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.

ACL Pits Dolphins Against Whales

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.

Montedio Yamagata v Kawasaki Frontale

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).