Saturday 15 September / Sunday 16 Sept
Urawa Reds increased their lead at the top of the J-League again to four points over their main rivals Gamba Osaka. Gamba lost 0-2 at home to a resurgent Yokohama F Marinos while Urawa beat Sanfrecce Hiroshima in front of a season high 22,675 spectators at Hiroshima's Big Arch Stadium.
Shimizu S-Pulse are third after a 2-0 home win over struggling Ventforet Kofu.
Ardija, still struggling after the sacking of Dutch coach Robert Verbeek at the mid-season break went down 0-2 to Jubilo in front of only 8,432 fans.
In other games Grampus beat Antlers 3-0 in Nagoya and JEF United won 4-2 at home to Vissel Kobe. Kawasaki Frontale and Oita Trinita drew 2-2. Yokohama FC look doomed to immediate relegation as they are now 10 points adrift of Ventforet and Ardija after losing at home to FC Tokyo 0-2. 40,574 loyal fans saw Albirex Niigata capitulate in the second half to Reysol losing 1-2.
In J2, Kyoto Sanga continue to close the gap on slumping front-runners Sapporo Consadole, while Rui Ramos' Verdy are making good progress in 4th after a poor start to the season.
J1
Sanfrecce Hiroshima 2 Urawa Reds 4
Yokohama FC 0 FC Tokyo 2
Kawasaki Frontale 2 Oita Trinita 2
Gamba Osaka 0 Yokohama F Marinos 2
JEF United 4 Vissel Kobe 2
Albirex Niigata 1 Kashiwa Reysol 2
Shimizu S-Pulse 2 Ventforet Kofu 0
Nagoya Gampus Eight 3 Kashima Antlers 0
Omiya Ardija 0 Jubilo Iwata 2
Leading Positions
Reds P25 Pts 55
Gamba P25 Pts 51
S-Pulse P25 Pts 47
Antlers P25 Pts 45
Reysol P25 Pts 43
Marinos P25 Pts 42
Albirex P25 Pts 41
J2
Consadole P37 Pts 72
Kyoto Sanga P37 Pts 69
Vegalta P37 Pts 65
Verdy P37 Pts 62
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Monday, September 17, 2007
Friday, September 14, 2007
Ahn In Hot Water For Losing Cool
Ahn Jung-hwan was labelled “Asia’s Beckham” after the 2002 World Cup, a handsome star who made global headlines for dumping Italy out of the competition. Five years later, he almost became the Asian version of one of Beckham’s former Manchester United team-mates,Eric Cantona.
Cantona famously jump-kicked a fan in the chest in 1995 before raining punches on the shocked leather-jacketed spectator. The Frenchman always had a feisty side and lost his cool in the heat of a vital Premier League game. Few suspected that the normally placid Ahn Jung-hwan would follow, partly, in his footsteps.
It all happened on a quiet Monday afternoon in the practice ground next to Seoul World Cup Stadium. The game wasn’t even a K-League match, just a reserve game between FC Seoul and Suwon Samsung Bluewings. The two clubs may be rivals but reserve games are usually gentle affairs, designed to give young players experience, recovering players match time and out-of-form stars, like Ahn, a chance to rediscover their sharpness away from the spotlight.
A hero of the 2002 and 2006 World Cups for his country, it is well-known that the 31 year-old’s club career has failed to hit the same heights. Short stints with mediocre European teams in 2005 and 2006 ended when relegated German team MSV Duisberg declined the chance to extend Ahn’s contract and the player was without a club for four months. Returning reluctantly to Korea at the start of 2007, he joined Suwon Samsung Bluewings but despite a promising start and a hat-trick in the Hauzen Cup, the striker has struggled and has been reduced to occasional substitute cameos.
It wasn’t supposed to be this way for one of Asia’s best-known stars and that is what some of the shouts alluded to in Seoul last week. Perhaps a single shrilly-shouted comment cuts to the bone more effectively that the dull roar of thousands of voices. After 33 minutes of the game, Ahn could take no more jibes about how far he had fallen and when he was going to use his famous wedding-ring kissing celebration and abruptly left the pitch and entered the seating area.
“Why are you saying these things,” he bellowed at the supposed source of the jibes before being frogmarched away by security and shown a red card by the referee.
“It is people like you that stop the K-League developing,” he managed to shout before he disappeared.”
Quite why shouting at Ahn Jung-hwan damages the K-League we will never know but it is easy to sympathize with the player. Video footage of the incident didn’t make for pleasant viewing for those who remember 2002 but leaving the pitch in such a way is a big no-no. The Korean media suggested that the best way to deal with such idiots is to be like Ronaldinho -smile and score. Ahn had already scored but there were few smiles on display.
“Even in Europe where Racism can be serious, I have never experienced that,” said Ahn the next day. Two days later he was hauled before the K-League disciplinary committee and fined 10,000,000 Korean Won (around $10,000) but no ban, apart from the one he will serve for receiving a red card, was issued.
At the hearing Ahn was more contrite but still obviously upset at what happened: “‘I would like to say sorry to the fans for my actions during the game,” he said and added. “Before they became players, players were just normal people. It would be good if Korea’s fan culture could change.”
He may get his wish, Seoul fans apologized for the actions of the few and resolved to stick to ‘clean supporting’, cheering on their own team rather than attacking opponents, though this is hardly rife in the K-League.
One part of Korean culture hasn’t changed and the cyber-hunt for the women responsible for most of the remarks was quickly underway. Before long, her cyworld (similar to myspace) page and cellphone number were found though doubts remain as to whether the mob have their mousehairs trained on the right person.
In the style of Korean players in trouble, as perfected by 2002 and 2006 World Cup team-mate Lee Chun-soo, Ahn has promised a period of deep reflection regarding his behavior. He should also take the time to think about what to do to rescue a career that is in danger of ending with a wasted whimper.
Copyright: John Duerden & Soccerphile
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Cantona famously jump-kicked a fan in the chest in 1995 before raining punches on the shocked leather-jacketed spectator. The Frenchman always had a feisty side and lost his cool in the heat of a vital Premier League game. Few suspected that the normally placid Ahn Jung-hwan would follow, partly, in his footsteps.
It all happened on a quiet Monday afternoon in the practice ground next to Seoul World Cup Stadium. The game wasn’t even a K-League match, just a reserve game between FC Seoul and Suwon Samsung Bluewings. The two clubs may be rivals but reserve games are usually gentle affairs, designed to give young players experience, recovering players match time and out-of-form stars, like Ahn, a chance to rediscover their sharpness away from the spotlight.
A hero of the 2002 and 2006 World Cups for his country, it is well-known that the 31 year-old’s club career has failed to hit the same heights. Short stints with mediocre European teams in 2005 and 2006 ended when relegated German team MSV Duisberg declined the chance to extend Ahn’s contract and the player was without a club for four months. Returning reluctantly to Korea at the start of 2007, he joined Suwon Samsung Bluewings but despite a promising start and a hat-trick in the Hauzen Cup, the striker has struggled and has been reduced to occasional substitute cameos.
It wasn’t supposed to be this way for one of Asia’s best-known stars and that is what some of the shouts alluded to in Seoul last week. Perhaps a single shrilly-shouted comment cuts to the bone more effectively that the dull roar of thousands of voices. After 33 minutes of the game, Ahn could take no more jibes about how far he had fallen and when he was going to use his famous wedding-ring kissing celebration and abruptly left the pitch and entered the seating area.
“Why are you saying these things,” he bellowed at the supposed source of the jibes before being frogmarched away by security and shown a red card by the referee.
“It is people like you that stop the K-League developing,” he managed to shout before he disappeared.”
Quite why shouting at Ahn Jung-hwan damages the K-League we will never know but it is easy to sympathize with the player. Video footage of the incident didn’t make for pleasant viewing for those who remember 2002 but leaving the pitch in such a way is a big no-no. The Korean media suggested that the best way to deal with such idiots is to be like Ronaldinho -smile and score. Ahn had already scored but there were few smiles on display.
“Even in Europe where Racism can be serious, I have never experienced that,” said Ahn the next day. Two days later he was hauled before the K-League disciplinary committee and fined 10,000,000 Korean Won (around $10,000) but no ban, apart from the one he will serve for receiving a red card, was issued.
At the hearing Ahn was more contrite but still obviously upset at what happened: “‘I would like to say sorry to the fans for my actions during the game,” he said and added. “Before they became players, players were just normal people. It would be good if Korea’s fan culture could change.”
He may get his wish, Seoul fans apologized for the actions of the few and resolved to stick to ‘clean supporting’, cheering on their own team rather than attacking opponents, though this is hardly rife in the K-League.
One part of Korean culture hasn’t changed and the cyber-hunt for the women responsible for most of the remarks was quickly underway. Before long, her cyworld (similar to myspace) page and cellphone number were found though doubts remain as to whether the mob have their mousehairs trained on the right person.
In the style of Korean players in trouble, as perfected by 2002 and 2006 World Cup team-mate Lee Chun-soo, Ahn has promised a period of deep reflection regarding his behavior. He should also take the time to think about what to do to rescue a career that is in danger of ending with a wasted whimper.
Copyright: John Duerden & Soccerphile
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Thursday, September 13, 2007
Owen brace blows Russia away
Back to back 3-0 victories have lifted the pressure off England boss Steve McClaren, who not long ago looked as lame a duck as had ever been handed the poisoned chalice of coach of the three lions.
A second Michael Owen brace in five days dispatched the much-vaunted Russia at Wembley in front of 86,000 fans and propelled England into second in Group E of the Euro 2008 qualifiers, three points behind Croatia, who terrorized Andorra 6-0 in their capital Andorra La Vella at the same time.
England's comfortable win is a severe blow to the reputation of Russia coach Guus Hiddink as a miracle worker and a fillip to the Football Association, who passed the much-travelled Dutchman over in the search for the England manager to succeed Sven-Goran Eriksson, a job which eventually went to Hiddink’s conqueror on Wednesday, McClaren.
The Emile Heskey-Owen combination worked wonders on the night, rolling back the years to 2001 and the 5-1 mauling of Germany in Munich's Olympia Stadion
in a World Cup qualifier. Rumours that Owen persuaded his coach to recall Heskey from the wilderness appear to be true but the Newcastle striker has been vindicated after these two convincing performances.
On the night, Russia looked the more elegant and technical side but succumbed to the more aggressive style of the hosts, who snatched the lead in the 7th minute, added to it in the 31st and made the game safe six minutes from time. Hiddink’s side enjoyed long spells of possession but lacked bite up front. Diniyar Bilayetdinov’s first half drive which drew a diving one-handed save from Paul Robinson was their one and only close chance of the evening.
England were flattered. The striking partnership consisted of a 29 year-old international exile and a star of World Cup 1998 popularly supposed to be past his best a decade on. Joe Cole ran into further cul de sacs, Shaun Wright-Phillips fluffed more final balls and England failed to find any fluency, but a win is a win is a win.
A second Michael Owen brace in five days dispatched the much-vaunted Russia at Wembley in front of 86,000 fans and propelled England into second in Group E of the Euro 2008 qualifiers, three points behind Croatia, who terrorized Andorra 6-0 in their capital Andorra La Vella at the same time.
England's comfortable win is a severe blow to the reputation of Russia coach Guus Hiddink as a miracle worker and a fillip to the Football Association, who passed the much-travelled Dutchman over in the search for the England manager to succeed Sven-Goran Eriksson, a job which eventually went to Hiddink’s conqueror on Wednesday, McClaren.
The Emile Heskey-Owen combination worked wonders on the night, rolling back the years to 2001 and the 5-1 mauling of Germany in Munich's Olympia Stadion
in a World Cup qualifier. Rumours that Owen persuaded his coach to recall Heskey from the wilderness appear to be true but the Newcastle striker has been vindicated after these two convincing performances.On the night, Russia looked the more elegant and technical side but succumbed to the more aggressive style of the hosts, who snatched the lead in the 7th minute, added to it in the 31st and made the game safe six minutes from time. Hiddink’s side enjoyed long spells of possession but lacked bite up front. Diniyar Bilayetdinov’s first half drive which drew a diving one-handed save from Paul Robinson was their one and only close chance of the evening.
England were flattered. The striking partnership consisted of a 29 year-old international exile and a star of World Cup 1998 popularly supposed to be past his best a decade on. Joe Cole ran into further cul de sacs, Shaun Wright-Phillips fluffed more final balls and England failed to find any fluency, but a win is a win is a win.
The two nations square up again in Moscow on the 17th of October on artificial Field Turf at the Luzhniki Stadium.
Apart from Russia, the other big losers on Wednesday in Europe were World Cup finalists France, who fell 1-0 to Scotland in Paris and now trail both the Scots and Italy in Group B, the Republic of Ireland, whose hopes of qualification were all but ended by a 1-0 loss to the Czech Republic in Prague, and near neighbours Northern Ireland, whose express train start has now been well and truly derailed after successive defeats to Group F strugglers Latvia and Iceland.(c) Sean O'Conor & Soccerphile
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