FC Tokyo Albirex Niigata 1-0T: Akamine 83’
A late goal by substitute Shingo Akamine sealed the win for Tokyo, which means they are still in the run for a place in the ACL next year. It was a lucky result though, as it was the visitors from Niigata that ruled the play and had most of the chances. Especially in the first half, where Tokyo were saved by the bar as well as some nice saves from their goalkeeper.
Tokyo took more over in the 2nd half, and once Akamine came on things started to get better for them. Akamine’s goal came from a header that Albirex’s keeper should have saved. Tokyo outshot Niigata 11-8.
Nagoya Grampus Consadole Sapporo 3-1N: Ogawa 6’, Sugimoto 12’, Yoneyama 90C: Davi 70’Nagoya had few problems beating a poor Consadole side at home, and eventually ended u winning 3-1. Ogawa and Sugimoto gave the home team a great start to the match, as Nagoya were already 2-0 up after 12 minutes. Nagoya’s lead should have gotten bigger though, as they constantly attacked Consadole’s defence. Magnum im particular blew several huge chances, and instead it was Consadole’s Davi that scored the 3rd goal of the match which brought some life back into the game. Nagoya held on though, and Yoneyama sealed all points with another goal in the 90th minute. Both teams had 11 shots on goals, but most of Consadoles efforts were just half-chances.
Omiya Ardija Kyoto Sanga FC 1-1O: Lavric 12’K: Hayashi 58’A draw is a result both teams are happy about, as it pretty much secures both teams a place in J1 next year as well. For Kyoto’s sake, they are 100% safe now, while for Omiya alot has to go wrong if they are to be relegated.
Omiya got off to the best start, and took the lead in the 12th minute through Lavric, who scored after Kyoto’s goalie had to give a rebound to a shot from Fujimoto. Kyoto tried to get back into the match after the early goal, but the closest they got were through a few half-chances. Hayashi got a rare start, and the long-haired striker equalized after being set up by Yanagisawa in the 58th minute. Hayashi had a couple of big chances earlier as well, and didn’t play too badly. Lavric put the ball in the net once more just before the end, but were called off for off-side. All in all a fair result, and Omiya had 11 shots to Kyoto’s 13.
Kashiwa Reysol Oita Trinita 0-2O: Suzuki 78’, Uemoto 82’Reysol and Oita battle it out in a very entertaining match with plenty of chances. Oita ended up winning 2-0, and with that kept their hopes alive of a top 3 finish. It was fully deserved as well, as Oita had the most of the chances and most of the possession. Usually Oita have been very careful away this season, but this match they attacked with all their might. Despite heavy pretssure on Reysol, they didn’t manage to score, and actually had to wait until the 78th minute before the opening goal. Suzuki fired away a piledriver from just outside the box that flew into the low-corner, and suddenly the visitors were 1-0 up. Just 4 minutes later Uemoto showed up on the far post to head home the 2nd goal for Oita. Both teams should have scored earlier in the match though, and in the en Oita outshot Reysol 16-7.
Yokohama F Marinos Tokyo Verdy 2-0Y: Matsuda 59’, Aria Hasegawa 90’Yokohama had an easy task beating a poor Verdy side at home this round, and ended up winning 2-0. The home team had the most of the chances, and it was a fully deserved win. Verdy didn’t create a single real goalscoring opportunity the whole match, and only had some weak finishes from distance that never really troubled the goalkeeper. Marinos’ first goal came in the 59th minute, as Matsuda’s leap-shot bundled over Verdy’s keeper. Not impressive by Doi in Verdy’s goal. Marinos kept on with the pressure, but had to wait until the 90th minute before they got their 2nd goal through Hasegawa. Verdy looked poor for the entire match, especially up front, where they play with strikers that wouldn’t even be good enough for a mediocre J2 team. With Hulk left earlier in the season and Diego suspended as well as Oguro not being the same player now as he was 3 years ago with Gamba it doesn’t bid well for Verdy. Marinos outshot them 15-7.
Kashima Antlers Jubilo Iwata 1-0K: Iwamasa 90’A last-minute goal from captain Daiki Iwamasa gave Antlers 3 very important points that might be what gives them the title. 2 points clear with just 1 match left, Antlers only need 1 point in their last match against last-placed Consadole to win the title as they have a far superior goal-difference. Antlers looked to be in total control of this match already from the start, but despite alot of ball possession they didn’t manage to score. They had some chances though, but the finishing were a bit unlucky. Jubilo had a few efforts from distance, but never really threatened Antlers. Iwamasa’s goal came in the 89th minute after he headed home a corner-kick. That sent the 30 000 in the crowd into eruption, and it might be the difference between 1st and 2nd this season. Antler’s outshot Jubilo 13-7.
Kawasaki Frontale Vissel Kobe 4-0K: Chong Tese 4’,63’, Juninho 66’,90’Frontale impressed by beating an in-form Kobe side 4-0 at home this round, which means they still got a tiny chance of finishing 1st this season. But then Antlers has to lose their last match, and Frontale has to win by atleast a couple of goals to get a better goal-aggregate.
The match weren’t as one-sided as the result suggests here, and Kobe looked just as good if not even better tan Frontale at times. Chong Tese gave the home-side a great start though with a nice finish alone with Kobe’s keeper after being played through elegantly by Juninho. Kobe had several huge chances after that to equalize, especially through Okubo who missed a sitter. Instea Chong doubled his tally after a scramble inside the box in the 63rd minute. Juninho did 3-0 shortly after on a PK after Kitamoto got sent off for a professional foul. The brazilian added another with a beautiful placed shot in injury-time to make it 4-0. Frontale had 15 shots to Kobe’s 13.
Gamba Osaka Urawa Red Diamonds 1-0G: Endo 85’The season went from bad to worse for Urawa as they crashed 1-0 at Gamba this round. That means they can’t finish any higher than 4th, and will therefore drop out of ACL as well. Coach Engels has been told he will be replaced as the season ends as well, so clearly Urawa aren’t happy with how things have gone this year. Gamba won the ACL, and rescued their season with that. In the league they’ve struggled a bit more, and are all the way down in 8th. It was a thrilling match, with huge chances at both ends. Gamba should have taken the lead in the 20th minute when both Lucas and Endo hit the post on a double-chance. Just minutes later Tulio’s header hit the bar, so both teams were saved by the woodwork. the only goal of the game came in the 85th minute through Yasuhito Endo, on a rare for him, header. Gamba got Yamazaki sent off just before the break, but 20 minutes into the 2nd half Urawa’s Edmilson received the marching order as well. All in all a fair result, but it could have gone either way. Gamba ha 15 shots to Urawa’s 13.
Shimizu S-Pulse JEF Utd Ichihara 3-2S: Hyodo 29’, Own-goal 39’, Okazaki 77’J: Maki 33’,86’2 goals from Seiichiro Maki weren’t enough for JEF as they lost 2-3 away against Shimizu. That means JEF has to win their last match if they want a chance to avoid relegation this season. Shimizu got off to a good start, and had several chances in the opening minutes. The first goal came in the 29th minute, when Hyodo fired home a powerful volley-shot. Maki equalized with a terrific header just minutes later. Right before the break, JEF’s goalkeeper made an horrendous error which resulted the 2-1 goal for Shimizu. As the 2nd half progressed, we didn’t see that many chances, until Okazaki came down the left-hand side and fired home the 3-1 goal in the 77th minute. Maki scored another one from the header in the 86th minute, but JEF couldn’t find another goal, and eventually lost. Both teams had 9 shots on goal.
