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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 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