Big Weekend for J League and Grampus

This weekend was a good day for the J.League, with Gamba Osaka downing the Urawa Reds in Urawa to blow the championship race wide open again. Even if Osaka needed a bit of help from the officials, who were conned by Gamba's Bare quickly taken throw-in, even though it should actually have been an Urawa throw-in. Nevertheless, although the officiating left the league with egg on its face again, the results leaves the title race nicely poised.

The league goes into its one-month-long break with Urawa and Nagoya level on 26 points at the top and with FC Tokyo three points back in third. Although kashima and Gamba lie seven points off the pace, they do have a game in hand, and should still be able to mount a challenge for the title come December. For Grampus, the break gives players like Nakamura and Yoshimura, who have been working their socks off, a chance to recharge their batteries. It also gives improving youngsters Yoshida and Ogawa a chance to absorb some of their experiences from the early games.

J1 Results for May 17/18
Consadole Sapporo 1-3 Nagoya Grampus
Urawa Reds 2-3 Gamba Osaka
Jubilo Iwata 1-2 FC Tokyo
Kyoto Sanga 1-0 Yokohama Marinos
Kashima Antlers 1-1 Kashiwa Reysol
JEF United 1-0 Oita Trinita
Kawasaki Frontale 2-3 Omiya Ardija
Tokyo Verdy 4-1 Shimizu S-Pulse
Vissel Kobe 1-1 Albirex Niigata