Urawa's J League Masterclass?

Saitama Stadium played host to some torrential rain and a 5 minute masterclass from home team Urawa Reds on Saturday. The Reds led 1-nil at halftime via a Umesaki scrambled goal. The midfielder scored his second goal of the season after a cross was whipped in from the right which young gun Genki Haraguchi volleyed into the upright. Umesaki was 'johnny on the spot' when the ball rebounded into his path.

The Reds created more chances in the first half but failed to convert, again hitting the upright on one occasion. When the players walked onto the pitch for the second half they were confronted by tropical storm-like conditions. Thankfully the fans were treated to a goal feast which would warm the hearts of their cold and wet bodies. It began in the 50th minute when the home team broke from their own half after some aggressive tackling. Kashiwagi fed Hirakawa a perfect through ball from the left, the defender had no option but to run the ball into the box and shoot. When he did, he hit the target. Moments later it was Haraguchi's turn with the Reds once again in counter mode. Kashiwagi once again provided the assist and this ball truly was sublime. It seems the number eight loves a wet track: for me, the man of the match. Haraguchi's finish was expected for a player with the attention and wraps he is currently receiving. In the 54th minute Haraguchi was credited for a goal which was rightfully Kashiwagi's. An attempted clearance by a Tosu defender fell into the path of Kashiwagi who hammered it goal-ward. With the keeper beaten, Haraguchi's airborne ricochet wasn't needed but it saw him credited with the goal (check the video).

After some rapturous celebrations led by Makino the Reds decided to sit back and invite trouble. As if to match the Reds, Tosu scored three goals in four minutes between the 67th and 71st minute. A combination of lazy marking a lack of commitment saw Tosu almost snatch a point. In the 78th minute young Brazilian forward Tozim was first to a cross and headed just wide for Tosu. The team from Kyushu have shown much more resilience in their J1 debut than fellow Kyushu islanders Avispa Fukuoka last year. Avispa revisited J1 last season but were quickly sent packing as whipping boys of J1 in 2011. It's hard to see Tosu getting caught up in a relegation battle this year. For Urawa Reds though, what will be of season 2012? They sit five points off the lead with 17 matches to play. They certainly look like a harmonious unit, but the defencive lapse which saw Sagan Tosu grab three goals in the space of four minutes raises questions.

Masakatsu Sawa for Kashiwa Reysol

Elsewhere in the J League, competition leaders Vegalta Sendai continued on their merry way with a victory over Vissel Kobe. Sendai continue to be hard to beat, conceding only 15 goals and on Saturday actually being on the wrong end of a 19-9 shooting stat. It's this kind stubbornness that puts them in the champions bracket. As for the chasing pack, Sanfrecce Hiroshima fought off Jubilo Iwata with a 2-nil win putting them in 2nd place just two points off Sendai. Meanwhile, Nagoya Grampus were able to prove doubters (including me) wrong with a gutsy 2-1 win away to Kashiwa Reysol. Aussie Joshua Kennedy scored a neat flicked goal to put the Aichi team ahead but Reysol rallied to make it 1-1 soon after. With seven yellow cards issued, it was action aplenty in the Tokyo rain, but Kashiwa would go down due to an own goal in th 63rd minute.

Coming up this Saturday: Nagoya v Sendai, Hiroshima v Kawasaki, Shimizu v Kashiwa and lots more as the contenders begin to establish themselves. 

J League Ladder Congested

Sendai Still Top of J League

Wilson slots one away for Vegalta against Sanfrecce Hiroshima

Almost halfway through the season and still it's anyone's title in the J League. Vegalta Sendai still sit atop the table after the last two rounds saw them take on some of their closest rivals. Sanfrecce Hiroshima and Jubilo Iwata are two and five points off the pace respectively while last season's champs Kashiwa Reysol ominously edge into the frame.

Many doubt Sendai's credentials to carry off the J League title however, it's one of those seasons where nobody else has stood up to say, 'we want it more'. Perhaps the biggest mover and shaker is 2011 champion Kashiwa Reysol. Kashiwa have taken 16 points from the last 18 points available to them. Not long ago we were thinking they could be the first team to be promoted to the J1 and win the title straight up, before being relegated again the next year. That's not going to happen though, and the weekend's 6-2 drubbing of Gamba at Gamba is a clear message to all their opponents. With no more commitments to the ACL the 'Sun Kings' are definitely one to watch. Next week they take on the stuttering Nagoya at home, without the services a recently departed Hiroki Sakai, another Japanese player off to Germany.

Hiroki Sakai off to Hannover

Elsewhere at the top of the table Jubilo Iwata gave FC Tokyo a lesson 3-1 at Yamaha Stadium (Iwata). Something is definitely amiss at FC Tokyo. Even with Hasegawa playing the full 90 minutes they only picked up their goal in the 89th minute. As Hisato Sato grabbed another goal Sanfrecce Hiroshima were able to snare a point at Yurtec Stadium when they took on Vegalta Sendai. Vegalta were a little fortunate as Wilson's second goal in the 79th minute came from a defencive blunder. As for Sato, his goal was a gem tapped in off the outside of his left foot as he flew through the air to meet a bouncing cross from the right. Super!

I had the pleasure of travelling to Big Swan Stadium to watch the Albirex Niigata game against misfiring big guns Kashima Antlers. It was a truly entertaining affair with both teams efforts belying their positions on the table. The sultry and prancing Dutra putting on one of those performances that Brazilian soccer players are renowned for. He picked up a goal with a quick turn and shot from just inside the box and wowed the crowd with his backheel passes. He danced around the stage in his glowing orange boots in a free roaming role, the only blight on his game being his lethargy and some spectacular simulation. However, some might say his simulation was also part of the package, it certainly had me entertained. Poor Niigata look set for relegation though sitting second last and 5 points away from safety. They did replace their manager recently though and one thing I took from the match was their shape at the back was very stable. Good luck to them and their loyal fans. 35,506 fans turned up to see the men in orange as they fight for survival.

I look forward to seeing this table sort itself out in the coming weeks with Hiroshima hosting third placed Jubilo Iwata while Vegalta Sendai head to Kobe to take on a team on the up with newly appointed Akira Nishino. Nishino took Gamba to the ACL title in 2008 and the J League title in 2007, will he have the same success with Kobe?

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.

Socceroos in Danger Zone

  SOCCEROOS IN DANGER ZONE

"Oman's a completely different (pause), competitive game to this one. So, we look forward you know, in confident mood." After a 2-nil defeat to Denmark on Saturday, Socceroos captain Lucas Neill is not panicking. However, despite what the captain says, Australia's path to World Cup 2014 is beginning to look very dangerous. With imminent retirements and a star player out over family issues, Australia might well find itself chasing the pack.

This Friday 11pm AEST, the Socceroos face Oman at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex. The Omanies got their qualifying campaign off to a disappointing start when being downed 3-nil by Japan at Saitama Stadium on Sunday. That 3-nil scoreline is what is most dangerous for the Socceroos. With what seems a comfortable victory for Japan the Socceroos will quite plausibly head to the middle east expecting to pick up the three points in standard manner, but the defeat to Japan wasn't as ugly as the scoreline depicts.

Japan picked up an early goal from a Nagatomo cross and a superb volleyed finish by Keisuke Honda. From there the Samurai Blue dominated possession, it's true, but the Oman back four held firm. This was a defensive unit unlike most from west Asia. They moved as one, and it was only an offside goal and an unfortunate deflection which provided for the second and third goals (check video below). Make no mistake, a Socceroos outfit lacking it's most potent strike weapon in recent times (Brett Holman), will struggle to prise this team open.

With Holman on paternal duties (expecting his second child), expect Australia to look to the famous faces , Cahill, Kewell and Bresciano. The old faces at the back though, are cause for concern. Socceroos fans are all aware of their aging line-up, and the lack of mobility in the centre back position is becoming more and more a liability. In the Denmark clash we saw Matthew Spiranovic (squad member at Urawa Reds) slot in for Sasa Ognenovski (33 yrs old), and unfortunately he had a game to forget. Responsible for the penalty that provided Denmark with their first goal, the defender then failed to make contact with a corner, leading to the second goal. The 'icing on the cake' came when the 23 year old played a neat through ball  (a woeful back pass) into the path of Nicklas Bendtner, who should have made it 3-nil.

These are worrying times for Australia. With a lack of speed and mobility at the back the Socceroos cannot afford to be 'behind the eight ball' in this qualifying campaign. Given that Australia's second opponent in qualifying is Japan the need for three points in Oman is paramount. Imagine this hypothetical situation: Australia take 1 point from Oman, and Japan defeat Australia in Brisbane. Suddenly the Socceroos are chasing the pack. Does Holger Osieck ring in the inevitable changes before our third qualifying match in September? Or does he stick with the experience to get us out of trouble, in full knowledge that even skipper Lucas Neill (34 yrs old) may struggle to make a starting eleven in Brazil?

Check out Japan vs Oman below:

DORTMUND MAKE A MINT ON KAGAWA

KAGAWA OFF TO ENGLAND

Shinji Kagawa - Samurai Blue

Japan's rising star Shinji Kagawa is set to make official the signing that the entire world already seems to know about. Kagawa has spent the past two seasons winning trophies with German champs Borussia Dortmund, and is now set to move to Manchester United.

The versatile midfielder slash forward is said to be on his way for a transfer fee of 17.5m euros. Dortmund have the player on contract only for one more season so the option to take the cash now is an obvious choice. The Germans however, have made a 'motza' with the 23 year old, having signed him for just 350,000 euros in the summer of 2010. Wow! Unlucky Japan, unlucky Cerezo Osaka.

Some have questioned the signing not on terms of ability but a 'star' factor that fans sometimes crave. Jamie Jackson at the Guardian in the U.K. sees Kagawa as the second pick behind 21 year old Belgian talent Eden Hazard who went for 32m pounds (English pounds - not euros) to Chelsea. Jackson said, ". . . there is nothing hollywood about Kagawa . . ." in his piece, but it's the 'fans' while always craving big names, that can also be responsible for making big names. Kagawa may be humble, but if Manchester United enjoy success off the back of him, he'll soon become a household name. Lionel Messi is a star and he doesn't have to blow his own trumpet.

Interesting times for Japanese soccer and Manchester United.  On a personal note I can see Kagawa forming a great partnership on and off the field with Wayne Rooney. The Briton will appreciate Kagawa's unselfish attitude, and he'll be happy to help the new man settle, while his own star returns to top billing. The only disappointment for Japan is the tiny fee Kagawa went for in 2010. Unfortunately Cerezo Osaka didn't have a sell on clause in the contract either. A time of contrasts for Japanese soccer.

ADELAIDE UNITED CONFIDENT AGIANST NAGOYA

KOSMINA IN BUOYANT MOOD

Sergio Van Dijk and Bruce Djite

John Kosmina has made it clear he believes his men are in with a massive chance of knocking off Japan's Nagoya Grampus tonight. “Any of the Japanese teams are beatable, they’ve got to make the trip and these are all things that can help us get on with the job . . ." claimed Kosmina. Adelaide are easily Australia's most successful club in Asian competition. It's now their third incursion into the knockout stages of the ACL.

Nagoya's most recent match was a 1-nil defeat to Cerezo Osaka on Friday 25th May. Prior to that they crashed 4-nil to J league leaders Vegalta Sendai in a pulsating match (2-nil until 87mins) at Yurtec Stadium, Sendai. The form may not be as patchy as it appears on paper and we can't forget the Aichi based side put the cleaners through the Mariners in their last ACL outing.

For Adelaide, their last league match was way back on March 23rd. They had a terrible domestic season with current manager John Kosmina coming in just before the midway point of the season, yet still being powerless to turn things around. Just like the year that Adelaide went all the way to the final of the ACL (2008), this year's continental success comes off the back of a dismal domestic season. Keeper Eugene Galekovic said "No one has really rated us since day one . . ." and the Reds have thrived on the underdog status. Throughout the ACL the Reds have made no secret of their intentions to sit back and hit on the counter. It's been successful, and that can be attributed largely to the speed of players like Dario Vidosic and former Sydney sider Ian Ramsey. Most surprising has been the sparing use of Sergio Van Dijk. The A-League stalwart seems out of favour with Kosmina, but he popped up to grab a goal in the recent outing against Gamba Osaka.

So tonight's result really hinges on Adelaide making the most of their limited chances. I can see some reprisals if Adelaide surge forward in a counter attack and a player the calibre of Kensuke Nagai or Mu Kanazaki find the ball. But who wants this the most? Motivation is always a huge factor when very little separates the teams on paper. This is a shop window for many of the Reds younger players and maybe the biggest game of their lives. On that note, I'll have to give it to the Reds (of Adelaide).