J: Maeda 13’, Ueda 59’
Jubilo were lucky to get away with a point against Frontale this match, as the home-team were by far the better-looking team out there. However, Jubilo took the lead on 2 occasions, and if they had managed to defend better they would taken all 3 points. Their star-striker Maeda gave them the lead with a nicely-taken header after only 13 minutes, that Frontale’s keeper might should have saved. Frontale tried their best to get an early equalizer, but despite several chances the score were still 0-1 by half-time. Some 10-15 minutes into the 2nd half the match exploded, when first Taniguchi equalized for the home-team in the 58th minute. But just a minute later Jubilo’s impressive man in midfield Ueda beautifull curled in a free-kick to make it 1-2. With Frontale equalizing for the 2nd time 4 minutes later through Chong Tese it was a very entertaining period for the spectators. Frontale had the most of the chances, and with a bit more luck and efficiency they would have won this by a safe margin. All in all a solid display from them though, and they showed good team-morale to come from behind twice. Frontale had 20 shots to Jubilo’s 10.
Y: Nakazawa 27’
A draw is a result neither Shimizu or Marinos will be particularly happy with, as both teams struggle down in 15th and 16th respectively. That means the danger of relegation are highly present, and neither of the teams above them in the table seems to be heading towards a long slump in form, so it’s important that they start winning again. Both teams are undefeated for a few matches now though, so it’s improvement from earlier in the season. It was an evenly contested match, where neither of the teams managed to take control of the game. The play shifted from side to side, but in the opening 20 minutes or so Shimizu looked the best. Marinos received a corner in the 27th minute, and who else than Yuji Nakazawa showed up on the first post to beautifully head it home to make it 1-0 to the visitors. After that Marinos took over a little, but it didn’t last long before Shimizu were the most dangerous side again. Just after restart for the 2nd half, Shimizu equalized through Iwashita, who snuck up on the far post to take a diving header past Enomoto in Marinos’s goal after a nice cross from the right. The rest of the 2nd half looked pretty much the same as the first, with Shimizu having most of the chances. Marinos had the biggest one though, when Sakata were called off for off-side with just a few minutes left. Sakata found the net with his shot, but the replay showed the referees did correct. Shimizu outshot Marinos 9-5.
K: Watanabe 48’, Fernandinho 89’
Consadole were extremely unlucky not to get away with a better result from this match, as they had full control over Kyoto for long parts of this match. The visitors didn’t have a single chance before 3 minutes into the 2nd half, while Consadole blew several golden chances. Their brazilian trio up front caused alot of havoc for Kyoto’s defence, but Mizutani in the Kyoto-goal played his best match of the season, and came up with 4-5 match-winning saves. One time did he let Davi score though, when the speedy brazilian used his superior speed to win a seemingly hopeless ball before racing away from the defenders. Alone with Mizutani he coolly place the ball between the GK’s legs. His compatrio up front Anderson showed once again that he isn’t among the best finishers in the league, and he should have won the game for the home-team.
Kyoto were the best team after the break though, and with that one can say that the team owned each their half. Kyoto’s equalizer were a lucky shot that deflected via a few Consadole defenders that left Takagi in Consadole’s goal wrong-footed. Kyoto had most of the chances in the 2nd half, but none of them were as big as Consadole’s in the 1st. And then, 1 minute before full-time Fernandinho broke loose and took a well-placed shot from just outside the box to finish it 2-1 for the visitors. Consadole had 15 shots to Kyoto’s 12, and should have gotten more from this match.
Oita continued their great form when they met Albirex away this round, and took a strong 1-0 win. With that they got an impressive 6-2-0 on the last 8. It was a well-deserved win as well, as Oita has most of the chances. They came out deep in defence, and went for quick counters that paid off already in the 17th minute. Out-of-favour striker at Cerezo Yasuhito Morishima have had a good start to his career at Oita, and in his first ever start for them he became the match-winner. Morishima picked up the spill-ball after Albirex’s goalkeeper couldn’t held a shot, and scored on the rebound. Oita, who are known for very good defending, packed their defence after the leading goal, and Albirex struggled to break through. Instead Oita came to big chances since Albirex had to open things up in their hunt for the equalizer. Oita had 16 shots to Albirex’s 8, and deserved all 3 points.
J: Arai 65’
Reysol and JEF shared the spoils as usual as they met in perhaps Japan’s biggest derby match, and it was an evenly contested match. Reysol looked the strongest in 1st half, and came to several big chances that threatened JEF’s defence. Franca in particular were a menace. It didn’t result in any goals though, and instead it was JEF that took over the initiative for the 2nd half. Substitute Arai received a through-pass from Aoki, and after sidestepping his defender he hammered it home with a powerful shot. Reysol were caught sleeping on that one, and tried their best to get the equalizer. The always so dangerous Franca came to more chances, but Okayama in JEF’s goal came up with several nice saves. But after a corner-kick JEF failed to clear the ball, and Franca lured their off-side trap and with a volley-shot he equalized with only 10 minutes left to play. The finish became quite entertaining too, with JEF’s toda receiving the marching-order in injury-time. A few minutes later JEF missed a penalty as well. All in all a draw seems fair, but both teams had enough chances to win it. Reysol had 15 shots to JEF’s 12.
Vissel Kobe Nagoya Grampus Eight 1-2
V: Leandro 82’
N: Ogawa 14’,90’
Vissel and Nagoya played a very entertaining match in Kobe this round, where the visitors prevailed as winners after a last-minute goal from Ogawa. The match were quite intense, and both teams saw several golden chances go begging. Ogawa gave Nagoya an early lead after 14 minutes, when Tamada found him with a nice pass. After that Vissel took more over, but neither Okubo or Leandro managed to hit the target despite several chances. The 2nd half looked pretty much the same as the first, with the game shifting from side to side. We had to wait until the 82nd minute for Vissel’s equalizer, when Leandro dribbled his way past a few men, before managing to unleash a shot with 4 players surrounding him that went past Narazaki in the Nagoya-goal. But in injury-time, Ogawa hit the target once again, and secured all 3 points for the visitors. Both teams had 12 shots each, and a draw seemed most fair.
Urawa took a very strong win away against Tokyo this round, which after 3 matches without winning were much-needed. It was a tight match though, and Tokyo looked to be on the same level as Urawa for much of this game. The visitors looked most dangerous in attack, especially after the introdution of Robson Ponte who came on midway through the 2nd half. Actually Urawa’s goal came immediately after Ponte’s arrival, when Suzuki found Soma with a tricky pass. Soma made no mistake alone with Tokyo’s keeper, and scored the winning goal. Tokyo didn’t play a bad match, but never looked like threatening Urawa’s defence. Both teams had 12 shots on goal.
V: Diego 80’
Verdy became atleast one number too small when they met league-leaders Kashima away this round. The home-team looked scincillating, and totally outplayed Verdy. Young-striker Koroki gave Antlers an early lead after only 20 minutes, and right before the break DF Iwamasa made it 2-0 with a nice header from a corner. Verdy didn’t have a single chance in the opening half, and Kashima’s lead could even had been bigger. Shinzo Koroki have been preferred instead Yuzo Tashiro in the last couple of matches, and the youngster have been much more dangerous than Tashiro, and seems a much better finisher as well. Marquinhos made it 3-0 a few minutes into the 2nd half, and by that the match were already over for Verdy. They tried to get back into the match by sending on Oguro though, but it didn’t really help. Near the end of the match Nozawa added a 4th for Antlers, before Diego scored a consolation goal for the visitors. Antlers had 23 shots to Verdy’s 9, so no doubt they deserved the win.
Omiya impressed with beating Gamba 2-0 at home this round, and with that they took their 2nd straight win. That has given them a little breathing space down to the other teams battling against relegation, and for now Omiya seems safe. For Gamba it was their 3rd straight defeat, and they seems really off the pace at the moment.
Omiya took control early on, when Marques scored from a rebound given from Fujigaya after a Lavric-header after only 5 minutes, and the home-team continued with the pressure after the early goal. But their chances weren’t that dangerous really, not until Leandro headed home a corner-kick just before the break to make it 2-0. Gamba took more over in the 2nd half, but Omiya’s defence looked good and managed to keep Gamba at bay. Roni made hi debut for Gamba here, and he looked quite lively. In the end a deserved win for Omiya, who had 10 shots to Gamba’s 11. Omiya’s striker Marques got sent off in the middle of the 2nd half though, which will be a blow ahead of the next match.
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