J.League Division 1: Matchday 24 Fixtures

Posted on August 31, 2012 by Football Japan

1 September
Kick-off (JST)	Home	vs	Away	Venue
14:00	Consadole Sapporo	vs	Shimizu S-Pulse	Sapporo Dome
18:00	Urawa Red Diamonds	vs	Omiya Ardija	Saitama Stadium 2002
18:30	FC Tokyo	vs	Yokohama F-Marinos	Ajinomoto Stadium
19:00	Vegalta Sendai	vs	Kawasaki Frontale	Yurtec Stadium Sendai
19:00	Kashima Antlers	vs	Vissel Kobe	Kashima Soccer Stadium
19:00	Albirex Niigata	vs	Cerezo Osaka	Tohoku Denryoku Big Swan Stadium
19:00	Jubilo Iwata	vs	Sanfrecce Hiroshima	Yamaha Stadium
19:00	Nagoya Grampus	vs	Kashiwa Reysol	Mizuho Athletic Stadium
19:00	Sagan Tosu	vs	Gamba Osaka	Best Amenity Stadium

FIFA Under-20 Women’s World Cup Quarter-Final: Japan v. South Korea

Posted on August 30, 2012 by Football Japan

The Young Nadeshiko are through to the semi-finals of the 2012 FIFA Under-20 Women’s World Cup following a very convincing victory against South Korea. Hanae Shibata once again justified her selection ahead of Kumi Yokoyama, first beating Jeon Ha-Neul to a superb Asuka Nishikawa pass to roll the ball past the goalkeeper into the empty net, and then scoring her second with a sumptuous twenty yard finish, which came after excellent build-up play on the right and a delightful pass from Mina Tanaka.

In between Shibata’s goals, Jeoun Eun-Ha had levelled the scores for South Korea, Lee Geum-Min’s trickery on the left enabling her to evade the attentions of Hikari Takagi and float a cross for an unmarked Jeoun to head home from six yards. Yōko Tanaka, however, took her tally to five in the competition eight minutes before half-time. Takagi exchanged passes with Mina Tanaka before driving to the by-line, and her pull back provided the INAC Kobe Leonessa midfielder with the simplest of finishes from six yards.

Japan will meet Germany in the semi-final, to be played on 4 September at the National Olympic Stadium, kick-off 19:30 JST.

Japan
Shibata 8′, 19′
Tanaka Y 37′

South Korea
Jeoun E-H 15′

(Match played 30 August 2012)

92nd Emperor’s Cup: Round 1 Fixtures

Posted on August 27, 2012 by Football Japan

The First Round proper of the 92nd Emperor’s Cup gets underway on the weekend of 1 and 2 September after the majority of Prefectural Cup finals were completed on 25 and 26 August. Congratulations are due in particular to Yamanashi Gakuin University (Orions), Amitie SC, Matsue City FC and Nagasaki Institute of Applied Science High School, who will be making their debuts at this stage of the competition.

All the fixtures below, together with J.League and international matches, can be found on the Fixtures Calendar, available in XML, iCal and HTML formats.

1 Sept
Match	Home	vs	Away	Venue
1	Vertfee Takahara Nasu	vs	Kashiwa Reysol U-18	Tochigi City Sports Park Athletics Stadium
2	Sapporo University	vs	AC Nagano Parceiro	Sapporo Atsubetsu Park Stadium
4	FC Suzuka Rampole	vs	Hamamatsu University	Suzuka Sports Garden
5	Sagawa Shiga FC	vs	Kwansei Gakuin University	Nunobiki Green Stadium
6	Ohzu High School	vs	V-Varen Nagasaki	KKWing Stadium
9	Miyazaki Sangyo-keiei University	vs	Fukuoka University	Miyazaki Ikime no Mori Ivy Stadium
12	Tonan SC	vs	Nihon University Yamagata High School	Shoda Shoyu Stadium Gunma
18	Hoyo AC Elan Oita	vs	NIAS High School	Saiki Athletic Stadium
19	Kansai University	vs	Toyama Shinji Club	Kincho Stadium
20	Saurcos Fukui	vs	Niigata University of Management	Technoport Fukui Stadium
21	Yamanashi Gakuin University (Orions)	vs	Fukushima United	Yamanashi Chuo Bank Stadium
22	University of Tsukuba	vs	Okinawa Prefectural Cup winners *	Kasamatsu Stadium
23	Matsue City	vs	Tokuyama University	Shimane Hamayama Stadium

2 Sept
3	Grulla Morioka	vs	Yokogawa Musashino FC	Morioka Park Stadium
7	Kochi University	vs	Sony Sendai FC	Kochi Haruno Athletic Stadium
8	Blaublitz Akita	vs	Heisei International University	Akita Yabase Stadium
10	Vanraure Hachinohe	vs	YSCC	Takamoriyama Sports Park
11	Nara Club	vs	Amitie SC	Kashihara Public Garden Nara Prefectural Stadium
13	Zweigen Kanazawa	vs	FC Kariya	Ishikawa Kanazawa Stadium
14	Saga University	vs	Kamatamare Sanuki	Saga Stadium
15	Yonago Kita High School	vs	Volca Kagoshima	Tottori Bank Bird Stadium
16	Fukuyama University	vs	FC Imabari	Kure Gohara Stadium
17	Arterivo Wakayama	vs	FC Gifu Reserves	Kinokawa Athletic Stadium
24	Fagiano Okayama Reserves	vs	Panasonic Energy Tokushima	Kanko Stadium

All matches kick-off at 13:00 JST.

* – The Okinawa Prefectural Cup has been postponed owing to Typhoon Bolaven, and has been tentatively re-scheduled for 28 August.

FIFA Under-20 Women’s World Cup: Group A MD3 Results and Table

Posted on August 26, 2012 by Football Japan

A thoroughly one-sided 4-0 victory for Japan contained two expertly taken free-kicks by Yōko Tanaka, scoring first with her right foot and then placing the second set piece into the opposite corner of the goal with her left. The midfielder was outstanding in a match where several players shone for the Young Nadeshiko, Kumi Yokoyama’s vision and individual skill matched by the touch and technique of Hikaru Naomoto, while Hanae Shibata’s movement and late runs across midfield proved very difficult for the Swiss defence to track. The victory would have been even more comprehensive save for the superb goalkeeping of Nadine Böni and a number of shots finding the woodwork, and Japan end Group A in first place. Japan will face South Korea in the FIFA Under-20 Women’s World Cup quarter-final, to be played on 30 August at the National Olympic Stadium, kick-off 19:30 JST.

	Mexico Huerta 47′ Gómez-Junco 74′ Franco 85′ Jiménez 87′	4		New Zealand	0
	Japan Tanaka Y 30′, 47′ Nishikawa 52′ Naomoto 84′ (pen.)	4		Switzerland	0

(Matches played 26 August 2012)

Team	P	W	D	L	F	A	GD	Pts
Japan	3	2	1	0	10	3	+7	7
Mexico	3	2	0	1	7	4	+3	6
New Zealand	3	1	1	1	4	7	-3	4
Switzerland	3	0	0	3	1	8	-7	0

J.League Division 2: Matchday 31 Table

Posted on August 26, 2012 by Football Japan

(Gainare are still in difficulty towards the bottom of the Division Two table as they fell to a 3-0 defeat at the Tottori Bank Bird Stadium, but with only FC Gifu able to take any points on Matchday Thirty-One of the four teams battling relegation, they remain in nineteenth place for the third match in succession)

Home

Away

	Team	P	W	D	L	F	A	W	D	L	F	A	GD	Pts
1	Ventforet Kofu	31	9	4	3	22	15	8	6	1	22	9	+20	61
2	Shonan Bellmare	31	9	6	1	23	12	6	6	3	26	19	+18	57
3	Oita Trinita	31	7	4	4	18	15	9	3	4	27	15	+15	55
4	Montedio Yamagata	31	10	3	2	27	14	5	7	4	17	16	+14	55
5	Kyoto Sanga	31	11	2	3	25	14	6	2	7	18	18	+11	55
6	JEF United Chiba	31	8	4	3	24	8	8	2	6	20	12	+24	54
7	Tokyo Verdy	31	10	0	6	23	14	7	2	6	28	20	+17	53
8	Yokohama FC	31	6	3	6	17	15	9	2	5	29	20	+11	50
9	Tochigi SC	31	8	4	4	18	14	6	3	6	18	17	+5	49
10	Fagiano Okayama	31	6	6	5	16	15	6	5	3	11	10	+2	47
11	Giravanz Kitakyushu	31	5	3	7	17	21	7	4	5	19	15	+0	43
12	Tokushima Vortis	31	5	4	6	15	17	6	4	6	16	14	+0	41
13	Matsumoto Yamaga	31	4	6	4	14	16	6	5	6	14	16	-4	41
14	Mito HollyHock	31	8	3	4	22	18	3	4	9	11	18	-3	40
15	Avispa Fukuoka	31	5	7	4	20	21	4	3	8	23	28	-6	37
16	Thespa Kusatsu	31	3	6	7	10	18	6	4	5	14	12	-6	37
17	Roasso Kumamoto	31	7	5	4	22	18	2	5	8	6	18	-8	37
18	Ehime FC	31	6	5	4	23	16	2	5	9	13	20	+0	34
19	Gainare Tottori	31	5	1	10	13	29	2	2	11	10	33	-39	24
20	FC Gifu	31	2	5	9	8	22	2	6	7	9	20	-25	23
21	FC Machida Zelvia	31	2	3	10	5	23	3	4	9	16	22	-24	22
22	Kataller Toyama	31	1	5	9	13	24	2	5	9	12	23	-22	19

J.League Division 2: Matchday 31 Results

Posted on August 26, 2012 by Football Japan

(Shohei Yokoyama’s neat pull back allows Kazuki Sakurada to slot home in the 87th minute, giving Thespa Kusatsu just their third home win of the season)

Tokyo Verdy	0	Giravanz Kitakyushu Tokiwa 40′ Hayashi 89′	2
Ventforet Kofu Davi 52′, 73′	2	Yokohama FC Horinouchi 28′	1
Gainare Tottori	0	Tokushima Vortis Nishijima 45′, 90′+3 Diogo 87′	3
Ehime FC	0	FC Gifu	0
Shonan Bellmare Furuhashi 27′ Shimomura 34′	2	Tochigi SC Hirose 19′	1
Montedio Yamagata Akiba 20′ Hayashi 41′ Nakashima 45′+5	3	FC Machida Zelvia Kitai 90′+1	1
JEF United Chiba Takeuchi 9′ Fujita 41′, 84′	3	Mito HollyHock	0
Fagiano Okayama	0	Oita Trinita	0
Avispa Fukuoka Naruoka 24′ Osmar 90′+4	2	Matsumoto Yamaga Shiozawa 25′, 60′	2
Roasso Kumamoto Yabu 30′ Katayama 33′ Osako 90′+3	3	Kataller Toyama	0
Thespa Kusatsu Sakurada 87′	1	Kyoto Sanga	0

(Matches played 26 August 2012)

J.League Division 2: Matchday 31 Fixtures

Posted on August 25, 2012 by Football Japan

26 August
Kick-off (JST)	Home	vs	Away	Venue
18:00	Tokyo Verdy	vs	Giravanz Kitakyushu	Ajinomoto Field Nishigaoka
18:00	Ventforet Kofu	vs	Yokohama FC	Yamanashi Chuo Bank Stadium
18:00	Gainare Tottori	vs	Tokushima Vortis	Tottori Bank Bird Stadium
18:00	Ehime FC	vs	FC Gifu	Ningineer Stadium
18:30	Shonan Bellmare	vs	Tochigi SC	Shonan BMW Stadium Hiratsuka
19:00	Montedio Yamagata	vs	FC Machida Zelvia	ND Soft Stadium Yamagata
19:00	Thespa Kusatsu	vs	Kyoto Sanga	Kumagaya Athletic Stadium
19:00	JEF United Chiba	vs	Mito HollyHock	Fukuda Denshi Arena
19:00	Fagiano Okayama	vs	Oita Trinita	kanko Stadium
19:00	Avispa Fukuoka	vs	Matsumoto Yamaga	LEVEL-5 Stadium
19:00	Roasso Kuamoto	vs	Kataller Toyama	KKWing Stadium

Shinji Kagawa versus Fulham: Stats

Posted on August 25, 2012 by Football Japan

Shots
All attempts	Goals	On target	Off target
4	1	2	1
Blocked	Inside Pen. Area	Outside Pen. Area	Woodwork
1	2	2	1
Passes
All	Completed %	Received	Attacking third
42/47	89%	53	18/23
Assists	Chances created	Free Kick	Long
0	1	0/0	1/1
Short	Forward	Backward	Square
41/46	12/15	21/21	9/11
Attack
Crosses	Take-ons	Corners	Offside passes
0/1	1/1	0/0	0
Defence
Tackles	Interceptions	Blocks	Clearances
2/2	1	0	0/0

(Data from Opta)

J.League Division 1: Matchday 23 Table

Posted on August 25, 2012 by Football Japan

(At the NACK5 Stadium Vegalta Sendai’s second-half pressure told against Omiya Ardija, as they completed their recovery from going behind to an excellent Yu Hasegawa strike. Coupled with Sanfrecce’s surprise defeat at the Hiroshima Big Arch to FC Tokyo, Vegalta are just one point behind the league leaders, and arrested their prior run of no wins in five matches)

Home

Away

	Team	P	W	D	L	F	A	W	D	L	F	A	GD	Pts
1	Sanfrecce Hiroshima	23	6	2	4	18	11	7	2	2	26	13	+20	43
2	Vegalta Sendai	23	5	5	1	24	10	6	4	2	17	11	+20	42
3	Urawa Red Diamonds	23	6	4	1	17	10	5	4	3	15	12	+10	41
4	Jubilo Iwata	23	8	2	1	27	13	3	2	7	21	22	+13	37
5	Kashiwa Reysol	23	3	4	4	19	21	7	2	3	24	14	+8	36
6	Yokohama F-Marinos	23	5	6	1	17	11	3	5	3	12	12	+6	35
7	Sagan Tosu	23	7	3	2	12	4	2	5	4	14	16	+6	35
8	Nagoya Grampus	23	6	1	4	17	14	4	4	4	17	20	+0	35
9	Shimizu S-Pulse	23	5	4	2	17	14	5	0	7	8	13	-2	34
10	FC Tokyo	23	4	1	6	13	15	6	2	4	12	12	-2	33
11	Vissel Kobe	23	5	2	5	12	10	5	1	5	19	24	-3	33
12	Kawasaki Frontale	23	4	1	7	14	18	5	4	2	17	15	-2	32
13	Kashima Antlers	23	5	2	4	23	13	3	3	6	8	17	+1	29
14	Cerezo Osaka	23	4	1	6	16	16	3	4	5	15	18	-3	26
15	Gamba Osaka	23	4	3	6	30	29	2	3	5	15	17	-1	24
16	Albirex Niigata	23	1	5	5	6	16	5	1	6	10	11	-11	24
17	Omiya Ardija	23	4	2	6	13	19	2	3	6	8	22	-20	23
18	Consadole Sapporo	23	3	1	8	11	22	0	0	11	8	37	-40	10

J.League Division 1: Matchday 23 Results

Posted on August 25, 2012 by Football Japan

(With Kashima Antlers’ Juninho spurning some excellent chances, a lightning break from Albirex Niigata results in Michael’s expertly chipped finish, Bruno Lopes the provider with a run from the edge of his own penalty area. Antlers are now only five points above the relegation zone, and have won just one of their last five J.League matches)

Shimizu S-Pulse	0	Urawa Red Diamonds Umesaki 11′ Abe 20′	2
Kashima Antlers	0	Albirex Niigata Michael 38′	1
Omiya Ardija Hasegawa 25′	1	Vegalta Sendai Wilson 45′ Kamata 57′ Matsushita 90′+3	3
Kashiwa Reysol	0	Jubilo Iwata Yamada 5′ Komano 28′ Maeda 78′	3
Kawasaki Frontale	0	Nagoya Grampus Kanazaki 74′	1
Gamba Osaka Sato 16′ Leandro 26′, 45′, 57′ Konno 68′ Own Goal 83′ Ienaga 90′+3	7	Consadole Sapporo Hidaka 18′ Uehara 71′	2
Cerezo Osaka Yamaguchi 65′ Kakitani 77′	2	Yokohama F-Marinos	0
Vissel Kobe	0	Sagan Tosu	0
Sanfrecce Hiroshima	0	FC Tokyo Lucas 49′	1