. Sept.15th – 19:00 Kashiwa Reysol vs Consadole Sapporo at Kashiwa

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Kashiwa Reysol – apart from three goalkeepers on the injury list, nothing else to report.
Consadole Sapporo – FW Tele is out, MF Ramon is doubtful. DF Kim is reported injured, adding to a long injury list.

6 wins for Reysol, 3 for Consadole and 2 draws – Sapporo’s last win was in 2008

Consadole Sapporo are all but mathematically down and the injuries keep mounting up, even new players they brought in in – Tele and Ramon – are suffering the jinx! Up against a high-scoring Kashiwa Reysol, at full strength the Consadole defence – having already conceded 61 goals in their 24 games – will find it hard to keep a clean sheet, and, once they go behind, they’ll lave even more space at the back for Kashiwa to exploit. The likes of Jorge Wagner and Leandro Domingues excel at finding space for their forwards to exploit and Sawa, Kudo and Tanaka all take chances regularly.

Hopefully, for Reysol fans, the acquisition of Neto Baiano will not upset the rhythm up front and / or cause a rift in the team who were scoring regularly already, without bringing in a player half way through the season?

There can be no other result today that A WIN for KASHIWA REYSOL!

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!

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