Tag Archives: Osaka
J1/J2/J3 Results for the weekend just gone …
J.League Division 1, Sunday, 5th October
Kashima Antlers 2-3 Gamba Osaka
Shimizu S-Pulse 3-0 Cerezo Osaka
Urawa Reds 2-1 Tokushima Vortis
Vissel Kobe 1-3 Nagoya Grampus
Sagan Tosu 1-0 Yokohama F•Marinos
Kashiwa Reysol 0-0 Sanfrecce Hiroshima
Vegalta Sendai 1-0 FC Tokyo
Ventforet Kofu 0-1 Omiya Ardija
Albirex Niigata 3-0 Kawasaki Frontale
J.League Division 2, Saturday, 4th October
Tochigi SC 2-1 Kyoto Sanga
V-Varen Nagasaki 1-1 Fagiano Okayama
Tokyo Verdy 1-0 Roasso Kumamoto
Yokohama FC 0-2 Matsumoto Yamaga
Oita Trinita 2-0 Jubilo Iwata
Kamatamare Sanuki 1-0 Thespakusatsu Gunma
JEF United Chiba 3-0 Avispa Fukuoka
FC Gifu 1-0 Montedio Yamagata
Mito HollyHock 0-0 Consadole Sapporo
Giravanz Kitakyushu 2-2 Kataller Toyama
Shonan Bellmare 3-0 Ehime FC
J3 League
Saturday, October 4th
Zweigen Kanazawa 2-1 YSCC Yokohama
Sunday, October 5th
Fukushima United 2-0 Blaublitz Akita
Machida Zelvia 1-2 Gainare Tottori
SC Sagamihara 1-1 FC Ryukyu
Grulla Morioka 0-2 Fujieda MYFC
AC Nagano Parceiro 5-0 J.League U22 Select
TRANSFER NEWS – Gamba Osaka Round-Up
Gamba Osaka Transfer Update – January 10th
As we prepare for a new season the transfer “Ins and Outs” will be updated in Japanese on the News page regularly as soon as the news comes in. Meanwhile, we will give you weekly updates in English with a round-up of what’s happened so far. Here’s a catch-up:
Kenta HASEGAWA has been appointed team manger (“kantoku”) for the 2013 season. Masanobu MATSUNAMI becomes the first “GAMBAssador” for the club, reflecting his long service of Gamba Osaka.
Shohei OTSUKA’s loan period at JEF United became a full transfer.
Shunya SUGANUMA’s loan period at Jubilo Iwata also became a full transfer for the centre back.
Hayatao SASAKI was released and has joined Vegalta Sendai on a full transfer.
Akihiro IENAGA sees his loan period at Gamba extended until June 30th.
Sota NAKAZAWA has made a full transfer to Kawasaki Frontale.
Shigeru YOKOTANI has gone on loan to Kyoto Sanga.
Kohei KAWATA has gone on loan to Ventforet Kofu.
Shinichi TERADA has signed for Yokohama FC on a full transfer after his loan period(s) there.
OH Jae-Suk, a 22-year-old full back, has been signed from Gangwon FC in South Korea – he is a Korean Under 23 international.
Rumours abound but nothing official yet on the fact that Fujiharu and Kurata have been convinced to stay, or that Iwashita has been signed on a full transfer and, of course we await confirmation (or not) of the fate of Leandro, Endo and Konno – all of who are said to be staying by various newspapers so far!
… and finally … Takahiro Futagawa got married! Congratulations to him and his bride!
Cerezo Osaka vs Kawasaki Frontale at Nagai 15.30, Dec.1st
Team News
Cerezo Osaka – MF Yamaguchi is suspended. MFs Yoshino and Maruhashi are injured.
Kawasaki Frontale – DFs Jeci and Komiyama injured, DF Morishita is back from injury but not match fit, no suspensions.
Head to Head – 5 wins for Kawasaki, 3 for Cerezo and 2 draws in 10 games since 2005, but Cerezo have not won since early 2006.
Match Preview – Cerezo Osaka are in trouble – not as much trouble as the two teams who will be trying their best to overhaul them of course – but, after bringing in Levir Culpi to save their J1 status, presuming they were safe after three 3-2 wins in-a-row, offering the Brazilian a contract to manage them next season, they have gone five matches with just two points to show from them and they can still drop to J2 with wins from Gamba and Vissel and a loss today for the pink half of Osaka! Last week they were destroyed by Sanfrecce, who clinched the Championship with their 4-1 win. They’ll be without three midfielders and under pressure in front of a nervous crowd.
Kawasaki Frontale have had an inconsistent season of ups and downs. A good start, and then good and bad spells from coach Kazama’s team have frustrated fans and team alike but they are now on a good spell to end the season – three wins in a row and ten goals in their last four games – and are hoping to finish the season on a high. A win for Frontale could, depending on results around them, see them finish in the top 6, a great incentive to finish off the season in style! EXPECT a WIN for KAWASAKI FRONTALE!
Jubilo Iwata vs Gamba Osaka at Yamaha 15.30, Dec.1st
Team News
Jubilo Iwata – no suspensions, MF Matsuoka injured, but MF Baek reported as recovered but still doubtful to start.
Gamba Osaka – DF Iwashita is suspended. GK Kimura is back in training after a broken leg. DF Kaji and FW Sato out for the season.
Head to Head – 9 wins for Gamba, 7 for Jubilo and 4 draws in 20 meetings since 2003.
Match Preview – While Jubilo Iwata haven’t won since a fortunate victory over Vissel Kobe in mid-September their J1 place was assured for 2013 on other results of the teams around them. The loss of Baek in their midfield has hit them big time and the team will be looking forward to a new season to restart. The home fans will be frustrated and loud in their final game – it may go against them. The Maeda curse may be in effect!! (Look it up!)
Gamba Osaka simply MUST win this game AND hope that two of Albirex, Vissel and Cerezo lose their games. Their injuries have finally cleared up and CB Nakazawa returned last week, just in time for the suspension of Iwashita. This game promises goals – Gamba are top scorers in J1 (believe it or not!), while Jubilo have hit 55 goals this season, the teams attacks have managed 121 goals between them. On the other hand these two teams have conceded 105 goals between them. Yes, that is 226 goals in 66 games! Jubilo Iwata have little to play for and are in a huge depression, Gamba have their survival to play for and, even a win does not guarantee safety, but they WILL go for it! EXPECT a highscoring WIN for GAMBA OSAKA!
J.League J1 Preview Matchday 32 – 17:00 Cerezo Osaka vs Omiya Ardija at Kincho
Team News
Cerezo Osaka – FW Bando is suspended. MF Yoshino out until next season. FWs Sugimoto and Kakitani are injury doubts.
Omiya Ardija report no injuries, and there are no suspensions.
Head to Head
6 wins for Ardija, 4 for Cerezo and 2 draws in 12 meetings between these teams since 2004.
Match Preview
Cerezo are all but mathematically certain of safety and have rewarded coach Culpi with a new and improved contract for 2013, even though he left for a break earlier this season! The fact that they have little to play for may see them surprised by the ferocity of the away team here today, who will be fighting for survival. The most hardcore of Cerezo fans might even be wishing for a defeat today, in order to put their Osaka city rivals – Gamba – under more relegation pressure! But that surely wouldn’t spread to the feelings of the players!? Although their last three games have been draws, there were two wins preceding those so their five game unbeaten run looks to have given them confidence. Will it be enough today?
Omiya Ardija have pulled off some excellent, and somewhat surprising results recently, after many thought they were dead, buried and J2-bound and are also – like Cerezo – unbeaten in five matches, all be it with four of them draws! Whatever! Every point helps in the battle against relegation but they will struggle to find three points here today. London Olympian HIgashi’s form has suffered since his return from London and big signing Cho has not done it at all this season. If they win this, and escape J2 it will be a miracle, but their fans are used to this!! EXPECT a WIN for CEREZO OSAKA!
J.League J1 Preview Matchday 32 – 17:00 Shimizu S-Pulse vs Gamba Osaka at Outsourcing
Team News
Gamba Osaka – DF Kaji and FW Sato out for the season, and more.
Shimizu S-Pulse – No injuries reported, no suspensions.
Head to Head
11 wins for Gamba, 4 for S-Pulse and 6 draws since 2004.
Match Preview
Shimizu S-Pulse have disappointed in recent weeks – losing in the Nabisco Cup Final to Antlers, and then going down to a shock home defeat last time out to Albirex Niigata. Their hopes of finishing in 2rd place have been dented and they will be looking to get back on the winning road and staying in touch with the other teams fighting it out for that 3rd place. In other news there is interest from German clubs for striker Omae and he may be leaving . . not a good start to keeping this team together.
Gamba Osaka have held Sanfrecce Hiroshima and ACL-chasing Kashiwa Reysol in their last games and are more than capable of getting maximum points here today, especially if Leandro is fit and on form – he will be the man that S-Pulse will be watching very carefully, and the fitness – or rather lack of full fitness – on the part of Calvin Jong-a-Pin may well be the difference in that duel. S-Pulse are a young team, who have lost a cup final, and then a league game against lower opposition recently, they will not have the experience and will find it difficult to handle the pressure from a very experienced club like Gamba Osaka, who will be giving everything in their desperate attempt to fight relegation! EXPECT a WIN for GAMBA OSAKA!
J1 Preview Nov.7th 19.00 – Kashiwa Reysol vs Gamba Osaka at Kashiwa
Team News
Kashiwa Reysol – DF Kondo still out injured. MF Mizuno out for a month. DF Yamanaka will miss the game on Japan U-19 duty.
Gamba Osaka – Kaji rejoined the injury list. FW Sato is out until next season. DF Nakazawa, GK Kimura both out with broken legs. FW Kawanishi back in contention for a place after being out all season.
Head to Head – Just one draw in 17 meetings between these two teams since 2003! 10 wins for Gamba, 6 for Reysol. Kashiwa have won the last three matches!
Match Preview – While Kashiwa Reysol harbour slim hopes of an ACL-qualifying 3rd place finish, they have had to do without talismanic 2011 J1 MVP Leandro Domingues. Say what you like about the Brazilian, he pulls this team up from avaerage when he plays. Whether he returns for this game may be the key to whather Reysol get anything from a team that will give its all. They seem too reliant on their two decent Brazilians! Their third Brazilian Neto Baiano should not be relied on for anything!
Gamba Osaka know that a defeat could well seal their fate, as they may find themselves 5 or 6 points adrift of safety with just three games to play after today. Sure they are top scorers in J1, but their defence is the second-worst after Consadole Sapporo and that is what has let them down this season. Whether J1 or J2 next season, a rebuilding must begin, starting with a goalkeeper – they were unfortunate that the keeper promoted to the 1st XI this season broke a leg just weeks into the season and hit them hard, but this aging team need leadership and, if it wasn’t for Leandro, they’d already be relegated. EXPECT a WIN for GAMBA OSAKA, especially if Leandro is in for them, and Reysol’s Leandro is out!
J1 Preview Nov.7th 19.00 – Vegalta Sendai vs Cerezo Osaka at Yurtec
Team News – Cerezo Osaka – no players suspended, no injuries reported!
Vegalta Sendai – DF/MF Kakuda is suspended. No reported injuries.
Head to Head – 2009 J2 since Cerezo won this match. In 19 games since 2003, Sendai have won 9, Cerezo 5, with 5 draws.
Match Preview – Vegalta Sendai know that the J.League Championship is, again, in their own hands. Repeated dropped points by all three top teams has left the title race close and, with four games to go, the top two teams are still locked together, clear of the chasing Urawa Reds. But Shimizu S-Pulse may yet have a say! Cerezo are in better form that Vegalta, and, barring ridiculous mathematical combinations of results, must be safe. So no pressure and a good game from them or no pressure, so they relax and give it away. Which Cerezo will turn up today?
Vegalta Sendai have home advantage and know they MUST win this, considering that their rivals for the title have Consadole Sapporo as opponents today. Akamine is in fine form and Wilson has found his touch again, recently. Surprisingly enough, Vegalta do not seem to have missed the in and out form (and injury) of Sekiguchi, who was touted as the next player to go overseas last season. Tehir deoth may help in the last few games. EXPECT a WIN for VEGALTA SENDAI!
J1 Preview – Sat. October 27th – 14:00 Gamba Osaka v. Sanfrecce Hiroshima at Banpaku Stadium
Team News – Gamba Osaka – MF Kurata is suspended. FW Sato is out for at least six months with cruciate ligament injury.
Sanfrecce Hiroshima – MF Notsuda will miss the game on Japan U-19 duty.
Head to Head – 12 wins for Gamba, five for Sanfrecce and four draws over the last decade.
Match Preview – Gamba took a big away win at Frontale last week, and added it to big away wins over the likes of Reds and Grampus BUT they seem to struggle more at home. With five games to go the away days may be easier on the players, with less fans on their backs if things go wrong? An early goal will settle the fans – if it’s for Gamba! otherwise, expect a tough time … and, let’s face it, even if Gamba score early, they won’t keep a clean sheet, will they? This will not be a 1-0 win! Gamba suffered a blow when they lost FW Sato to a knee injury until well into 2013, but Ienaga stepped up with two goals last weekend and looks to be settling in nicely, finally.
Sanfrecce Hiroshima have suffered the curse of the top team more than once this season. It struck again last week, the team going down to a last-gasp winner for Reysol, at home and will be looking to make amends and stay clear of Vegalta Sendai, albeit on goal difference only, if both teams win this time around. We are looking at the two biggest scorers in J1 (Gamba with 57, trump Sanfrecce’s 54) so I believe we can EXPECT a HIGH-SCORING DRAW today!
