More Heartache for Endo and Gamba

GAMBA STRUGGLE WHILE SENDAI GIVE SOCCER LESSON

Yasuhito Endo in action for Japan

The woes continue at Gamba Osaka with another heart-wrenching loss in the final moments. This time it was the resurgent Urawa Reds who stuck the dagger into any flailing hopes of a mid season recovery. The images of a forlorn Yasuhito Endo leaving the field in disbelief were the most poignant. It just seems that nothing can arrest this slump, which is putting Gamba's J1 existence in peril.

Endo and the boys at Gamba led Urawa just like they had led against J1 newcomers Sagan Tosu recently. However, this time the lead only lasted from the 14th minute to the 29th. Besides Consadole Sapporo the Kansai outfit have the worst defence in the league, but it was the wasted opportunities which will haunt Gamba after this defeat.

As Gamba Osaka have already replaced their manager this season it's highly unlikely that current manager Masanobu Matsunami (a former Gamba player) will be ushered off the stage. However, the side now sit 6 points adrift of relegation safety and the usual 'manager honeymoon' period is well and truly over. Matsunami took the helm in the 4th round of the season, so by now we should be seeing the fruits of his labour. Some see hope in the amount of opportunities being created by the team but time is running out for Gamba if they are going to restore some respect to the club and maintain their position in the top flight of Japanese soccer. In some good news for the club Leandro Da Silva has been brought back to Gamba on loan from Al Sadd in the Qatari Star League. The deal is for one year with the possibility of an extension. The 27 year old striker could be just the tonic in front of goal with his previous work at the club yielding 11 goals from 21 matches.

In other news from the weekend, it was the men versus the boys as Vegalta Sendai gave Consadole a lesson. In a 4-1 drubbing with three goals coming from headers, the match was the perfect summary of Consadole's season so far. In Yokohama's clash with FC Tokyo the home side were able to grind out another win. Yokohama now sit just four points adrift of the ACL positions. Just two points off top spot are Sanfrecce Hiroshima who matched Sendai with a 4-1 victory over Cerezo Osaka. The sides went in 1-1 at half time but current J League top goalscorer Hisato Sato got the ball rolling in the 64th minute. Sato has eleven goals from the 14 rounds played so far. It's obvious Sato is of vital importance to Sanfrecce.

Next week Sanfrecce meet Omiya Ardija while competition leaders Vegalta Sendai travel to Saitama to meet marquee club Urawa. Currently the Reds are flying and this clash looms as one of the most important of the season so far. The Reds are just five points off the lead and a win at home would definitely have an impact on the top of the ladder. Even more mouth watering is the clash of Vegalta Sendai and Sanfrecce at Sendai's Yurtec Stadium on June 30 two weeks from now. Another season defining match to look forward to. I look forward to seeing Sendai prove the doubters wrong.

Australia v Japan

AUSTRALIA V JAPAN

With Australia set to face Japan tonight, the alarm bells are beginning to ring for the Socceroos. Manager Holger Osieck continues to select the aging stars over the 'up and comers', who realistically, lack the same class of the 'golden era' boys. What will a blood-thirsty Samurai Blue do to the ailing Socceroos squad?

Much speculation surrounds Tim Cahill this week as the Everton midfielder was left to sit on the bench while Australia crawled to a draw against Oman on Friday night  (08/06/12). Some have guessed at an issue being between Cahill and manager Osieck as cause for his benching, but in the modern game it's common for manager's to save players for a bigger date, and to use the full depth of a squad. It's ironic that we discuss Cahill being left out of the team in context of a 'perceived rift' between he and the manager, while at the same time we question Osieck for not blooding new faces. This blogger however, sees Cahill with his potent record against Japan (twice scoring a brace against them), being used from the outset. Knowing his aura, Osieck will aim to get maximum damage from him.

So how do the Socceroos go about beating Samurai Blue? Manager Holger Osieck is not short of knowledge when it comes to Japanese soccer. The German coached Urawa Reds to the Asian Champions League title in 2007. He was full of praise for the rapid development of the game in Japan, and spoke of a change in mindset of the new generation of Japanese players. Probed on possible weaknesses the German replied, "I don't know about any advantages we have over Japan but I do know the strengths of our group," the Socceroos he said, are " . . . very strong physically and very strong mentally. We play attacking, attractive football." Some will debate the latter comment, and particularly after tonight's clash.

Osieck gives a small indication of the tactics which the Socceroos will 'try' to employ against Japan. Expect the Socceroos to mark very tight and physically early on, but this kind of 'grunt labour' can only be sustained for so long. Unfortunately Australia still believes it can bully the Japanese physically, however, when the whips are cracking around 60 minutes into the tie, stature gives way to stamina. Amongst the problems for the Socceroos is who to shut down. Much attention has been given to Keisuke Honda and new Manchester United signing Shinji Kagawa however, too much focus on those two will allow Endo to have a field day. And if the midfield threat isn't enough, the marauding fullbacks Nagatomo and Uchida will ensure Australia's fullbacks and wide midfielders think twice before venturing forward. It will be a tough night for the Aussies, the only chance of a 'green and gold' victory would be if they concede an early goal and the Japanese become complacent.

Expect a less than full Brisbane Stadium as the A Class ($95) seating in Brisbane takes up a massive portion of the seating plan. This is very disappointing as the match is the 'high water' mark of the qualifying campaign. The match should reach great heights though with the Japanese class sure to catch the eye and if I was a betting man I definitely take some of the $2.60 odds available at some Australian betting agencies.