Kawasaki Frontale v Kashima Antlers

Nabisco Cup: QF 2nd leg: Wed, 29th July 2009

	3 - 0 aet (3 - 1)
JUNINHO 89' RENATINHO 94' CHONG 102' KIKUCHI sent off 108'

Venue: Todoroki Stadium
Attendance: 13,581

Kyoto Sanga FC v Kawasaki Frontale

J.League Division 1: Sun, 26th July 2009

	3 - 1
DIEGO 18', 57' ANDO 49'		YAJIMA 05'

Venue: Nishikyogoku Stadium
Attendance: 9,002

A desperately poor display against Kyoto Sanga saw Frontale's mid-season wobble take a further stuttering step on Sunday night.

It was all looking so promising when Yajima rose unmarked to nod in an early corner. But Sanga's slow start to the game continued only until the 18th minute when they were awarded a controversial penalty for Ito's challenge on Paulinho.

The ins and the outs of the incident are not really important as the referee's decision is final (however wrong it might be!). But Diego's expertly-dispatched penalty kick certainly put some fire in the bellies of a home team who had thus far looked merely lukewarm.

Sanga had the better of the rest of the half, forcing a string of fine saves from Kawashima. Renatinho and Yajima appeared to be on completely different wavelengths for Frontale, with Yajima in particular proving ineffective at either retaining possession or closing down his opponents.

At half time Sekizuka brought on the man everyone was calling for - Juninho. However, instead of removing Yajima, it was Vitor (still on the mend after several weeks on the sidelines) who made way.

Juninho undoubtedly added some oomph to the Frontale frontline. But with the midfield a man lighter, Sanga quickly gained a stranglehold on the game.

And it wasn't long before the home team made their dominance tell with two quick knockout blows.

First, Jun Ando was given too much time and space and unleashed a swerving drive from 30 yards that found the top-left corner. Then, 8 minutes later, and from similar range, Diego killed the game off with a curling shot into the opposite corner. Some pretty sharp shooting from the men in purple, but the overstretched Frontale defence did little to pressurise their efforts at goal.

Kyoto sat back for the rest of the match, defending their two-goal margin and hoping to snatch another on the break. And, despite a couple of windows of opportunity for Frontale (a few decent strikes from Juninho and a painfully-wasted header from Yajima), the home defence stood firm.

A post-match inquest might include questions such as: Why didn't Juninho start? Why did Yajima play the whole game despite his apparent incompetence? Why was Vitor withdrawn at half-time, effectively handing over control of the midfield to Sanga?

I'm sure there are perfectly satisfactory answers to all of these questions, but with the benefit of hindsight these are the issues that cost Frontale the game. A game which could have been even more embarrassing had Eiji Kawashima not continued his blistering form in goal.

The good news is that the league's other top teams are experiencing their own problems right now. The bad news is that Frontale really need to be capitalising on this, rather than merely matching them step for stuttering step.

Kawasaki Frontale v Vissel Kobe

J.League Division 1: Sat, 18th July 2009

	2 - 2
NAKAMURA 25' KIKUCHI 43' (KIKUCHI sent off 89')		OKUBO 34' MIYAMOTO 69'

Venue: Todoroki Stadium
Attendance: 14,696

If Frontale are hoping to narrow the gap at the top of the table, they really need to be picking up three points in home games like this one. That said, I hear it was a wonder-goal from Tsuneyasu Miyamoto that levelled the tie, and there's no accounting for that sort of thing.

Nice to see Kikuchi getting his name up in lights. Not so nice to see it up again for the sending off, though. The defense is frail enough without the likes of Mori and Kikuchi getting themselves suspended.

One gets the feeling that a return to winning ways in Kyoto next week is needed if Frontale are to keep the J.League bit between their teeth.

Kashima Antlers v Kawasaki Frontale

Nabisco Cup: QF 1st leg: Wed, 15th July 2009

	1 - 0
OGASAWARA 83'

Venue: Kashima Stadium
Attendance: 7,935

Again, didn't get to see this one. Kukino stepped in for the suspended Mori. No Vitor (although he was named amongst the subs). Yamagishi replaced by Yabu at half time.

Still all to play for in the second leg at Todoroki on the 29th.

Albirex Niigata v Kawasaki Frontale

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!

Kawasaki Frontale v Kashima Antlers

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.

Kawasaki Frontale v Gamba Osaka

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.