J.League Division 1: Sat, 11th July 2009
 |
2 - 2 |  |
| MARCIO RICHARDES 36' MATSUSHITA 63' |
TANIGUCHI 50' JUNINHO 89' MORI sent off 66' |
Venue: Tohoku Denryoku "Big Swan" Stadium
Attendance: 36,810
On holiday in the UK at the moment, so missed this one. Looks like a get-out-of-jail affair based on the stats.
Feel free to bring me up to speed on the game's main events via the comments section below!
Labels:
albirex niigata,
j.league,
juninho,
kawasaki frontale,
taniguchi
J. League Division 1: Sun, 5th July 2009
|
1 - 1 |  |
| JUNINHO 33' (pen.) | KOROKI 64' UCHIDA sent off 33' |
Venue: Todoroki Stadium
Attendance: 22,185
Frontale let slip a first-half lead and a golden opportunity to close the gap at the top of the table against 10-man Kashima Antlers on Sunday evening.
While it's heart-warming to know there's little danger of Frontale becoming predictable (after all, this could have been a third successive 1-0 win!), the uninspired nature of their performance in this crunch contest is slightly concerning.
The game hinged on the controversial dismissal of Kashima's, Atsuto Uchida, in the 34th minute. The young defender blocked a goal-bound Taniguchi header on the line and the referee adjudged that he had used his arm.
There was more than a little doubt as to whether or not the ball had actually come into contact with an illicit body part. But with the foul called and a penalty awarded, there was no other option but for Uchida to receive his marching orders.
Juninho dispatched the resulting penalty kick with some aplomb. However, a spirited reaction from the ten remaining Kashima players, and a disappointingly lacklustre second-half display from the home team, saw the game end with honours even.
In a break from recent tradition, rather than utilising the quietly effective Yabu in Vitor's absence, Sekizuka opted to start with Yamagishi, who gave a typically ghost-like performance. A crueller observer might suggest that the referee was only levelling things up by removing Uchida so early. But there was worse to come.
Early in the second half, Chong Tese - on the verge of becoming the second player to see red - was withdrawn from the game. Had Renatinho been around to take his place, Kashima would certainly have been harder pressed than they were by the hopelessly ineffectual Kurotsu. In essence, by this stage the Antlers were a man up, with Yamagishi and Kurotsu vying to see who could be more invisible.
There's no doubt the visitors were in the ascendancy after the loss of Chong. But, even then, it took a schoolboy error to gift them their way back into the game.
Terada, continuing in his defensive midfield role of recent games, inexplicably failed to look behind him before playing a backpass. Had he done so he would have noticed the menacing figure of Marquinos on the prowl. But he didn't, and the Brazilian was quick to exploit, releasing Shinzo Koroki who rounded Kawashima before finishing well from an acute angle.
Of course accidents do (and as we know with Frontale, frequently will) happen. What's disappointing is the lack of response after Koroki's equaliser. Even when Sekizuka went to the bench, the only impact players at his disposal were Tasaka and Yajima.
That's not to say the blame should be laid on the (admittedly disappointing) replacements. The overall quality of Frontale's final ball was frankly abysmal in the latter stages of the game. The number of decent crosses could be counted on the digits of a three-toed sloth...with toes to spare. And a last-gasp effort from Tasaka - well-saved by Kashima keeper, Hitoshi Sogahata - was much too little too late.
Before the game, the promise of a point would have been welcomed with open arms. But, as the despondent faces of the players coming off the pitch attested, this was a major body blow for the team. They now need to pick themsleves up quickly for next week's tough trip to Niigata.
Labels:
j.league,
juninho,
kashima antlers,
kawasaki frontale
J.League Division 1: Wed, 1st July 2009
|
1 - 0 |  |
| YABU 32' |
Venue: Todoroki Stadium
Attendance: 15,903
Frontale's excellent form continued on Wednesday night as a 1-0 win at home to Gamba Osaka saw them scurry up to 2nd place in the table.
A first-half strike from Yabu - arriving late in the box to convert Renatinho's square ball - proved enough to separate the two teams. But it was another stand-out performance from old "safe hands" Kawashima that guaranteed the victory.
Frontale made a lively start to the game, but it was Gamba - no doubt intent on revenge after last week's ACL exit - who enjoyed the first spell of sustained pressure. And, while there was little to trouble the home goal unduly, the visitors were building up a worrying head of steam.
But, as so often, Frontale crept in like thieves in the night to snatch the lead against the run of play. A long, raking pass from Kengo (who else?) found Renatinho wide on the left. Juninho raced through the middle, drawing the Gamba defence with him. And, whether by luck or judgement, Rena picked out Yabu arriving unmarked on the edge of the box to send a low drive into the bottom corner.
Yabu has exceeded all expectations in recent weeks, filling in for the injured Vitor Junior. His arrival at half time in last week's ACL game was instrumental in turning the tide. And, while he may not offer the same attacking threat as Vitor, he gets the job done. Slightly unfortunate for him, then, that his cool, first-half finish was almost undone by a lapse of concentration after the break.
Quick quiz. For a team that's sitting back and defending a lead, is the sensible thing to do when a ball drops to you inside your own penalty area: a) welly it first-time and clear the danger; or b) control the ball, play it neatly out of defence and bask in the applause of the crowd? Well, Yabu got the answer wrong.
Maybe he had too much time to think about it, maybe he was tired, maybe he was just getting too big for his boots. Whatever the reason, his first touch was heavy, and as Takahiro Futagawa pounced on the loose ball, Yabu stuck out a leg giving the referee no option but to point to the spot.
Happily, Yabu strikes me as the kind of player who learns from his mistakes. Even more happily, Kawashima saved Endo's penalty. Hurrah!
As Frontale continued to sit back, further opportunities arose for Endo to exhibit his trademark dead-ball expertise. But Kawashima stood firm - most notably palming away a free-kick that was destined for the top corner - and the home team held out for the three points.
Having single-handedly earnt at least 4 of his team's last 6 points, I think Kawashima deserves a spell in the spotlight. The big, friendly giant has always been an excellent shot stopper. The main concern, especially regarding his potential at international level, has been his control of the penalty area, both in terms of communication with his defenders and his ability to deal with crosses.
Well, there have been definite signs of improvement in the latter department (is this the handiwork of new goalkeeping coach, Ica?) and his shot-stopping remains first-class. It now just boils down to consistency. Watch this space.
Next up, Frontale lock horns with a Kashima Antlers side buoyed by an 8-game winning streak and an 8-point cushion at the top of the table. They've looked pretty ruthless in the league of late, so not much hope of complacency just yet. And, while a loss would not be the end of the world for Frontale, you get the feeling that someone needs to knock the Antlers off their stride. And sooner rather than later.
Labels:
gamba osaka,
j.league,
kawasaki frontale,
yabu
The quarter-final draw for the AFC Champions League has thrown up another all-Japanese clash with Frontale set to face Nagoya Grampus for a place in the semi-finals.
This is a pretty agreeable outcome for both teams. Not only will they be lining up against familiar opponents, but they've also managed to avoid the prospect of a draining long-haul expedition at a crucial stage of the J.League season.
Frontale are at a slight disadvantage with the first leg taking place at Todoroki (on Wednesday, 23rd September with the return leg at Mizuho the following week). But they've shown against Gamba that they're perfectly capable of getting a result on the road.
Not wanting to count any chickens, but either Pakhtakor (of Uzbekistan) or Al Ittihad (of Saudi Arabia) awaits the winner in the semis.
Labels:
acl,
kawasaki frontale,
nagoya grampus
J.League Division 1: Sun, 28th June 2009
 |
0 - 1 | |
| CHONG 88' |
Venue: ND Soft Stadium
Attendance: 10,367
On an oppressively hot Sunday afternoon, Frontale left it uncomfortably late before claiming a crucial 3-point haul in Yamagata.
Kengo, Vitor and Chong Tese were all absent from the starting eleven. However, it was Chong's late cameo that was to prove the difference between the two teams.
The visitors dominated the first half with Renatinho looking in confident mood following Wednesday's ACL heroics. The young striker, whose future with the club has now happily been assured til the end of the season, peppered the Yamagata goal with an array of long-range efforts. But the woodwork (twice) and Yamagata keeper, Kenta Shimizu, managed to keep him at bay.
The second half started slowly - both teams clearly struggling in the infernal conditions. But with a quarter of the game to play, some choice substitutions suddenly brought Yamagata to life. On at least 5 occasions Kawashima had to be at his shot-stopping best. And, in stark contrast to the first half, it looked as though Frontale would be lucky to hang onto a draw, never mind grab a winner.
But on 88 minutes, Igawa intercepted in the middle of the park and made a determined charge upfield. Juninho then sent a first-time through ball to the newly-arrived Chong Tese, who showed his class with a calm finish at Shimizu's near post.
All-in-all a lucky escape for the boys in blue (or white, today). Just hope they haven't used up all their lives yet, given the next three fixtures are against Gamba (5th), Kashima (1st) and Niigata (2nd).
Labels:
chong,
j.league,
kawasaki frontale,
montedio yamagata
AFC Champions League - Last 16: Wed, 24th June 2009
|
2 - 3 | |
| LEANDRO 27', 39' | NAKAMURA 33' RENATINHO 76' KUROTSU 85' |
Venue: Expo '70 Stadium
Attendance: 14,128
Frontale clinched their second ACL quarter-final spot in 3 years with a dramatic, late comeback against the competition's reigning champions, Gamba Osaka, on Wednesday night.
Gamba dominated early on and should really have had the tie wrapped up by half time. But Frontale rode their luck and battled bravely til the end, twice coming from behind before stealing victory at the death.
Yasuhito Endo and Leandro, both of whom had been injury doubts for Gamba in the lead-up to the game, were instrumental in the home team's first-half dominance. Endo's passing, movement and set play delivery caused Frontale problems from the outset, and there was a string of chances that went begging before Leandro finally gave his team a deserved lead.
Gamba were finding most joy on Frontale's left where the understanding between Ito and Murakami often looked frayed. And it was down this flank that Leandro found space before cutting in past three defenders and beating big Eiji.
There's no doubt Sekizuka lost the tactical battle in the first half. His decision to play three stikers - Juninho, Renatinho and Chong Tese - backfired as Gamba dominated the midfield rendering Frontale's front men impotent. Although, to be fair to the manager, a fit Vitor Junior would have given him more options.
And, of course, it wasn't just the formation. Gamba played some excellent, energetic football in the first half. It was almost as if they had an extra man on the field, so easily were they finding space and retaining possession. Frontale's overstretched midfield - of Kengo, Taniguchi and Terada - was too busy defending the tide of Gamba pressure to have any real opportunity to supply their increasingly isolated strikers.
But then came possibly the game's most crucial moment. During a rare Frontale offensive raid, a neat backheel from Renatinho on the edge of the box found Kengo in space. As the Gamba defence stood off, a gap appeared and captain K took an opportunistic strike that sailed sweetly into the bottom corner.
This bolt from the blue, coming completely against the run of play, put some much-needed wind back in the visitors' sails as well as temporarily knocking Gamba off their stride. And although Gamba were back in the lead before the break - Leandro strolling in unchallenged to convert Akira Kaji's perfect cross - Kengo's goal meant Frontale still had a lifeline to cling onto.
I'll give Sekizuka the benefit of the doubt and assume his half-time change - Yuji Yabu on for Chong Tese - was purely tactical. The extra body in midfield certainly made a difference and the second half was a much more even contest.
That's not to say Gamba didn't have chances to kill the game off. Soon after the break both Leandro and Lucas squandered decent opportunities to extend their lead, but it wasn't to be.
Frontale were now seeing a lot more of the ball and Gamba, with several players only recently returned from injury, looked to be tiring. So it came as a bit of a surprise when Kurotsu came on for Juninho just as the pressure was beginning to tell, and with half an hour still on the clock.
Now, Kurotsu's never been the deadliest tool in Frontale's weaponry, but within minutes of his arrival he'd almost levelled things up. Released down the left by Kengo, he saw Gamba keeper, Yosuke Fujigaya, off his line and put in a deft lob that dropped agonisingly wide.
Shortly after, there was another flurry of activity on the sidelines. Initially, Yokoyama was stripped and ready to replace the flagging Terada. But just as the official's board was going up Renatinho motioned to the bench that he was in trouble - the problem appearing to be the mouth injury he picked up against Oita at the weekend.
Sekizuka (quite rightly) told the Brazilian to stop being such a big girl's blouse, but delayed the substitution and had Yajima readied just in case. This turned out to be a very wise decision, as moments later it was Renatinho who squared the tie with a spectacular strike.
Kengo was again involved - picking up the ball outside the Gamba box before flicking it wide to Rena. The boy wonder then cut inside Michihiro Yasuda and unleashed a curling, left-footed shot from the corner of the penalty area that wiped its feet on the angle of post and bar before hitting the back of the net. Obviously not feeling the effects of that mouth injury too much!
With 10 minutes left Gamba looked to bolster their attack, bringing on Korean striker Cho Jae-Jin for Takahiro Futagawa. However, this allowed Frontale more room in midfield and Kengo was quick to exploit this.
Combining with Renatinho to break up another wave of pressure, Kengo again launched Kurotsu through on goal. Hearts were in mouths as the substitute striker delayed until the very last second before prodding the ball past Fujigaya to give Frontale the lead.
With the seconds ticking away Gamba threw on more attackers. Of these, Ryuji Bando came closest to forcing extra time, but Kawashima did well to tip over his fierce drive. And despite a nervy finish, Frontale were able to hold out for a momentous victory.
The draw for the quarter finals will take place on the 29th June. Frontale will be paired with one of the following teams from the Western Asia qualifying section - Umm-Salal (Qatar), Bunyodkor (Uzbekistan), Pakhtakor Tashkent (Uzbekistan), Al-Ittihad (Saudi Arabia).
ACL action is now on hold til the end of September, which gives the team a chance to focus on their climb up the J.League table. I'm sure Gamba will be keen on revenge when they meet for a league clash next Wednesday.
As an aside, Renatinho's current contract is due to expire at the end of month. Given his recent form, surely an extension is in the offing?
Labels:
acl,
gamba osaka,
kawasaki frontale,
kurotsu,
nakamura,
renatinho
