Japan's World Cup campaign set to kick-off

Japan begin their quest to qualify for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa when they meet Thailand at Saitama Stadium tonight.

The Blue Samurai warmed up for the fixture by recording a 0-0 draw with Chile at the National Stadium in Tokyo on January 26, before beating Bosnia and Herzegovina 3-0 at the same venue four days later.

Koji Yamase came off the bench to score twice against Bosnia and Herzegovina, but the Yokohama F. Marinos star is not expected to start against Thailand.

19-year-old Kashima Antlers youngster Atsuto Uchida is widely expected to feature in the run-on side in place of experienced Gamba Osaka defender Akira Kaji.

Coach Takeshi Okada has also named a 35-man interim squad for the upcoming East Asian Championship in China.

Kashima midfielder Mitsuo Ogasawara was a notable omission, while there was a surprise recall for Alessandro Santos, who recently rejoined Urawa Reds after spending a season at Austrian club Salzburg.

Okada looks set to become embroiled in a club versus country row with Urawa Reds coach Holger Osieck. The German-born Osieck has asked for the club's new star signing Naohiro Takahara to be excused from the East Asian Championship, with another long J-League campaign set to kick-off in March.

Japan kick-off their East Asian Championship campaign against DPR Korea on February 17, before they take on hosts China and finish off with a clash against arch-rivals Korea Republic.

Pan-Pacific Championship

The inaugural Pan-Pacific Championship gets under way in Hawaii on February 20, with J-League side Gamba Osaka set to take on David Beckham's Los Angeles Galaxy, in a match that is sure to generate plenty of interest in Japan.

The other clash sees fellow MLS side Houston Dynamo take on either Sydney FC or Queensland Roar, with the outcome of the A-League finals series set to determine which Australian team makes the trip to Hawaii.

The respective winners of the two matches meet in the tournament final on February 23.

Japanese Players Overseas

Shunsuke Nakamura and Koki Mizuno : Celtic

Shunsuke Nakamura has returned from a knee injury that plagued him towards the end of 2007 and was instrumental in Celtic's recent 5-1 Scottish Cup thrashing of Kilmarnock at Rugby Park. New signing Koki Mizuno was not included in the squad having only just completed his move from JEF United.

Tsuneyasu Miyamoto : Salzburg

With Alessandro Santos having rejoined former club Urawa Reds, ex-Gamba Osaka defender Tsuneyasu Miyamoto is now the sole Japanese player at Austrian club Salzburg. Miyamoto is currently injured and is unlikely to feature in the Salzburg starting eleven when the Austrian Bundesliga resumes on February 15.

Daisuke Matsui : Le Mans

Former Kyoto Sanga FC man Daisuke Matsui is enjoying a stellar season in the French Ligue 1, and he scored the winner in Le Mans' 1-0 win over glamour side AS Monaco last weekend.

Shinji Ono : VfL Bochum

Injury-plagued former Japan international Shinji Ono has joined Bundesliga club VfL Bochum from 2006 J-League champions Urawa Reds, and the ex-international made a dream start, coming off the bench to set up both goals in Bochum's come-from-behind win over high fliers Werder Bremen at the weekend.

Naoya Kikuchi : Carl Zeiss Jena

Former Jubilo Iwata star Naoya Kikuchi injured ligaments in training shortly after signing for 2.Bundesliga strugglers Carl Zeiss Jena. The midfielder, who is serving a year long domestic ban after his arrest for having sex with a 15-year-old-school girl last year, is expected to miss between four to six weeks of action for his new club.

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J-League Fixture List announced

The 2008 J-League fixture list has been announced, with the season kicking off on March 8 and winding up on December 6 after 34 rounds of matches.

The highlight match of the opening round is the clash between heavyweights Yokohama F. Marinos and Urawa Reds at Nissan Stadium.

Kashima Antlers kick-off their title defence by hosting J2 champions Consadole Sapporo in their opening fixture at Kashima Stadium.

The second week of action sees Consadole Sapporo host Yokohama F. Marinos at the Sapporo Dome, whilst Urawa take on a much-changed Nagoya Grampus FC at Saitama Stadium in their first home match of the season.

As usual the Golden Week holiday period is an action-packed affair, with the pick of the fixtures the Shizuoka Derby between bitter rivals Shimizu S-Pulse and Jubilo Iwata on May 3.

Omiya Ardija will host city rivals Urawa Reds at the newly renovated NACK5 Stadium on September 20, with Omiya sacrificing a big payday at the gate in favour of home advantage, having switched this fixture from the much larger Saitama Stadium.

The fixture list is subject to change as a result of the Beijing Olympic Games, whilst qualification for the 2010 FIFA World Cup also takes place throughout the season.

League Cup Fixture List announced

The draw for the 2008 League Cup has also been announced, with the group stage kicking off on March 20 and wrapping up on June 8.

Group A
Nagoya Grampus FC
Kyoto Sanga FC
Urawa Reds
Vissel Kobe

Group B
Tokyo Verdy
FC Tokyo
Shimizu S-Pulse
Jubilo Iwata

Group C
Kawasaki Frontale
JEF United
Kashiwa Reysol
Consadole Sapporo

Group D
Yokohama F. Marinos
Oita Trinita
Alberix Niigata
Omiya Ardija

Defending champions Gamba Osaka and J-League champions Kashima Antlers enter the competition at the quarter-final stage.

Transfers

Urawa Reds have pulled off a major coup by signing Japan international Naohiro Takahara from Bundesliga outfit Eintracht Frankfurt for a fee of around 180 million yen.

Takahara joins fellow new arrival Edmilson, who was signed from Albirex Niigata to replaced the departed Washington. Also joining the Reds is highly-rated midfielder Tsukasa Umesaki, whose arrival from Oita Trinita reputedly cost Urawa in excess of 200 million yen. Makoto Hasebe departs in the opposite direction, having signed a deal with ambitious German side VfL Wolfsburg.

Reigning champions Kashima Antlers have been quiet on the transfer front, bringing in Masahiko Inoha from FC Tokyo whilst farewelling former club captain Atsushi Yanagisawa, who has signed for newly promoted Kyoto Sanga FC.

Chiba side JEF United have lost no less than five frontline players for the 2008 season. Koki Mizuno is set to join Scottish side Celtic, whilst Japan internationals Naotake Hanyu and Satoru Yamagishi have joined FC Tokyo and Kawasaki Frontale respectively. Hiroki Mizumoto has left for Gamba Osaka, whilst former captain Yuto Sato has departed for Kyoto Sanga FC.

Elsewhere the other major signings so far have seen Japan international Yuichi Komano join Jubilo Iwata from relegated Sanfrecce Hiroshima, Brazilian playmaker Magnum makes the switch from Kawasaki Frontale to Nagoya Grampus FC - who saw Keisuke Honda recently sign for Dutch side VV Venlo, Lucas Severino leaves FC Tokyo for Gamba Osaka, whilst Shimizu S-Pulse have signed a trio of highly-rated youngsters in Genki Omae, Shinji Tsujio and Takuya Honda, the latter of whom will hope to be named in the Japan Olympic Games squad later this season.

AFC Champions League

Three Japanese teams will take part in the 2008 AFC Champions League, with the competition's defending champions Urawa Reds entering at the quarter-final stage.

Last year's J-League champions Kashima Antlers will be confident of topping a group that contains Chinese side Beijing Guoan, Thai outfit Krung Thai Bank FC and Vietnamese side Nam Dinh FC.

Gamba Osaka face a much tougher-task when they take on 2006 A-League champions Melbourne Victory, Korean FA Cup winners Chunnam Dragons and Thai side Chonburi FC.

Copyright © Michael Tuckerman & Soccerphile.com

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Kashima Antlers win the Emperor's Cup to claim the double in Japan

Kashima Antlers claimed a League and Cup double by lifting the season-ending Emperor's Cup in front of a sell-out crowd of 46,357 fans at the National Stadium in Tokyo.

The Ibaraki giants never looked threatened after they opened the scoring in the eighth minute, when young defender Atsuto Uchida thumped an unstoppable drive into the far corner of Hiroshima shot-stopper Takashi Shimoda's goal.

Hiroshima were missing highly-rated youngster Yosuke Kashiwagi through suspension, after he picked up a yellow card in the southern club's 3-1 semi-final defeat of Gamba Osaka three days earlier. The Japan u-23 international was sorely missed, as Hiroshima rarely pressured newly crowned J-League champions Kashima, who beat Kawasaki Frontale 1-0 to reach the Emperor's Cup final.

A comfortable Kashima victory was completed when veteran striker Atsushi Yanagisawa came off the bench to set-up fellow substitute Danilo with a cushioned pass, with the former Sao Paulo midfielder fairly lashing the ball beyond Shimoda to end the scoring.

The win capped a remarkable season for Kashima - who won the treble in 2000 when they added the League Cup crown to their J-League and Emperor's Cup trophies, and who claimed the double in 2007 following their unlikely J-League triumph.

Kashima will take on Chinese side Beijing Guoan, Vietnamese outfit Nam Dinh FC and Thai team Krung Thai Bank in the group stage of the 2008 AFC Champions League, having ended the long Japanese campaign as the premier team in Japanese football.

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Emperor's Cup takes centre stage

Following a dramatic end to a league campaign that saw Kashima Antlers unexpectedly lift their fifth J-League crown, the season-ending Emperor's Cup has taken centre stage in Japan.

The 87th edition of Japan's oldest sporting competition has been whittled down to the last four from the more than 6000 teams that started, with J1 sides not surprisingly claiming all four semi-final spots.

In the first semi-final, Gamba Osaka will take on Sanfrecce Hiroshima at Ecopa Stadium in Fukuroi.

Gamba booked their place in the last four with a Fifth Round win over Oita Trinita, before they needed extra-time to see off a stubborn Shimizu S-Pulse in the quarter-finals.

Hiroshima were 2-0 winners over Jubilo Iwata in their Fifth Round tie, before beating FC Tokyo by the same scoreline in their quarter-final clash.

The other semi-final sees newly crowned J-League champions Kashima Antlers take on Kawasaki Frontale at the National Stadium in Tokyo.

Kashima have relied upon goals from wantaway striker Atsushi Yanagisawa to fire them into the last four of the Cup, after Yanagisawa struck deep into extra-time against both Ventforet Kofu and non-league outfit Honda FC, as Kashima struggled to book their place in the semi-finals.

By comparison Kawasaki Frontale have enjoyed a much easier run. They beat Vissel Kobe 3-0 in the Fifth Round, before barely breaking a sweat in registering a 2-0 win over J2 side Ehime FC in their quarter-final.

The final of the Emperor's Cup will take place at the National Stadium in Tokyo on January 1.

2008 Japan fixture list announced

The 2008 fixture list for the Japan national team has been announced, with the Blue Samurai set to embark upon qualification for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.

Japan kick-off the year with friendlies against Chile and Bosnia and Herzegovina at the National Stadium in January, before their World Cup campaign gets under way against Thailand at Saitama Stadium on February 6.

Japan will also participate in the East Asian Championship, which takes place every three years and which will be hosted by China in 2008. Japan will face DPR Korea, Korea Republic and hosts China at the tournament in late February.

Takeshi Okada names training squad

New Japan coach Takeshi Okada has named his first training squad since taking over from Ivica Osim.

There were no surprises, although Kashima Antlers duo Daiki Iwamasa and Yuzo Tashiro were handed their first call-up's, as were FC Tokyo defender Yuhei Tokunaga and Gamba Osaka youngster Michihiro Yasuda.

Okada told the press that he would also consider Europe-based trio Naohiro Takahara and Junichi Inamoto of Eintracht Frankfurt and FC Basel midfielder Koji Nakata for selection in 2008. Only Takahara and Celtic midfielder Shunsuke Nakamura featured regularly in the Japan side under Ivica Osim.

Meanwhile Osim has left the intensive care unit of a Chiba hospital, as he makes a recovery from the stroke that ended his reign as Japan coach in November.

Japanese Players Overseas

Naohiro Takahara and Junichi Inamoto: Eintracht Frankfurt

Former Boca Juniors striker Naohiro Takahara has endured an injury-plagued second season at Bundesliga side Eintract Frankfurt, starting just four of his eight league appearances. Takahara's only league goal this season came in a 5-1 thrashing away at 1.FC Nürnberg.

Meanwhile Junichi Inamoto has enjoyed a brighter spell in Frankfurt, starting eleven league games at the mid-table German side.

Shunsuke Nakamura : Celtic

Scottish Player Of The Year Shunsuke Nakamura has started just seven leagues for Glasgow giants Celtic, having also endured an injury-riddled season. Nakamura's last league start came in a 3-0 win over Motherwell back on October 27, with a knee injury potentially ruling Nakamura out of Celtic's upcoming UEFA Champions League tie with Barcelona.

Celtic have refuted claims that they will allow Nakamura to exercise a get-out clause in his contract and return to former club Yokohama F. Marinos in 2008.

Daisuke Matsui : Le Mans

Winger Daisuke Matsui is back in favour at French Ligue 1 side Le Mans, with new coach Rudi Garcia's side flying high in fifth place in Le Championnat. Matsui, who is on the wish-list of Italian Serie A side Genoa, has started fifteen league games for Le Mans this season, scoring twice.

Koji Nakata : FC Basel

Former Kashima Antlers midfielder Koji Nakata has featured in all of Swiss club FC Basel's league games this season, with Basel currently six points clear of rivals FC Zürich going in to the winter break.

Tsuneyasu Miyamoto and Alex : Salzburg

Ex-Gamba Osaka defender Tsuneyasu Miyamoto has started ten of Salzburg's league fixtures, most recently in Salzburg's top-of-the-table clash with Sturm Graz on December 15.

Meanwhile ex-Japan international Alex continues to be linked with a move back to the J-League, with former club Urawa Reds the most likely destination for the versatile player.

Copyright © Michael Tuckerman & Soccerphile.com

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Sanfrecce Hiroshima

Sanfrecce Hiroshima have endured a horrendous season in the J-League. Relegated in a play-off with the third-place team from J2, Kyoto Sanga, Sanfrecce have played most of the season in front of sparse crowds at their cavernous Big Arch Stadium.



Today, however, there was reason to celebrate as the team in purple defeated Jubilo Iwata in the Emperor's Cup to keep their season alive. Two sublime left-footed free kicks from Koji Morisaki sealed the win in front of only 3,177 die-hard supporters.


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Urawa Reds

Urawa Reds fans - tightly controlled, regimented, verging on the fascistic, the hordes from Saitama and beyond are the J-League's noisiest fans.

"We are the Redsu" will be ringing out tonight when Urawa take on Milan in the semi-final of the World Club Cup.




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Reds manager Osieck magnanimous in defeat

It’s been a rough week for the Urawa Reds to say the least.
Last Wednesday the two time defending Emperor’s Cup champions were sent packing from this year’s tournament by second-division club Ehime FC, an embarrassing 2-0 loss that was followed by an even greater disappointment on Saturday—-failure to repeat as J-League champions.
The Reds crashed to defeat to last-place Yokohama FC on the final day of the season, allowing the Kashima Antlers to spirit the title away thanks to a 3-0 victory over Shimizu S-Pulse.
The Antlers finished the season with 72 points, two more than Urawa, who only five rounds earlier had led Kashima by 10 points and looked to be a shoo-in for their second major title of the year following victory in the Asian Champions League in November.
Having lost both trophies that predecessor Guido Buchwald had captured a year earlier, current Urawa manager Holger Osieck had every right to be in a glum mood afterward. But much to his credit, the 59-year-old German took the recent defeats in stride, exhibiting the kind of class and dignity you see all too infrequently in professional sports these days.
Following are excerpts from Osieck’s press conference and a chat after Urawa’s 1-0 loss to Yokohama at Yokohama’s Nissan Stadium:


“We’ve experienced a huge disappointment today. We couldn't achieve this season's main goal but I've thanked the players, who I think have done wonderfully this season.
This past month they've been extremely tired both mentally and physically. I’ve been asked about this many times and said they weren’t bothered by all the matches but they were, they are tired. I think the victory in the ACL final made them lose the extremely high level of concentration they had all season. I think this is only human after a great achievement. But they have done really well, they have won one big title and this shows how hard it is to win two big titles in the same season.”

Q: It was a disappointing result today but how would you sum up the season to date?
“Despite the disappointment we feel today, overall it has been a very successful run with a lot of positives. Today of course it was not what we expected. We thought we could win the J-League too, but sometimes you’re lacking that final touch of concentration after winning a major title and you can observe this in many other areas. And to keep the focus up despite all our efforts it’s pretty difficult and I think subconsciously there may some kind of setback. Although the players really tried everything today, in particular the second half when we switched our system and focused more on attacking. I can’t blame anybody. They really tried hard. It wasn’t that they played arrogantly or whatever. Everybody could see they tried their utmost.”

Q: Do you think that by winning the J.League last season, the players maybe didn’t have the same fire to win it again this year?
“I don’t think so. If you want to be a successful team you’ve got to continually set new targets. And after the ACL I think it was our target and we were in the position where we could have achieved it.”

Q: Was this a tricky game for you to coach given that there was such a huge gap between the Reds and Yokohama FC?
“I didn’t see any gap today. If they had played the entire season like that they would be among the top six (instead of being relegated to J2). That’s for sure.”

Q: So were you surprised at how well they played?
“No. Because I followed their recent games on DVD and look at the scores—they hardly allowed any goals against. And they hardly scored but OK they did today but even if we had tied today it wouldn’t have been enough. We had to win.”

Q: And now you only have one week until the start of the FIFA Club World Cup. It’s relentless.
“Well it’s another big one and I hope I can get my players back in the real state of freshness, not only physically but mentally. Of course, we have to get over this disappointment today first.”

Q: The players will be down but the possibility of playing AC Milan in the semifinal should be a big motivating factor for them.
“I think the game in itself has enough motivation that it might accelerate the process of recuperation.”

Q: Will your players be physically ready for the Club World Cup?
“You may be ready, you may be in the mood, you may be willing but between what you want to do and what you can do actually because of various things is the flip side of the medal. I’m pretty sure every player will try his best and try to produce the best performance. I’m 100 percent sure, but it’s definitely a different situation when you have players in midseason playing against players at the end of a season. The other teams are all in midseason. Iran’s Sepahan started their season in August. In Europe they start their seasons at the end of July or start of August. The same with the other countries. It makes a slight difference. If we had 26 odd games less under belt our freshness would be at a different level. Those are all facts. That’s just information, nothing to do with excuses. But it must be considered.”

Q: Was there any sense of anxiety in the dressing room after losing to Ehime on Wednesday?
“No, no, no. I think we tried to keep our focus. The Ehime game was a different situation, with different players. Internally I have to deal with it. With different players on the pitch I expect them to perform. In particular when you haven’t played regularly.”

Q: Would you comment on the performance of goalkeeper Ryota Tsuzuki over the season. He’s been massive for you.
“Of course. He had a very good season. He conceded the smallest number of goals in the league. Of course the defense had a lot to do with that but there were a number of times when he was on his own and he did really well. I think he played outstandingly this season.”

Q: You seemed very friendly with Kashima manager Oswaldo Oliveira following the 1-0 loss to the Antlers in the penultimate round. Do you plan to call him tonight to congratulate him?
“From my perspective we are colleagues. OK, we are also competitors and we both want to win. But that doesn’t mean that I have to bitch at somebody or whatever. You have to admit that he is doing his job, he’s doing his best, I’m doing my job, I’m trying my best. Why not when getting together have a chat or whatnot? I think it sends a positive signal. In particular, in some countries in Europe there’s a kind of hostility that comes from within and that shouldn’t be the case. Of course I’m all for rivalry but why not shake hands? Like today, (Yokohama FC manager Julio Leal) did a great job, so should I get in his face over it? No, it’s OK, “Congratulations on a job well done.” You’ve got to have some standards otherwise you should stay home. If you cannot lose in dignity you don’t deserve to win. That’s for sure. That’s my credo and I’m living up to that.”

Q: A bit off topic, but could you comment on Takeshi Okada taking over as the new manager of the national team?
“Yeah, I read it today and I wish him the best of luck. I know him and he’s a very experienced coach and he’s very close to the top football minds in Japan, he used to be national team coach himself, and was a very successful club coach too. If it’s true, not just a media (fabrication) … I learned from my mother. She said, ‘Whatever you read in the papers is correct.’” (laughs)

Q: You had to deal with a lot of injuries this season. Do you feel a need to deepen the squad next year?
“I don’t want to touch on this today because it may sound like an excuse. I’m not the kind of guy to say, how do you say? To blame it on fatigue. It’s a fact. Everybody who’s involved in the game knows it. You have some injuries, the odd player isn’t available but OK, that is why you have a bigger squad. But a bigger squad doesn’t necessarily mean you have 18 or 19 players who play on the same level. And there must be a gap. Even the top teams have a gap. Some may have 18 players that you can use whenever they need but in every team there are key players who determine the structure of the team and you can never do without them. If those players are not playing then the entire structure is getting weaker. But no excuses. I mean we had it, we could have done it, but OK, it didn’t happen and so it wasn’t meant to be. You have to accept it. Should I now jump from here [pretending to throw himself over a railing] or shoot myself?” (laughs)

Copyright © C.G. Williams & Soccerphile.com

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Kashima Antlers the unlikeliest of champions

Kashima Antlers are the unlikeliest of J-League champions.

On a day of drama in Japan, Kashima beat Shimizu S-Pulse 3-0 in front of 31,384 fans at Kashima Stadium on December 1.

With referee Yuichi Nishimura blowing full-time at Kashima Stadium, the video screen switched to a live broadcast from Yokohama, and desperate Antlers fans watched in amazement as bottom-placed Yokohama FC clung on to beat Urawa Reds 1-0 in front 46,697 fans at Nissan Stadium.

Urawa's shock loss propelled Kashima to their fifth J-League crown - but first since 2001, and sparked wild celebrations inside Kashima Stadium.

The win was savoured by Kashima's Brazilian coach Oswaldo de Oliveira, who had come under heavy criticism for his team's poor start to the season. De Oliveira paid tribute to midfielder Mitsuo Ogasawara, whose return from Serie A side Messina during the summer break rejuvenated the Antlers.

The win capped a remarkable run for Kashima, who won their last nine league matches in a row, including a pivotal 1-0 win over Urawa Reds in front of 62,123 fans at Saitama Stadium in the penultimate round of matches.

Throughout the season Kashima never once lead in the league, but the Ibaraki giants were sitting atop the table when it mattered most.

After seeing off the challenge of Gamba Osaka, Urawa looked certain to wrap up back-to-back J-League crowns. However a disastrous run of late season form, which saw them pick up just three points from their final five matches, put paid to the hopes of the Saitama side.

The loss brought to an end to a miserable week for Urawa, who entered the Emperor's Cup as defending champions but who were swiftly knocked out by J2 side Ehime FC on November 28. The Reds must now regroup for the FIFA Club World Cup in Japan, where they will face either Sepahan of Iran or New Zealand side Waitakere United in their opening match.

Meanwhile in the north of Japan, Consadole Sapporo capped a thrilling J2 season by winning the league thanks to a 2-1 win over Mito Hollyhock in front of 28,090 fans at the Sapporo Dome. Tokyo Verdy finished second after they drew 2-2 away at Cerezo Osaka, whilst Kyoto Sanga FC will play J1 side Sanfrecce Hiroshima in the promotion/relegation playoff, the first leg of which kicks off at Nishikyogoku Stadium in Kyoto on December 5.

Copyright © Michael Tuckerman & Soccerphile.com

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Final day fight as the J-League goes down to the wire

For the third season in a row, the J-League title race will be decided on the final day of the season.

That's because Urawa Reds lost 1-0 to second-placed Kashima Antlers in front of 62,123 fans at Saitama Stadium on November 24, thanks to midfielder Takuya Nozawa's solitary strike.

Kashima had defender Toru Araiba controversially sent off for a second bookable offence after just forty-two minutes, and referee Kenji Ogiya again grabbed the headlines when he sent off Kashima substitute Yuji Funayama for "spitting" with just seconds remaining. Urawa fans claimed that Funayama had spat in their direction, but television replays suggest that Funayama simply spat on the ground before attempting to take a throw-in.

The shock loss leaves Urawa one point ahead of Kashima in the J-League standings going into the final day of the season.

In Round 34 action, Urawa travel to Nissan Stadium where they will take on rock bottom Yokohama FC. Tens of thousands of Urawa fans are expected to make the trip to the port city for what will practically be a "home" fixture for the visiting side.

Kashima Antlers will host Shimizu S-Pulse at a packed Kashima Stadium, where Kenta Hasegawa's S-Pulse will once again hope to spoil an opponent's title hopes. Shimizu delivered a fatal blow to Gamba Osaka's chances of winning the league by beating them 3-1 at Nihondaira Stadium in Round 30, and Urawa were held to a 0-0 home draw by Shimizu in Round 32, when a Reds victory would have sewn up the title.

Elsewhere Ventforet Kofu were relegated after they slumped to a 2-1 defeat away at Kashiwa Reysol - Kofu's twentieth league defeat of a turbulent season. They will join Yokohama FC in J2 next season, with Sanfrecce Hiroshima currently occupying the promotion/relegation playoff place.

In J2, Tokyo Verdy and Consadole Sapporo are neck-and-neck on 88 points going into the final round of the season. Tokyo Verdy have a superior goal difference, whilst Kyoto Sanga FC are in third place in the standings on 85 points.

Tokyo Verdy travel to Nagai Stadium in their quest to claim the J2 crown, where they will face a tough-looking Cerezo Osaka in the final league match of the season. Consadole Sapporo arguably have an easier fixture - they host second-from-bottom Mito Hollyhock at the Sapporo Dome.

Kyoto Sanga FC travel to third-from-bottom Thespa Kusatsu, with the third placed finisher in J2 set to face Sanfrecce Hiroshima in a playoff to determine which team will take their place in the top flight next season.

Urawa Reds knocked out of the Emperor's Cup

Reigning champions Urawa Reds were dumped from the Emperor's Cup by J2 side Ehime FC on November 28, going down 2-0 to the Second Division battlers in their Fourth Round encounter.

That match had been rescheduled due to Urawa's exploits in the AFC Champions League, and the Saitama side paid the price for a poor performance, with Toshiya Tanaka scoring twice as Ehime FC registered a shock Cup victory.

Ehime FC will now face a demoralised Yokohama FC in the Fifth Round of Japan's oldest sporting competition.

Ivica Osim awakes from coma

Ivica Osim, the man who lead Japan to a semi-final place at the 2007 Asian Cup, collapsed after suffering a stroke on November 16.

The Japan Football Association revealed that the 66 year old Bosnian awoke from a coma on November 28, and has shown signs of regaining full consciousness.

Takeshi Okada likely to be named new Japan coach

With Ivica Osim unlikely to return to coaching in the foreseeable future, former Japan coach Takeshi Okada is expected to take over as coach of the national team.

Okada was coach of Japan at the 1998 FIFA World Cup, and he later went on to coach Consadole Sapporo and Yokohama F. Marinos, winning the J-League with the latter in 2003 and 2004.

Japan Olympic Team qualifies for Beijing

Yasuharu Sorimachi's team qualified for the 2008 Olympic Games the hard way, holding Saudi Arabia to a nail-biting 0-0 draw in front of 42,913 fans at the National Stadium in Tokyo on November 21.

Needing a draw to top the group and ensure qualification, Japan can thank Sanfrecce Hiroshima midfielder Toshihiro Aoyama for the point, after he cleared a goal-bound effort off the line after just nine minutes.

Japan had plenty of chances, but Shimizu S-Pulse striker Shinji Okazaki was in a profligate mood and the match ended scoreless.

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Crowds flock in as the J-League goes down to the wire

There were full houses aplenty on a weekend of drama in the J-League.

20,044 fans packed into Gamba Osaka's Expo '70 Stadium to witness Brazilian striker Bare score twice, as Gamba stayed alive in the 2007 title race by downing JEF United 2-0.

Yasuhito Endo was the architect of the victory, with the mercurial midfielder setting up both of Bare's goals in a man-of-the-match display. Bare, who was signed from Ventforet Kofu at the start of the season, took his goal tally to nineteen league goals in 28 matches, to join Kawasaki Frontale's Juninho at the top of the goal-scoring charts.

Albirex Niigata came from behind to beat FC Tokyo 2-1 in front of 37,851 fans at a wet Big Swan Stadium, with Edmilson scoring twice in the second half, to cancel out Naohiro Ishikawa's opener. Meanwhile Yokohama FC picked up their first point under Brazilian coach Julio Leal when they held hosts Kashiwa Reysol to a 1-1 draw at Kashiwanoha Stadium in Chiba.

Ventforet Kofu may have to start selling off what few assets they possess as they could be bound for J2 next season. The Yamanashi team were thumped 4-1 by Vissel Kobe at Kobe Wing Stadium - a result that leaves Kofu four points behind third-from-bottom Sanfrecce Hiroshima with three games remaining.

Hiroshima were beaten 3-1 by Shimizu S-Pulse in front of 16,508 fans at Nihondaira Stadium, in an early Sunday afternoon kick-off. Japan under-22 international Yosuke Kashiwagi opened the scoring for Hiroshima, but Shimizu equalised immediately courtesy of defender Daisuke Ichikawa's rasping drive.

The visitors were proving tough to break down, but Shimizu took advantage of a contentious penalty decision just after the hour mark, as Fernandinho was adjudged to have been fouled inside the box. Jungo Fujimoto stepped up to thump home an unstoppable spot-kick, and he returned the favour by setting up Fernandinho for Shimizu's third.

In other Sunday action, 14,752 fans squeezed into the refurbished Omiya Park Stadium to celebrate Omiya's return to their spiritual home, but those fans lucky enough to find tickets were left stunned as Oita Trinita spoiled the party.

Things started well for Omiya, who opened the scoring after three minutes through midfielder Yoshiyuki Kobayashi. The Kyushu club equalised through midfielder Yoshiaki Fujita, and substitute Shunsuke Maeda silenced the capacity crowd by scoring the winner two minutes from time.

Oita's stunning win pulls them five points clear of the relegation zone. Omiya Ardija are in fifteenth on 30 points, with Sanfrecce Hiroshima currently occupying the relegation/promotion play-off place. Ventforet Kofu are second-from-bottom, while Yokohama FC have already been relegated.

The weekend action was rounded out by Kawasaki Frontale's colossal tussle with Urawa Reds. Some 23,355 fans packed Todoroki Stadium to the rafters to witness an ill-tempered contest, with Washington's penalty cancelling out Yuji Yabu's early opener for Kawasaki.

J2

The J2 title race looks set for a thrilling climax. With three rounds remaining Consadole Sapporo lead the way, but they have seen their lead at the top of the table whittled down to just two points by Tokyo Verdy.

Sapporo crashed to a 1-0 defeat to mid-table Sagan Tosu, and after Sagan Tosu dumped J1 club Albirex Niigata out of the Emperor's Cup last weekend, 7,680 fans turned out at Tosu Stadium to witness the home side add another big-name scalp to their collection.

Tokyo Verdy failed to take advantage in the wet at Ajinomoto Stadium, as they were held to a 1-1 draw by fourth-placed Vegalta Sendai in front of 16,342 fans. Korean Ryang Yong-Gi opened the scoring for the visitors, and Tokyo required a late goal from Brazilian striker Diego to take a share of the spoils.

Kyoto Sanga FC beat Montedio Yamagata 2-1 in front of 10,523 fans at Nishikyogoku Stadium, to maintain their grip on third place in the standings.

In nearby Osaka 20,170 fans turned out at Nagai Stadium, and the home fans didn't leave disappointed as Cerezo Osaka crushed visitors Avispa Fukuoka 4-0. The victory keeps Cerezo's slim promotion hopes alive.

Consadole Sapporo lead the way on 87 points, but with Tokyo Verdy breathing down their necks on 85 points, Sapporo can ill-afford another slip-up. Kyoto Sanga FC currently hold down the promotion/relegation play-off place on 81 points, but Vegalta Sendai and Cerezo Osaka are still in the race on 80 and 78 points respectively.

Emperor's Cup

The Fourth Round of the Emperor's Cup was concluded on November 7, with Gamba Osaka and Kawasaki Frontale both advancing.

Gamba had to come from behind to beat J2 side Montedio Yamagata on penalties, after Yamagata had raced out to a two goal lead courtesy of strikes from Yohei Toyota and Tatsuya Ishikawa. Gamba responded through goals from Ryuji Bando and Takahiro Futagawa, and the Osakans ultimately prevailed 5-3 on penalties.

Kawasaki Frontale had an easier time against Gamba's cross-town rivals Cerezo Osaka, winning 3-0 at Todoroki Stadium thanks to goals from Juninho, Yusuke Mori and Chong Tese. Gamba Osaka will now face Oita Trinita and Kawasaki Frontale will play Vissel Kobe in the Fifth Round of the competition.

Teruyoshi Ito reaches 400 J-League games

Shimizu S-Pulse midfielder Teruyoshi Ito became only the second player to reach 400 games in the J-League.

The gritty defensive midfielder became the first player to reach the milestone having played all 400 games for the same club, with current Nagoya Grampus Eight midfielder Toshiya Fujita having played the bulk of his games for Jubilo Iwata.

The Shimizu-born Ito started his career in the J-League's inaugural season in 1993, and he went on to be capped 27 times by his country, representing Japan at the 1998 FIFA World Cup.

Copyright © Michael Tuckerman & Soccerphile.com

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Thine Cup Runneth Over

The action in Japan switched from league football to the knock-out variety this weekend, with Gamba Osaka winning the Nabisco League Cup by defeating Kawasaki Frontale 1-0 at a packed National Stadium in Tokyo on November 3.

Japan under-20 international Michihiro Yasuda scored the only goal in the 56th minute, but after weathering an early Kawasaki onslaught, Gamba were worthy winners.

Referee Toshimitsu Yoshida waved away appeals for a penalty in the first half after Gamba midfielder Takahiro Futagawa was seemingly brought down inside the area by Kawasaki goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima, while Brazilian ace Magno Alves thumped the post with a blistering strike late in the second half, with Kawashima well beaten.



The Fourth Round of the Emperor's Cup got under way on November 4, with JEF United going down 3-1 to visitors Oita Trinita in one of only two all-J1 encounters. Defender Masato Morishige opened the scoring for Oita after just three minutes, with striker Daiki Takamatsu adding a second ten minutes later. Brazilian marksman Reinaldo pulled a goal back for the Chiba side, but playmaker Tsukasa Umesaki added a third for Oita before half-time, to send JEF United crashing out of the competition. Omiya Ardija went down 2-0 to Yokohama FC in the other all-J1 clash, with Kunihiko Takizawa and Shingo Nejime scoring the goals for Yokohama.

One of the shocks of the day came at Big Swan Stadium in Niigata, where mid-table J2 side Sagan Tosu stunned J1 high fliers Albirex Niigata 3-2. Sanfrecce Hiroshima had no such trouble in beating J2 side Shonan Bellmare 3-0, while Vissel Kobe beat Avispa Fukuoka 2-0. Struggling Ventforet Kofu knocked out Tokushima Vortis with a 3-1 win, Nagoya Grampus Eight beat Thespa Kusatsu by the same scoreline and Kashima Antlers saw off local rivals Mito Hollyhock 2-0 in an Ibaraki derby, with Yuzo Tashiro and Mitsuo Ogasawara scoring the all-important goals.

Japan Football League's Honda FC stunned J1 outfit Kashiwa Reysol, winning 3-2 in a pulsating contest at Kashiwa Stadium. The visitors went ahead through striker Junya Nitta, before Kashiwa fought back through goals from Tatsuya Yazawa and Brazilian midfielder Alceu. Nitta's strike partner Kodei Suzuki forced the game into extra-time with a 77th minute equaliser, and Suzuki was the hero for Honda FC, scoring a dramatic last minute winner to send the Hamamatsu-based team into the Fifth Round.

Honda FC's neighbours Jubilo Iwata had no trouble disposing of Juntendo University 6-1, but Jubilo's bitter rivals Shimizu S-Pulse needed penalties after they were held to a thrilling 3-3 draw by Meiji University at Nihondaira Stadium.

The students took a shock lead ten minutes before half-time, but when Shimizu forged ahead through late goals from Akihiro Hyodo and Naoki Aoyama, the result appeared a foregone conclusion. Meiji University had other ideas, and a dramatic last minute equaliser forced the match into extra-time. They appeared to have won it when they scored first in extra-time, but when Man-Of-The-Match Aoyama headed home with five minutes of extra-time remaining, the match went to penalties.

Only the crossbar saved Shimizu S-Pulse from an embarrassing exit, with the Shizuoka side flawless from the penalty spot. Meiji rattled the woodwork with their second penalty, as the students succumbed to an agonising defeat.

FC Tokyo needed an 82nd minute winner from Japan international Yasuyuki Konno to see off Japan Football League side TDK SC 2-1, while Yokohama F. Marinos were more convincing against current JFL leaders Sagawa Kyubin SC, winning 4-1, with striker Daisuke Sakata scoring a brace.

The Fourth Round is completed on November 7 when Gamba Osaka take on J2 side Montedio Yamagata, while Kawasaki Frontale face a tough prospect in another J2 outfit in the form of Cerezo Osaka, who are involved in a desperate race for promotion from the J-League's second tier.

Copyright © Michael Tuckerman & Soccerphile.com

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Teen Fires Gamba To League Cup Glory

Teenager Michihiro Yasuda couldn’t have picked a better time to claim his first professional goal, scoring the winner in Gamba Osaka’s 1-0 win over Kawasaki Frontale in the final of the Nabisco league cup in Tokyo on Saturday.
Yasuda, 19, scored the lone goal of the afternoon in the 56th minute by redirecting a cross from Brazilian striker Bare.
Gamba’s first-ever cup title comes just two years after their disappointing penalty-shootout loss to JEF United Chiba in the final of the 2005 tournament.
Defender Yasuda, a product of the Gamba youth system, was named Man of the Match for his outstanding performance in an evenly matched affair witnessed by 41,569 at National Stadium.
“He is a very attack-minded defender,” Osaka manager Akira Nishino said of the young left back. “He is very quick, has a good attacking sense and is a fine utility player. I told him at halftime to get forward and try to score if he could, and voila!”



Comments from Kawasaki manager Takeshi Sekizuka:

“I’d like to say congratulations to Gamba and I’d also like to thank our supporters for coming out and always giving us 100 percent.
We wanted to show today everything that we had built up over the season so far.
In the first half, I think we created more of the chances and had an opportunity to go ahead. Had we scored then we would have got a grip on the game but it didn’t happen and in the second half we gave them a single sniff of goal and they capitalized. Overall we had more chances, but Gamba showed their greater experience over the full 90 minutes.”

Additional comments from Gamba manager Akira Nishino:

“My players played hard for the full 90 minutes today and I am very satisfied. I feel we have finally done it.
In the first half Frontale did overwhelm us in certain respects but we adjusted at half time and got a good goal at a good time.
Our team has grown this year, not only in attack but also in defense, and after the goal we controlled the game extremely well.
This competition has boosted our confidence in various ways. It’s brought out the strengths of our squad in the group games where we played without our national team players, and then by defeating the Urawa Reds and Kashima Antlers to reach the finals. This has all been very pleasing.
It's been an extremely interesting tournament for me as a manager. We had to make a lot of unusual changes as a team. In the league our lineup has been very consistent, but because I was forced to use so many backup players in this tournament, it's shown me Gamba has a lot of depth, a lot of options I didn’t know we had previously. Our base has grown broader this season.”

Copyright: C.G. Williams & Soccerphile


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All eyes on Urawa

Round 30 of the J-League has thrown up some fascinating fixtures, but all eyes will be on a Urawa Reds side that takes on Nagoya Grampus Eight in a blockbuster at Saitama Stadium.

Urawa qualified for the final of the AFC Champions League in midweek, and Nagoya will be hoping to take advantage of any hangovers by putting one over the Reds in what is traditionally a hotly contested affair.

Sanfrecce Hiroshima kick off the weekend with what could be an ill-tempered clash against JEF United. Not only will Japan striker Hisato Sato come up against a team captained by his twin brother Yuto, but Hiroshima recently signed Bulgarian defender Ilian Stoyanov.

Stoyanov was sacked by JEF United for claiming that coach Amar Osim was "clueless" and would lead the Chiba outfit into the Second Division. Ironically it's Hiroshima who could be destined for J2 - if they lose this match, they are in danger of being overtaken by a fast finishing Omiya Ardija.

In other highlight matches Kashiwa Reysol and Vissel Kobe will slug it out in a battle between two sides promoted from J2 last season, Omiya Ardija will be fighting for their lives away at a hapless Yokohama FC, Ventforet Kofu will be desperate to take all three points from Yokohama F. Marinos at home, there should be a near-capacity crowd at Nihondaira Stadium as fourth placed Shimizu S-Pulse take on second placed Gamba Osaka, and the Tama River Derby between FC Tokyo and Kawasaki Frontale will be another hotly anticipated affair.

Yokohama FC relegated in record time

Yokohama FC were relegated in record time, after their 3-0 loss away at Vissel Kobe in Round 29 condemned the port city strugglers to Second Division football next season.

Having picked up a meagre eleven league points, the fan-created club look certain to finish with the lowest points tally since the J-League introduced a single stage season in 2005.

Yokohama FC have lost an embarrassing eight matches in a row, and their last point came in a 1-1 draw with Gamba Osaka back in Round 21.

That run of losses has been overseen by Brazilian coach Julio Leal, who was brought in to replace the sacked Takuya Takagi, with Leal yet to pick up a single point in charge of the embattled club.

Omiya Park Stadium open for business

After two seasons playing out of the home of their local rivals Urawa Reds, Omiya Ardija have finally vacated Komaba Stadium to return to their Omiya Park Stadium.

The compact ground has been undergoing extensive refurbishment and will host Omiya's final two home games of the season against Oita Trinita and Kawasaki Frontale.

The 12,500 capacity stadium features both seated and standing terraces and looks set to attract capacity crowds for Omiya's remaining two home fixtures, as the Squirrels of Saitama struggle to retain their J1 status.

The naming rights to the stadium have been sold to local FM radio station NACK5, and as such the stadium's official title is NACK5 Stadium Omiya.

Nabisco League Cup

The Nabisco League Cup Final will take place at the National Stadium in Tokyo on November 3, between Gamba Osaka and Kawasaki Frontale.

Gamba qualified courtesy of the away goals rule, after they lost 3-2 to Kashima Antlers in the second leg of their semi-final tie. Crucial goals from Ryuji Bando and Sidiclei fired the Osakans into the final, after Gamba won the first leg 1-0 thanks to a disputed Yasuhito Endo penalty.

Kawasaki Frontale came out on top of their clash with local rivals Yokohama F. Marinos, winning 6-3 on aggregate. Brazilian striker Juninho scored three goals in the tie, to add to his league-leading total of eighteen goals in the J-League.

AFC Champions League

Urawa Reds became the first Japanese side to reach the final of the revamped AFC Champions League, following their dramatic penalty shoot-out victory over Korean champions Seongnam Ilhwa.

With the scores deadlocked at 4-4 after 210 minutes of pulsating football, goalkeeper Ryota Tsuzuki was the hero for Urawa, standing tall to save Choi Sung-Kuk's nervy penalty.

Reds midfielder Tadaaki Hirakawa then stepped up to drill home the decisive spot-kick and send the majority of the 51,651 strong crowd into raptures.

Urawa will now play Iranian side Sepahan in the final, who knocked out Kawasaki Frontale at the quarter-final stage.

Since the current AFC Champions League format was introduced in 2003, no J-League side had progressed beyond the knock-out stage of the competition. Jubilo Iwata, however, reached three successive finals of the old Asian Club Cup between 1999 and 2001 and were crowned continental champions in 1999, following their win over Iranian giants Esteghlal FC.

Japan National Team

Japan recorded a resounding 4-1 win over Egypt in their friendly at Nagai Stadium in Osaka on October 17.

The Blue Samurai were inspired by a superb performance from Vissel Kobe striker Yoshito Okubo. He opened the scoring with a stunning long-range drive, before heading home his second before the half-time interval.

Jubilo Iwata striker Ryoichi Maeda produced a cool finish just after the break, before Gamba Osaka full-back Akira Kaji rounded out the scoring for Japan, driving home a low strike from just inside the area.

Mohamed Fadl scored a consolation goal for a heavily depleted Egyptian side.

Japan Olympic Team

In a country that holds bad memories for Japanese football fans, Japan's Under-22 National Team lost 2-1 to Qatar in their most recent qualifying match for the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

The result could come back to haunt Japan's conservative coach Yasuharu Sorimachi, particularly after Japan opened the scoring through Shimizu S-Pulse defender Naoki Aoyama's scrappy finish.

Qatar equalised through Hasan Al Haydos with just twelve minutes remaining, and with the Qatari's marauding forward in search of a winner, FC Tokyo midfielder Masahiko Inoha was adjuged to have handled inside the area deep into stoppage time, and midfielder Majdi Siddiq made no mistake from the spot to fire Qatar to a 2-1 win.

The loss brought back memories of Japan's dramatic collapse against Iraq in a qualifier for the 1994 FIFA World Cup, when they conceded a stoppage time equaliser to the Iraqi's in Qatar, with the 2-2 draw ultimately costing Japan a place at USA '94.

Copyright © Michael Tuckerman & Soccerphile.com

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Urawa Reds In Box Seat To Defend Their J-League Crown

Urawa Reds lead the way in the J-League with seven rounds remaining, having dropped just five points since the mid-season summer break.

Urawa's latest victory came in front of 47,755 fans at a rain-soaked Saitama Stadium, with Brazilian midfielder Robson Ponte scoring a late winner.

Gamba Osaka also needed a stoppage time winner from striker Bare to beat lowly Oita Trinita 1-0. For the second week in a row Bare's stoppage time goal kept Gamba in the title race, but the Osakans are still six points behind league leaders Urawa.

Third placed Kashima Antlers needed a goal from their Brazilian striker Marquinhos midway through the second half, to see off a stubborn Sanfrecce Hiroshima at Big Arch Stadium.

JEF United beat FC Tokyo in a thriller played in atrocious conditions at Fukuda Denshi Arena. The hosts stormed out to a three goal lead thanks to clinical strikes from Tatsunori Arai and Kohei Kudo, before Koki Mizuno converted a second-half penalty for the Chiba side. Tokyo stormed back through goals from Japan international Yasuyuki Konno and Brazilian striker Lucas Severino, but the capital club ultimately ran out of time in their quest to find an equaliser.

The shock of the round came at Nissan Stadium, where Omiya Ardija battled to a 2-0 win over hosts Yokohama F. Marinos, courtesy of goals from ex-F. Marinos midfielder Takashi Hirano and striker Kota Yoshihara.

The victory means that Omiya Ardija are just one point behind Ventforet Kofu, who hold the all-important promotion/relegation playoff place. Kofu finished with nine men in their 1-1 draw away at Kawasaki Frontale, after defenders Arata Sugiyama and Michitaka Akimoto were both sent off. Ken Fujita opened the scoring early on for Kofu, but Kawasaki midfielder Hiroyuki Taniguchi scored a stoppage time equaliser that seriously dents Kofu's hopes of survival.

The highlight fixtures of the next round see FC Tokyo looking to avenge a League Cup quarter-final defeat to neighbours Yokohama F. Marinos, Omiya Ardija travel to an out-of-sorts Albirex Niigata, Shimizu S-Pulse face Nagoya Grampus Eight in a "Tokai Derby," Ventforet Kofu face a JEF United side that is chasing its sixth win in a row, Gamba Osaka are on the road against a tough-looking Kashiwa Reysol, and Urawa return to their spiritual home of Komaba Stadium to take on Oita Trinita.

Consadole Sapporo still lead the way in J2, but their lead has been cut to just four points after Tokyo Verdy hammered the northern outfit 5-1 in front of 11,833 fans at Ajinomoto Stadium on September 30.

Diego scored a hattrick for the fallen giants, whilst Hulk scored his thirty-first goal in just his thirty-sixth game of a remarkable season.

Elsewhere Kyoto Sanga FC missed a chance to pull away from Vegalta Sendai in third place on the table, after they conceded two late goals to draw 2-2 away at Shonan Bellmare. Sendai responded by beating Mito Hollyhock 1-0 on the road, despite losing midfielder Naoki Chiba to a thirty-fourth minute red card.

Nabisco League Cup

League football takes a break next week as the Nabisco League Cup resumes at the semi-final stage.

On October 10, Yokohama F. Marinos host Kawasaki Frontale in a Kanagawa Derby, while Gamba Osaka welcome Japan's most successful team Kashima Antlers to Expo '70 Stadium.

The return legs take place three days later.

AFC Champions League

Just as they did in the first-leg of their quarter-final clash with Jeonbuk Motors FC, Urawa Reds conceded a late equaliser to Korean opposition in their AFC Champions League semi-final clash in midweek.

K-League giants Seongnam Chunma raced out to an early lead through their Brazilian striker Mota, but Urawa roared back thanks to strikes from Tatsuya Tanaka and Robson Ponte. Midfielder Kim Do-Heon kept Seongnam in the tie with a late equaliser, however that failed to prevent Urawa's German coach Holger Osieck from claiming that he was "delighted" with the result.

Kawasaki Frontale were knocked out at the quarter-final stage, losing on penalties to Iranian side Sepahan after both legs of their final eight clash ended in 0-0 draws.

Japanese Players Overseas

Junichi Inamoto and Naohiro Takahara : Eintracht Frankfurt

After featuring prominently in the early part of the season, midfielder Junichi Inamoto has been ruled out for the foreseeable future due to a torn stomach muscle. He joins Naohiro Takahara on the sidelines, who has returned to Japan to receive treatment on a persistent knee injury.

Shunsuke Nakamura : Celtic

Last season's SPL Player Of The Year Shunsuke Nakamura has also been labouring under injury, and he played just six minutes of Celtic's dramatic 2-1 UEFA Champions League win over reigning holders AC Milan, coming on as a late substitute.

Koji Nakata : FC Basel

Combative midfielder Koji Nakata has been an ever-present for FC Basel, and his team booked their place in the UEFA Cup group stage by thrashing Bosnian side FK Sarajevo 8-1 on aggregate in their first round clash.

Daisuke Matsui : Le Mans

Daisuke Matsui has played all but one of high-flying Le Mans' Ligue 1 fixtures this season, with the team from north-western France currently lying in fifth place on the league table.

Alessandro Santos and Tsuneyasu Miyamoto : Salzburg

Both Alex and Tsuneyasu Miyamoto have featured only sporadically for Austrian club Salzburg this season, with neither player featuring in Salzburg's most recent 1-0 UEFA Cup win over AEK Athens - with the Greek side going through 3-1 on aggregate.

Copyright © Michael Tuckerman & Soccerphile.com

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You'll Never Walk Alone

You'll Never Walk Alone as you have probably never heard it before.

Listen to You'll Never Walk Alone sung by FC Tokyo supporters

The Liverpool anthem is sung karaoke-style by FC Tokyo fans at a recent J-League game as the words in English appear on the big screen.




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Full Moon Spells Quarter Doom For Jeonbuk

The Korean thanksgiving holiday is a time to spend with family and pay respects to ancestors that have passed away. What it is not, is a time to do any unnecessary travel. More than half the nation moves around the southern half of the peninsula to visit hometowns. The nightly television news programs all start by broadcasting the same pictures with relish. The first is of the full harvest moon, an image followed by shots of expressways that are equally bloated.

Mounting journey times between major cities are gravely but breathlessly relayed to those lucky enough to be sat in their own homes. The barometer is Seoul-Busan. It usually takes around five hours to drive from the capital to the south coast port but during ‘Chuseok’, that will only get you about halfway.

That was the point that the Asian Champions quarter-final between Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors and Urawa Reds was at on the last day of the harvest festivities with the second leg action due to take place in Korea.



A week previously in Saitama, the Japanese champions had given the Asian champions a footballing lesson. If the two-goal lead that the Reds enjoyed for much of the game had been carried over the East Sea and into South Korea for the second leg, Urawa coach Holger Osieck would have been delighted though perhaps a little disappointed that the J-League leaders hadn’t managed more. As it was, Jeonbuk’s veteran defender Choi Jin-cheul popped up at the last minute to give the visitors a vital away goal and a good deal of hope.



The smart money was still on Urawa to progress but only just. Jeonbuk had shown while winning the competition a year before that what they sometimes lack in finesse, they make up with passion, power and a never-say-die spirit. Such play doesn’t always make a difference in the K-league that has an abundance of those qualities. Going into the second leg, Jeonbuk may have been in fifth place in the league but were 17 points behind second and only five above Daejeon Citizen down in 11th.

Travelling down to the city of Jeonju, where Jeonbuk are based, from Seoul is always a pleasant journey but more so on the final day of the holidays. The number of people heading south-west was dwarfed by the millions scrambling back to the capital. There were enough Japanese fans making the same journey to give credence to reports suggesting that the home supporters could be similarly outnumbered. The sight of an army of red-clad fans tumbling off buses at expressway rest areas to swamp restaurants and convenience stores, but strangely not the kiosks that blast out sixties and seventies Korean music, was reminiscent of past away days in England.



Their destination was North Jeolla Province in the south-west region of South Korea. It is a beautiful place - full of mountains, deep valleys, lush fields and, if you believe those who hail from the south-east of the country, people who can’t be trusted as far as they can be thrown. It is a stereotype that is hard to believe as folk that hail from Jeolla are as friendly as their version of the national dish, kimchi, is salty.

Jeonju is the capital of the region and while it may be the home of the Asian champions, it is better known for food not football. The city of 600,000 is the birthplace of the famous Korean dish Bi Bim Bap, a bowl of mixed vegetables, rice and spicy pepper sauce that tastes considerably better than that description suggests.



The Urawa coach wasn’t planning to treat his team to a dish of the local specialty; he expected that his players would be served up a generous helping of ‘bim’ and ‘bap’ on the field. Prior to the game he warned the starting eleven that they could expect to get kicked around the pitch at the 44,000 capacity Jeonju World Cup Stadium, an arena that is both large and intimate.

In truth, he wasn’t wrong. Some of Jeonbuk’s tackles would have been x-rated stuff even in the laxer leagues of Europe. Around 20,000 Jeonbuk fans and the 5,000 away supporters created an excellent atmosphere and the Saudi Arabian referee looked increasingly out of his depth as the game progressed.



He didn’t help matters by choosing to send off Chung Kyung-ho, one of the nicest players in the K-League both to watch and to meet. The winger was harshly booked for dissent early on and then shown a second yellow for a dive midway through the first half. There were other players much more deserving of a place in referee’s book than the former international.



Still, football is not always fair but the end result probably was and Urawa return to Korea for the semi-final, this time to face champions Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma.The moon won’t be full but, for the mouth-watering clash between the holders of leagues J and K, the stadium will be.



Copyright: John Duerden & Soccerphile




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ACL loss to Sepahan confirms Frontale's season a bust

Kawasaki Frontale's exit from the Asian Champions League earlier this week proved what many had feared about Takashi Sekizuka's men over the last couple of weeks: they're a spent force whose season has gone the way of a Britney Spears comeback.

Only time will tell how their freefall into irrelevancy in 2007 will affect Frontale in the foreseeable future, but there's no denying that the team has suffered a major setback.
Frontale has improved in the league standings every year since finishing 7th in J2 in 2001, returning to J1 in 2005 before shocking all but the most optimistic supporters with their runner-up performance last season.

What a difference a year makes.

Currently in ninth place, Kawasaki sit 22 points and a prayer behind pacesetters Urawa Reds.
With nothing left to play for in the league, Sekizuka trained all his focus on progressing in the ACL. He rested the bulk of his first-choice players, including Brazilians Juninho and Magnum, for Frontale’s Round 26 match with Kashiwa Reysol three days before Wednesday’s ACL clash with Iranian cup winners Sepahan.

The 4-0 loss to Reysol will hurt a lot more now than it did before the demoralizing defeat to Sepahan, who eked out a 5-4 penalty-shootout win after 210 minutes of scoreless football in the two-leg tie.

Despite outplaying their opponents in both legs, Frontale were unable to put the sword to Sepahan, the result of an impotent offense that Sekizuka says has dogged the team for two months.

“We’ve found it difficult to score since August, and it was the same today (Wednesday). We’ve got to figure out what the problem is and fix it so we can get our league campaign back on track,” Sekizuka said at the post-match press conference.

Frontale may very well be at rock bottom, having won only three of their last 15 league games and having salt rubbed in their wounds by rivals Urawa, who advanced to the ACL semifinals on Wednesday with a 2-0 win over Jeonbuk Motors of South Korea.

The disappointment of the last few months was clear for all to see on Wednesday, as a glum Sekizuka apologized for failing to take his team further in the continental championship.
“I am personally disappointed that I couldn’t meet the expectations of those in the J.League and Japanese football in general. We had a good chance to progress after drawing away in the first match and I feel terrible for not living up to everyone’s expectations,” Sekizuka said.
Frontale need to shake off the hurt quickly, however, as the team is still in the thick of things in the Nabisco (league) Cup. Kawasaki play the Yokohama F. Marinos in a home-and-away semifinal for the right to meet either the Kashima Antlers or Gamba Osaka in the final on Nov. 3.
Motivating his troops will be a tall order for Sekizuka, who has seen his team go from confident and freewheeling to frustrated and vulnerable in the span of a year.
It will take a tremendous turnaround for Frontale to salvage anything from what is quickly becoming a shipwrecked season.

Copyright: C.G. Williams & Soccerphile



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