WORLD CUP: Colombia party on as Japan dumped out
GROUP C JAPAN 1-4 COLOMBIA TUESDAY 24TH JUNE – CUIABA Two distinct styles, only one winner. Colombia progressed to the last sixteen thanks in large part to James Rodriguez’ mesmerising second […]
Category Archives: JAPAN
WORLD CUP: 10 man Greece park the bus to earn a draw against Japan
GROUP C JAPAN 0-0 GREECE THURSDAY 19TH JUNE – NATAL Greece fell down to ten men just before half time as Katsouranis got two bookings. But Japan lacked the enthusiasm […]
WORLD CUP: Samurai Blue overrun by Elephants
GROUP C IVORY COAST 2-1 JAPAN SUNDAY 15TH JUNE – RECIFE A below par Japan were ultimately undone by familiar deficiencies, namely their complete inability to defend cross balls, but […]
WORLD CUP PREVIEW: JAPAN
Japan are no longer the newcomers on the big stage. Having qualified for every world cup since their first appearance in France 98 Japan are starting to stamp themselves as […]
J–League Golden Week wrap-up
Matchdays 9 & 10 fell in Golden Week in Japan, the period at the end of April containing several public holidays. Over 300,000 spectators took advantage of the free time […]
J–League Round 7 wrap-up
150,000 spectators watched the J1 action at the weekend and 42,000 of them were in Osaka to see Cerezo and Gamba share four goals in a thrilling derby (report […]
Arnold on the brink as Reds destroy Vegalta Sendai
There has been a profoundly negative mood around Urawa Reds since a small section of their fans displayed a racist banner at the Saitama stadium last month. Last weeks defeat […]
J-League Round 4 review, Forlan nets first league goal
Forlan scores first league goal, Reds draw with S-Pulse in an empty stadium, and Frontale dismantle FC Tokyo in the Tamagawa Classico. Kashima Antlers 0-2 Cerezo Osaka While it is […]
J-League Round 2 review, Match fixing rumours & racist slogans
Early season shadows cast over J1 Anyone who has more than a passing familiarity with Japanese football invariably has good things to say about it. Anyone with the patience to […]
Diego Forlorn as Sanfrecce take the points
Reigning champions Sanfrecce Hiroshima won 1-0 away to Cerezo Osaka today in the J-League curtain raiser, courteousy of a fine second half volley from defender Tsukasu Shiotani. All the attention was on Cerezo’s […]
J-League 2014 Season Preview
As football slowly takes on greater significance in the Japanese national character, the sporting public await the seasons curtain raiser on Saturday, in the hope that 2014 will bring the […]
JAPAN: J-LEAGUE – ROUND 31 REPORT
The intoxicating lunacy of the J League was on display at the weekend, as yet again, the top three teams failed to gather maximum points. Like punch drunk boxers at […]
JAPAN: J-LEAGUE – ROUND 30 REPORT
Matchday 30 in the J1 title race concluded on Sunday evening with five teams still able to win the title, mathematically at least. In reality, the 2013 champions are likely […]
JAPAN: J-LEAGUE – ROUND 29 REPORT
Another exciting weekend in Japan ended with Yokohama F Marinos and Urawa strengthening their title challenge by defeating closest rivals Sanfrecce Hiroshima and Kashima Antlers respectively. Cerezo Osaka and Kawasaki […]
JAPAN: J-LEAGUE – ROUND 28 REPORT
With six matches of the J1 campaign remaining, it is now a four way fight for the title. Three points separate Sanfrecce Hiroshima, Yokohama F Marinos, Urawa Reds and Kashima […]
JAPAN: J-LEAGUE – ROUND 25 REPORT
The J-League resumed at the weekend following the international break as twenty seven goals were spread across nine games, with late winners, big crowds and yet another surprising sequence of […]
INTERNATIONAL FRIENDLIES: Samurai Blue surge to double wins
Alberto Zaccheroni’s men continued their preparations for the 2014 World Cup with wins over Guatemala and Ghana during the international break. With four wins from their last five matches the […]
JAPAN: J-LEAGUE – ROUND 24 REPORT
Occasionally, J1 can take on the appearance of a competition that no one wants to win. However, the inability of any of the top clubs to break clear of the […]
JAPAN: J-LEAGUE – ROUNDS 22 & 23 REPORT
A busy few days of action in Japan culminated in Yokohama F Marinos reclaiming top spot while the bottom three descend ever closer to the J1 trapdoor. Round 22 – […]
JAPAN: J-LEAGUE – ROUND 21 REPORT
ROUND 21 FC TOKYO 0-2 YOKOHAMA F MARINOS Yasuhiro Higuchi’s men ended the weekend at the top of the J1 table for the first time since April, thanks to a […]
JAPAN: J-LEAGUE – ROUND 20 REPORT
ROUND 20 Verdenik sacking overshadows brilliant Kakitani (Omiya Ardija 0-3 Cerezo Osaka) Omiya Ardija’s bewildering decision to relieve coach Zdenko Verdenik of his duties in the aftermath of this defeat […]
JAPAN: J-LEAGUE – ROUND 19 REPORT
ROUND 19 In the latest instalment of the most unpredictable and eccentric league on planet football, Ventforet Kofu ended a gargantuan losing sequence with a 1-0 away victory over Cerezo […]
JAPAN: J-LEAGUE – ROUND 18 REPORT
ROUND 18 Featured Match Sanfrecce triumph to move three points clear Sanfrecce Hiroshima 3-1 Omiya Ardija Sanfrecce frontman Naoki Ishihara returned to haunt his former club with a hat trick […]
EAST ASIAN CUP: South Korea 1-2 Japan
South Korea 1-2 Japan Olympic Stadium, Seoul – Attendance – 47, 258 Yoichiro Kakitani scored twice on Sunday to defeat hosts South Korea and claim the East Asian Cup for Japan. […]
EAST ASIAN CUP: Japan 3-2 Australia
For the second match in succession Japan’s promising young forwards scored three times against regional rivals, this time emerging victorious by the odd goal in five against Holger Osieck’s Australian […]
EAST ASIAN CUP: Japan 3-3 China
Alberto Zaccheroni’s experimental team began their East Asian cup campaign with a 3-3 draw against an experienced China side at the Seoul World Cup stadium in South Korea, having led 3-1 […]
JAPAN: J-LEAGUE – ROUND 17 REPORT
ROUND 17 Featured Match Urawa Reds 2-3 Yokohama F Marinos National coach Alberto Zaccheroni watched on as Yokohama F Marinos emerged victorious from an eventful contest in Saitama, the visitors […]
JAPAN: J-LEAGUE – ROUND 16 REPORT
ROUND 16 / SATURDAY 13th JULY 170,000 spectators flocked to stadiums all over the country on Saturday to witness goals, upsets and last minute winners in the latest installment of Japans premier football […]
JAPAN: J-LEAGUE – Round 15 Report
ROUND 15 / WEDNESDAY 10th JULY Omiya extend lead at the top to five points Omiya Ardija kept their cool on a hot and humid evening in Japan to remain […]
JAPAN: J-League – The Story so far
The domestic game in Japan awoke from a six week slumber at the weekend with a respectable sprinkling of goals. As small pockets of fans from various clubs protested against […]
CONFEDERATIONS CUP: Brazil wrap up group
Goals, goals, goals once again in the Confederations Cup as Brazil and Italy even though they have already progressed into the semi-finals before tonight’s game exchanged a six-goal battle which […]
CONFEDERATIONS CUP: Italy steal seven-goal thriller
ITALY 4-3 JAPAN Some terrible refereeing by Argentine Diego Abal helped Cesare Prandelli’s Italy defeat Japan 4-3 in a game they did not really deserve to win. The Italians performed a second-half […]
CONFEDERATIONS CUP: Neymar starts the carnival
BRAZIL 3-0 JAPAN Poster-boy of the tournament, Neymar, kicked off the Confederations Cup in style with a stunning volley to opening the scoring in Brazil’s 3-0 win over Japan on […]
CONFEDERATIONS CUP: Brazil and Japan team previews
In the usual prelude for the next year’s World Cup, the Confederations Cup hits Brazil launching on next Saturday 15th June. Since 2005, the Confederations Cup tournament has been held […]
WORLD CUP: Asian Qualifying Round-Up
Japan became the first country to qualify for next summer’s World Cup in Brazil with a 1-1 draw against a plucky Australian side on Tuesday. A last minute penalty converted […]
WORLD CUP REPORT: Asia 26th March 2013
———— Korea Republic 2 (Keun-Ho Lee 60, Heung-Min Son 90) Qatar 1 (Ibrahim 64) Heung-Min Son scored in the sixth minute of injury time for Korea Republic to beat Qatar […]
