J LEAGUE TITLE IN YOKOHAMA'S GRASP

With two rounds remaining in the J-League Yokohama F Marinos are now four points clear of nearest rivals Urawa Reds. On a day when the chasing pack imploded, Yokohama toughed out a win in Shizuoka prefecture, against relegated Jubilo Iwata. It wasn't pretty but the Tri-Colours showed some champion qualities by winning while not playing 'champagne football'.

The stats tell of Yokohama's dominance but the action wasn't something that JFA will be airing in its promos for the J-League. Yokohama ended the match with 13 shots over Jubilo's 2, and a dominant 13 corners to Jubilo's 4. It was from a second half corner that the winning goal was scored. Nakamura, slightly off colour in his overall performance, sent in a corner which evaded any contact from defender or attacker as bounced inside the box. The loose ball drew an attempted smother by the Jubilo keeper and like the soccer gods had whispered something in his ear, Yuji 'Bomber' Nakazawa arrived on the scene at speed belying his age. He cleaned up the keepers scraps and made it 1-nil to Yokohama in the 69th minute. The remainder of the match saw Jubilo throw more men forward in pursuit of an equaliser, (which would not save them from relegation anyway - their fate is sealed) but it was offset by the occasional counter from Yokohama, primarily down the left through youngster Manabu Saito. F-Marinos would run out 1-nil winners with a late goal line clearance to regale about in the dressing room.

Meanwhile, Urawa Reds and Sanfrecce Hiroshima slipped up at a vital stage of the J-League. The Reds failed at home to the 'in form' Kawasaki Frontale (5 from last 6 J-League matches) while Hiroshima couldn't get past Cerezo Osaka. Brazilian Fabio Simplicio was the sole goal scorer at Kincho Stadium in Osaka, and he's put the pink half of Osaka in with a real shout of an ACL position. The Reds were unable to halt the march of Kawasaki who are also eying a place in the ACL. Kawasaki hit the front early via their Brazilian (it's a mandatory requirement) Jeci in the 12th minute. The Kanagawa side would retain that lead until Reds defender Makino thrust himself into the spotlight. Makino levelled the scores in the 57th minute, only to turn from hero to zero in two minutes. The defender was responsible for an own goal which restored Kawasaki's lead. In the dying stages Urawa had a number of corners and that man again, Makino would be involved. The defender was taken by surprise when a ball was deflected into in his path at chest height, inside the six yard box. He seemed frozen - cemented to the ground. The ball bounced off his chest aimlessly, soon after Kawasaki were off on a counter and it was the reliable Yoshito Okubo who drove the nail into Urawa's J-League coffins.

So with two rounds to go in the J-League, it's down to four teams. Cerezo Osaka will require Yokohama to lose both their matches, and hope for Hiroshima to slip up against Kashima, while they can beat Urawa on the last day to go ahead of them. Forget about Kashima. Although they face two teams above them, their goal difference is inferior by 12 to Yokohama's and though I love an equation, I can't see Yokohama going backward by six goals and Kashima forward by six. Of the chasing pack the best placed is Hiroshima. They have a 'gimme' of a match against relegated Shonan and a final round fixture against Kashima. In Hiroshima's favour is their goal difference of +19 just two inferior to Yokohama. Those two goals would be made up by virtue of their winning and Yokohama's losing over the last two rounds. It's all speculation at this stage, but no one would argue that Yokohama currently sit in the most enviable position. Their fate is own their own hands.   

F MARINOS TOP THE J LEAGUE

On Saturday afternoon Yokohama F Marinos regained the lead of the J League after downing Sanfrecce Hiroshima. The weekend was a top of the table showdown with one playing two, and three playing four. All four teams still remain in contention for the J League title, but it was F Marinos and Urawa Reds who took full advantage.

At Nissan Stadium, Yokohama and Hiroshima played a mostly dour first half with few opportunities. For Hiroshima Yojiro Takahagi proved the most threatening with two shots on goal denied by Yokohama keeper Enamoto. Yokohama's best chance of the half came and went when Shunsuke Nakamura made the mystifying decision to pass to his right rather than left where marksman Marquinhos lay in wait, bearing down on goal.

But the two teams would be separated by a piece of individual brilliance provided by youngster Manabu Saito. The left sided midfielder snaked his way past a number of defenders, to find himself in the box within shooting range. Saito let fly with an unstoppable shot into the left side of goal. It sent the 39,000 plus Yokohama fans into raptures, and it was enough for the Tri Colours to regain the lead of the J League. After the match Saito was quoted by the Japan Times saying, "Since we played Urawa Reds in the league (Aug 28) I haven't been able to play as well as I would have liked . . ." The 22 year old has enjoyed a stunning season and it wouldn't be surprising if he was the next J League star to be stolen away by the European leagues.

In the other big match of the round Urawa travelled to Kashima and took all three points. The Reds appearing in their repugnant green-blue kit went ahead after 20 minutes, when defender Daisuke Nasu headed home a corner. The second goal came via a long range strike by star Genki Haraguchi. Admittedly Haraguchi was the recipient of some woeful goalkeeping. Yuya Osako gave the home team and their 30,000 plus fans some hope in the 87th minute, after sloppy defending allowed him a shot on goal which he duly gave some violence. The match ended 2-1 and now the J League heads into its last five matches with six points separating the top five teams.

Cerezo Osaka have now joined the race for the title albeit as outsiders. They sit six points from Yokohama, but in their favour Cerezo will play three of the teams they're chasing in Hiroshima, Kashima, and Urawa. Next week: Hiroshima host Vegalta Sendai, Kashima host Kawasaki Frontale, Urawa are at home to Kashiwa Reysol, while Yokohama travel to relegated Oita, and Cerezo Osaka also travel to the island of Kyushu to face Sagan Tosu.

J LEAGUE TITLE FIGHT ANOTHER HUM-DINGER

It's a promoter's dream. Title defending Sanfrecce Hiroshima top the table on account of their superior goal difference. Within striking distance are three J League teams of undoubted marquee-edness (it's a new word). Yokohama F Marinos are level on points but trailing by one goal, Urawa Reds are within two points of leaders Hiroshima, and three points from the summit are all time champions Kashima Antlers. 

On September 13th, 2013 I made one of my boldest and dumbest J League predictions yet. Anticipating Yokohama's experienced campaigners Marquinhos and Nakamura would steer the team toward title security, I twat (that's past tense for tweet), "Looking at draw, FMarinos should get 12 points from next four matches." Yokohama managed six points from the available twelve. The first two games saw F Marinos take four points at home against Cerezo Osaka and Shimizu S Pulse. But the nervous shakes become full blown yips when they slipped at Ventforet Kofu on the weekend. Yokohama snared a point at Sendai and that was acceptable, but the debacle at Kofu could cost them the title.

The game ended in a 0-0 stalemate with Yokohama banging on the door over the last fifteen minutes, only for usually cool heads to blunder in front of goal. Shunsuke Nakamura was kept out of the game by a clogged midfield, reinforced by Kofu's five strong back-line. It was left to 23 year old Manabu Saito to inspire the team late in the game. The midfielder pounced on a poor pass and provided a 'room service' cross for striker Fujita. He missed! Soon Saito lobbed a ball from his native left side, which was half shot, and half cross. Brazilian Marquinhos flew threw the air like a flightless bird. He just couldn't meet the ball. It was inside the last ten minutes and Yokohama had begun to dominate proceedings, but for the occasional counter from Kofu. Finally in injury time a breakaway saw Saito feed the ball to Fujita who found himself one on one with the goalkeeper. His shot was smothered but the ball deflected into the path of Saito. The midfielder volleyed the bouncing ball downward but couldn't beat the relegation threatened Kofu keeper.

Meanwhile, Hiroshima have been 'making hay' with three wins from their last three outings. Although their opponents aren't the J League's most feared teams, neither were those that Yokohama faced. Hiroshima dispatched the usually stubborn Niigata 2-nil, they travelled to Kyushu and took care of Sagan Tosu 2-nil, and rounded things off with a flattering 3-1 win at home against Shimizu. Hiroshima showed champion qualities in their most recent outing. They went behind 1-nil after 71 minutes but fought back to win and regain the J League's top spot. Their next J League outing sees them face top of the table rivals Yokohama F Marinos on Saturday, 19th October.

In another fixture list convenience 3rd placed Urawa Reds travel to Kashima to take on 4th placed Antlers. Kashima Antlers are the J League's most successful club, having won seven titles since the league formed in 1993. At their most recent outing Kashima swept nearby Tokyo aside 4-1. The rout began in the 7th minute with a long range shot from Yasushi Endo, next it was Davi off the outside of his left foot in the 9th minute. 34 year old defender Ogasawara got on the score sheet with a hammering drive as the Tokyo defence continued to retreat. Rounding it off was hot prospect Yuya Osako with his goal in the 81st minute.

The Antlers have history and momentum on their side, with six wins from their last eight matches. Also on their side is the stuttering form of the three front-runners. This prompted soccer writer Chris Coll to say of the J League, "Seems like the league no one wants to win sometimes." We agree, but maybe over the last two months we've seen someone stand up and say they want to win. There are six games remaining and amongst them Kashima face both Urawa and Hiroshima. On December 7th, Kashima host Hiroshima on the last day of the season. Could this be the title decider?

F MARINOS ON HUNT FOR HIROSHIMA

Yokohama F Marinos have knocked off J League strugglers Sagan Tosu overnight, to further reinforce their credentials for the J League title. While the pink shirted Tosu side are in a relegation battle, Yokohama didn't have it all their way.
The evergreen Shunsuke Nakamura put the Tri-colours in front in the 23rd minute, but Tosu didn't go away. With plenty to play for Sagan Tosu were able to jag a goal in the 56th minute. A draw would be as good as a win for Tosu as they are only one point above the relegation positions, currently filled by Shonan Bellmare, Jubilo Iwata, and Oita Trinita. But not to be outdone by his fellow elder statesman, F Marinos striker Marquinhos provided an acrobatic winner to take his team just one point from the summit. Be sure to catch that goal on youtube.

Shunsuke Nakamura

All the more pleasing for F Marinos is the fact they did this without 23 year old Manabu Saito. Most would agree the youngster's days in the J League are numbered, and the marquee leagues of Europe beckon. Along with Saito's stunning season and cache of fab-goals, F Marinos have profited off a resurgent Shunsuke Nakamura. The dead ball specialist has been much more significant then in previous seasons since his return from Europe. At 35 he is loving every minute and it isn't too far fetched to say that maybe, just maybe, the local boy could bring the title to Yokohama once again. The last time Yokohama captured the title was in 2004, in the era of the two stage season.

Elsewhere, competition leaders Hiroshima kept on their winning way with a victory over Jubilo Iwata. Hisato Sato was once again on the scoreboard in a 2-1 win. At the top end of the table Urawa slipped up against improving Nagoya Grampus. Aussie Josh Kennedy again proved a thorn in the side of J League defenders, picking up the second in a 2-nil win at home. In the other significant fixture at the top, Omiya Ardija fell further from grace, and back to the reality their tortured fans know. Cerezo Osaka put the cleaners through the home team, with Europe bound Yoichiro Kakitani grabbing two goals, in a 3-nil win.

Next week Hiroshima host Nagoya Grampus who have now strung together five wins in a row. Third placed Urawa at home to also-rans Oita Trinita, while Yokohama F Marinos take a short trip to the capital to face inconsistent FC Tokyo.

Yoichiro Kakitani inflicts pain upon Omiya Ardija

 

NICHOLS AND SAITO SET FOR BRAZIL 2014

 

So Japan’s Blue Samurai defeated the Socceroos 3-2 in an almost empty Hwaseong Stadium, in South Korea. It was the second match of the East Asian Cup for both sides, with both coming off first round draws against China and South Korea respectively. As expected both managers fielded experimental line ups and the final wash up was exactly what the two nations were hoping for. Both Japan and Australia saw some individuals stand up and say ‘count me in’ for Brazil 2014.

For the Japanese it was winger/midfielder Manabu Saito who stamped his name most prominently on the match. The left sided Yokohama F Marinos player scored a super goal to exclamation mark his brilliant performance. Throughout the match he had the Aussies second guessing his every move. The goal came about in a similar manner to his recent strike against J League leaders, Omiya Ardija. A brilliant solo run capped off by an angled shot to beat the keeper at the far post. One for his highlights reel, which will have the talent scouts in Europe queuing for his signature.

 

For the Socceroos it was the turn of Mitch Nichols. The 24 year old Queenslander who recently linked up with his former Brisbane Roar mentor Ange Postecoglou at Melbourne Victory, proved to be an inspired second half inspiration. While the Japanese have put Australia's late revival down to their own fatigue, more credit should be given to Nichols. He gave the Australians attacking options that they lacked in the first half. His brilliant passing game provided opportunities for teammates and eventually his headed pass for Mitchell Duke led to a goal for the Socceroos. The instinctive pass highlighted his soccer intelligence and his overall performance will have manager Holger Osieck pencilling his name in for Brazil. "Mitch helped create a lot of opportunities in the attacking third . . ." the German said. In truth Nichols is closest to a Bresciano clone as the Socceroos will get.

As well as Saito and Nichols impressing there were also promising performances from Japan's Yuya Osako who grabbed two goals and Tomi Juric who picked up one for the Australians. At the end of the match Australian manager Osieck explained, "Down the road when I consider the purpose of our participation at the competition, I will take a lot of positives from the game." The same can be said for Japan. From this point it's Australia v China at 05:15pm and Korea Republic v Japan at 8pm local time.