Kawasaki Frontale v Sanfrecce Hiroshima

J.League - Divison 1: Sun, 25th October 2009

	7 - 0
JUNINHO 18', 89' CHONG 61' TASAKA 70' RENATINHO 74' NAKAMURA 85' NOBORIZATO 86'		(MORIWAKI sent off 25')

Venue: Todoroki Stadium
Attendance: 18,946

Frontale maintained their one-point advantage at the top of the table and racked up their biggest ever J.League victory against 10-man Sanfrecce Hiroshima on Sunday.

This was always going to be an open game between two attack-minded sides. But the dismissal of Sanfrecce defender Ryota Moriwaki after just 25 minutes was at the root of the grotesquely one-sided scoreline.

Moriwaki's first booking came after only 4 minutes and was a real softie. With Kengo raiding down the left, the full-back put up a hand which caught his opponent in the throat. There was no malice whatsoever, but the referee went straight to his pocket for a yellow.

The second was from a similar situation. This time Tasaka tried to cut in behind the defender and had his shirt tugged as he got the better of his man. However, the referee ignored the fact that the initial foul looked to have been Tasaka holding Moriwaki back as he struggled to get past him.

Even ignoring Tasaka's foul, the referee would have been forgiven for cutting Moriwaki a bit of slack given the nature of his initial booking. But common sense didn't prevail and Sanfrecce found themselves down to 10 men with three quarters of the game still to play.

Frontale were already a goal to the good by the time of the sending off. Mori had slipped a finely-weighted pass into the box for Juninho to run onto and clip inside the far post. Both teams had been creating chances from the first whistle, although the home team's efforts had all been a bit more clear-cut than the visitors'.

Obviously, Sanfrecce were rattled by the loss of Moriwaki. And for a 10-minute spell immediately afterwards the flood gates looked fit to burst. But after a catalogue of lucky escapes, they managed to re-establish a foothold in the game, making a fairly even contest of the rest of the half, albeit without ever really calling Kawashima into action.

The away team started the second half with a more defensive shape and succeeded in keeping Frontale at bay for a further 15 minutes. The match-killing goal eventually came from Chong Tese, muscling past his marker at the edge of the box before pulling the trigger.

With all hope of a consolatory point now gone, the Sanfrecce defence collapsed, shipping 5 goals in the final 20 minutes.

Renatinho was a little fortunate that his was allowed to stand, given the NFL-style block Chong Tese put in on the last defender. Tasaka's shot from the edge of the box looked to take a deflection before finding the back of the net. Kengo had an easy finish after Noborizato (on as a late sub) found him unmarked around the penalty spot. Noborizato himself then calmly steered one just inside the far post after Juninho had left the visiting defence in disarray.

And in fine symmetrical fashion, it was Juninho who completed the rout, cutting inside the last defender before curling a low right-footed effort past the disconsolate Sanfrecce keeper.

Of course, the scoreline bears no reflection on the actual difference in quality between these two sides. It would have been a much more interesting contest had the referee not interfered so over-enthusiastically. But at this stage of the season, it's difficult to worry about anything other than the result.

And what does this result mean? Well, basically, Frontale now have no-one to blame but themselves if they don't end the 2009 season as J1 champions. They have a pretty-much unassailable goal difference. 3 of their last 4 games are against teams who will be plying their trade in J2 next year. And should an over-zealous referee sway any results against them...well, swings and roundabouts, innit.

But before any of that, another chance of silverware presents itself in the Nabisco Cup final. FC Tokyo have had some rotten luck in recent weeks and it looks like star players Naohiro Ishikawa (who suffered cruciate ligament damage against Kashiwa two weeks ago) and possibly also Yuto Nagatomo (who had to come off after only 25 minutes against S-Pulse on Sunday) will miss the clash. But Frontale are still going to have to be at their best at Kokuritsu next Tuesday if they are to banish the memories of 2007's loss to Gamba and lay hands on their first ever trophy.

Omiya Ardija v Kawasaki Frontale

J.League Division 1: Sat, 17th October 2009

	2 - 3
MATO 44'(pen), 89'(pen)		JUNINHO 21' CHONG 44', 64'

Venue: Saitama Stadium
Attendance: 42,346

A valuable away win over Omiya Ardija on Saturday afternoon saw Frontale climb to the dizzying heights of top spot in the J.League table.

It was a crucial victory over a club that proved to be a thorn in the team's side last year. 2008 saw the Saitama Squirrels win at Todoroki, with what must be one of the longest-range goals in J.League history, and at Omiya Park, with a piece of Klemen Lavric brilliance which no doubt surprised the home fans as much as the away section.

A fine Juninho lob plus a brace from last week's hat-trick hero, Chong Tese, ensured Omiya took nothing from our two meetings this season and put Frontale in pole position in a title race now entering the finishing straight.

With the venue switched to Saitama Stadium to take advantage of its greater capacity, the Omiya and Frontale faithful didn't disappoint, turning up in droves. Their reward was a pulsating game that featured five goals and four penalties (two of them missed by Frontale).

The visitors fielded their strongest line-up and should have gone ahead after 10 minutes when Omiya keeper, Koji Ezumi, brought down Chong Tese in the box. However, from the resulting penalty, Juninho hit the inside of post and could only look on as the ball rebounded across the face of the goal and away to safety.

10 minutes later Ezumi gave Juninho the opportunity to redeem himself. The Brazilian escaped down the right channel and finished smartly with a lob from a narrow angle. But the keeper's premature dash off his line certainly made things less complicated for the veteran striker.

Ezumi did however find his own path to redemption. With the referee awarding Frontale yet another spot kick - this time for a rather dubious trip on Chong Tese - the Korean decided that he would take over penalty duties from his Brazilian colleague. Maybe Renatinho would have been the better option, as Ezumi got a strong hand to Chong's attempt, keeping the visitors' advantage to a single goal.

Encouraged by Frontale's inability to extend their lead, Omiya pressed forward and mounted their first spell of extended pressure. As the clock ticked over into first-half injury time, Taniguchi brought down striker Naoki Ishihara at the edge of the penalty area and the referee showed no hesitation in pointing to the spot. There were staunch protests that the challenge happened outside the box, but the referee's decision was certainly no more suspect than with his previous penalty call.

Up stepped Omiya's towering Croat, Mato Neretljak, to show Frontale's foreign contingent exactly how a penalty should be taken. But within seconds of the restart Chong made amends for his botched spot-kick with a blistering 20-yard drive to restore Frontale's advantage on the stroke of half time.

Chong seems to be hitting a rich vein of form at precisely the right moment. The campaign started brightly for him, but some arduous trips with the North Korean national team, plus a few fitness setbacks, saw the goals dry up mid-season. If the team are to cling onto top spot for the next few weeks and claim their first title, having Chong Tese firing on all cylinders will be a real confidence booster.

And it was the Korean who sealed victory for Frontale on Saturday. After a frantic back-and-forth start to the second half, Chong latched onto a through ball from Juninho, and out-muscled Mato before lashing a left-footed shot just inside the far post to seal the 3 points. The colossal Croat pulled another one back from the penalty spot in second-half injury time, but it was too little too late for the home side.

So, top of the league with five games to go - I'd say that's cause for some premature celebration...

Kawasaki Frontale v Renofa Yamaguchi

Emperor's Cup: Round 2: Sun, 11th October 2009

	6 - 1
CHONG 22', 46', 54' RENATINHO 59', 77' IGAWA 88'		KASHIHARA 23'

Venue: Todoroki Stadium
Attendance: 4,855

Kashima Antlers v Kawasaki Frontale

J. League Division 1: Wed, 7th October 2009

	2 - 3
MARQUINHOS 30' IWAMASA 74'		CHONG 19', 32' JUNINHO 66'

(Abandoned game resumed from 74 minutes.)

Venue: Kashima Stadium
Attendance: 22,323

Last month's abandoned match between Frontale and Kashima Antlers resumed on Wednesday night at a much drier Kashima Stadium. And what a nerve-jangler it proved to be.

Starting where things left off, with 16 minutes of normal time remaining on the clock and Frontale leading 3-1, it looked a pretty safe bet that the visitors would come away with a win. But they were made to earn their 3 points, riding out a typhoon of Antlers pressure as well as a rather generous portion of injury time.

The home team came tearing out of the blocks with a crazed determination about their play. Within seconds, a free-kick from deep in Antlers territory was floated into the Frontale box. And the flick-on fell kindly for Daiki Iwamasa to stick out a boot and divert the ball past a helpless Kawashima.

Whatever pre-match game plan Frontale might have had, conceding within a minute of the restart probably wasn't part of it. And when, seconds later, another aerial assault saw Danilo thunder a header against the bar, it was clearly not only the woodwork that was left rattled.

Things did calm down a little after that, but Kashima had the bull by the horns and weren't about to let go. Frontale did little to help their cause by repeatedly hoofing the ball upfield and returning possession to their frenzied opponents. Chong Tese wasted a free header from a corner, but apart from that it was all Antlers. And, for an anxious-looking Sekizuka on the sidelines, the clock couldn't run down quickly enough.

Hearts were in mouths throughout the blue half of the stadium when the assistant's board showed that a minimum of 5 minutes would be added at the end. But, despite coming agonisingly close on a few occasions, and despite the final whistle not sounding til the 7th minute of stoppage time, Kashima couldn't find an equaliser.

So, all to play for in the title race. Now time for a lie down.

Kawasaki Frontale v Yokohama F Marinos

J.League Division 1: Sun, 4th October 2009

	2 - 0
TANIGUCHI 74' RENATINHO 83'

Venue: Todoroki Stadium
Attendance: 19,951

Frontale bounced back from last week's disappointing ACL exit with a 2-0 victory over Yokohama F Marinos on Sunday.

Second-half goals from Taniguchi and Renatinho ensured that Kanagawa bragging rights remain firmly rooted in the prefecture's northern reaches. And the ebullient nature of Kengo's post-match team talk suggests this victory has restored some much-needed self-belief in a team whose prospects had been looking increasingly gloomy.

That said, Frontale could well have continued on their downward spiral were it not for some first-half goal-keeping heroics. Twice big Eiji had to be at his cat-like best to keep the Marinos strikeforce at bay and his team in the game. And it was only after the break that the home side really started to gain the upper hand.

Even then it was far from inevitable that a breakthrough would eventually come. Frontale were enjoying plenty of possession deep in Marinos territory, but the final ball was never quite up to scratch. In the end, it required some Sekizuka tinkering before the goods finally arrived.

Switching Mori across, in place of a tiring Murakami, and adding Igawa on the right didn't seem the most obvious solution to Frontale's offensive dilemma. But within moments of the change, Mori swung in a right-footed delivery from his new position on the left and Taniguchi leapt expertly to direct the ball goalwards, just beyond the reach of Marinos keeper, Tetsuya Enomoto.

Some audacious Juninho skill on the left wing - stopping a loose pass going out of play and beating his marker in one balletic move - almost brought about a second. Chong Tese should have converted the ensuing cross, but could only head tamely into Enomoto's grateful hands.

The Brazilian resumed the role of provider minutes later. Racing at the heart of the Marinos defence, he slipped a pass out to Renatinho on the right, who took a touch to set himself before firing calmly inside the far post. Certain elements of the crowd are still recovering from shock that the team's top striker didn't opt to go it alone.

So, a good day at the office all-round. Pat on the back for the defence (but mostly Eiji) for the clean sheet. Pat on the back for the goalscorers (Renatinho must be especially relieved to be back in the goals). Pat on the back for Juninho for discovering his altruistic side. And pat on the back for Sekizuka for his timely changes.

Now, I'm no counter of chickens, but assuming Kashima don't stage a miraculous comeback on Wednesday night it leaves Frontale just one point off the top of the table with 6 games to go. Up next, after Renofa Yamaguchi in the Emperor's Cup, is an away day at Omiya - the scene of last year's title capitulation. If the team can banish those demons with a 3-point haul, who knows what could happen...

Nagoya Grampus v Kawasaki Frontale

ACL QF 2nd leg: Wed, 30th September 2009

	3 - 1
OGAWA 27' YOSHIDA 35' KENNEDY 88'		CHONG 38'

Venue: Mizuho Stadium
Attendance: 8,796

The wheels of Frontale's ACL bandwagon fell off on Wednesday night with a tired defeat against a determined Nagoya Grampus.

After a slow opening 15 minutes, the hosts quickly overturned Frontale's 1st leg advantage. An unstoppable long-range drive from Yoshizumi Ogawa, swiftly followed by a Maya Yoshida header (converting Alex Santos's devilish dead-ball delivery), put Nagoya in the driving seat.

Chong Tese pulled one back before the break - adding an assured finish to Renatinho's clever through-pass, and balancing the aggregate scoreline.

However, a late poacher's strike from Josh Kennedy (after Kawashima could only parry Magnum's header) sealed Nagoya's place in the semis where they will face Al Ittihad of Saudi Arabia.

I would go into the gory details, but none of it would be very positive. So this time I'll just hold my tongue. Suffice it to say, certain players are in need of immediate R&R to prevent this season ending with a whimper rather than a bang.