The New Zealand football team will be joining Japan and Australia in South Africa next year. The emerged 1-0 winners over Bahrain before a partisan crowd of 35,000 in Wellington. That puts them several steps ahead of the likes of Scotland and Wales, who couldn't even make it to a play-off place.
Other Links:
stuff.nz.co: Video: All Whites highlights
NZ Herald: Soccer: All Whites victory reverberates around the globe
NY Times/Reuters: New Zealand Qualifes for 2010 World Cup
Nagoya Grampus blog with news and views about Nagoya Grampus (Eight) and Japanese football. (Archives of previous musings on all things Grampus can be found in the original Grampalog. See the Links section below.)
League Champions: 2010. Emperor's Cup Winners: 1995, 1999.
Sunday, 15 November 2009
Monday, 9 November 2009
Cerezo and Vegalta to Join J1
A hat-trick from Inui helps Cerezo Osaka clinch promotion beck to J1 in style, with a comfortable 5-0 home win over Kusatsu. Vegalta Sendai will be joining them in the top tier, as they also romped home with a 4-0 thrashing of Mito Hollyhock. Cerezo are 10 points clear of third, with 101 points while Vegalta are two points back on 99,meaning that the J2 title itself is still up for grabs for one of these two teams. Vegalta's continued participation in the Emperor's Cup probably giving the Osaka lads the edge.
The third and final promotion place looks like going down to the wire, as Shonan Bellmare and Ventforet Kofu lie level on 91 points and are separated by a mere one goal on goal difference.
The third and final promotion place looks like going down to the wire, as Shonan Bellmare and Ventforet Kofu lie level on 91 points and are separated by a mere one goal on goal difference.
Sunday, 8 November 2009
Vissel Shoot Selves in Foot
Much maligned Montenegro international Igor Burzanovic capitalizes on a Vissel mistake early in the game to give Nagoya a much needed home win. With Josh Kennedy out with a bad back, Magnum out for several weeks again, and Tamada playing through an injury, the battered and bruised home team was there for the taking. However, with Japan international Yoshito Okubo missing the game, the visitors lacked the inspiration or precision to take advantage.
The visitor's woes were in increased when Korean midfielder Kim Nam Il condemned compatriot Park Kang Jo to a cameo appearance of just nine minutes by getting himself sent off early in the second half. The lively Park had only just come on a substitute when his team was reduced to ten men, forcing manager Miura to promptly yank him off the pitch again. Even so, Kobe had several chances to get back on level terms, hitting the woodwork on a couple of occasions.
Nagoya Grampus
Koji Nishimura
Hayuma Tanaka, Maya Yoshida, Takahiro Masukawa, Shohei Abe
Yoshizumi Ogawa, Keiji Yoshimura, Naoshi Nakamura (Keita Sugimoto 73), Alex Santos (Tomohiro Tsuda 59)
Keiji Tamada, Igor Burzanovic (Kei Yamaguchi 85)
Scorer: Burzanovic 15
Vissel Kobe
Tatsuya Enomoto
Yosuke Ishibitsu, Kunie Kitamoto, Teruaki Kobayashi, Ryosuke Matsuoka
Hiroki Kishida (Park Kang Jo 58 > Hideo Taaka 67), Kim Nam Il, Tsuneyasu Miyamoto (Hirouki Komoto 64), Botti
Takayuki Yoshida, Hiroto Mogi
The visitor's woes were in increased when Korean midfielder Kim Nam Il condemned compatriot Park Kang Jo to a cameo appearance of just nine minutes by getting himself sent off early in the second half. The lively Park had only just come on a substitute when his team was reduced to ten men, forcing manager Miura to promptly yank him off the pitch again. Even so, Kobe had several chances to get back on level terms, hitting the woodwork on a couple of occasions.
Nagoya Grampus
Koji Nishimura
Hayuma Tanaka, Maya Yoshida, Takahiro Masukawa, Shohei Abe
Yoshizumi Ogawa, Keiji Yoshimura, Naoshi Nakamura (Keita Sugimoto 73), Alex Santos (Tomohiro Tsuda 59)
Keiji Tamada, Igor Burzanovic (Kei Yamaguchi 85)
Scorer: Burzanovic 15
Vissel Kobe
Tatsuya Enomoto
Yosuke Ishibitsu, Kunie Kitamoto, Teruaki Kobayashi, Ryosuke Matsuoka
Hiroki Kishida (Park Kang Jo 58 > Hideo Taaka 67), Kim Nam Il, Tsuneyasu Miyamoto (Hirouki Komoto 64), Botti
Takayuki Yoshida, Hiroto Mogi
Technorati Tags:
football, Japan, soccer, japan j league
Technorati Tags:
football, Japan, japan j league, soccer
Thursday, 5 November 2009
VVV Shopping in Nagoya (Again?)
Numerous reports have been circulating about the player VVV Venlo hope to sign, presumably in place of Keisuke Honda, who is expected to move up to a bigger club in the January transfer window. In addition to Cerezo's Shinji Kagawa, who is expected to train with VVV in December, they have made a formal offer for Grampus defender Maya Yoshida, whose contract expires at the end of the season.
Needless to say, Nagoya are not taking this lightly since Maya is one of our key players for the future. They will be negotiating a new contract with Yoshida over the next few days. See this Sponichi article (in Japanese) for more details.
Needless to say, Nagoya are not taking this lightly since Maya is one of our key players for the future. They will be negotiating a new contract with Yoshida over the next few days. See this Sponichi article (in Japanese) for more details.
Wednesday, 4 November 2009
Gamba to Sneak It?
Alan atjsoccer.com has his blue-tinted specs in full working order it seems. :-)
Tokyo and S-Pulse fans should forgive me for not considering them too much in this equation but I think it's down to Frontale, Antlers and Gamba to either win it or allow the others to take it. These three SHOULD take the ACL spots, though. But who will make it to the top on the final day? A first-time Champion in Kawasaki? Or a three-peat for Antlers? Or will Gamba pull back those four points and take it!!?
Let's take a look.....
This weekend sees the teams enter the fray with four games left and 12 points to play for. Kashima are home to Montedio who are now safe and will have little to motivate them now that the pressure is off. If Kashima don't win this one, they won't deserve the title! Frontale will finish off JEF, who are not quite mathematically down so just might give it all and surprise the top team! But it's doubtful! Gamba take on Kyoto and should take the points... if they don't the title will probably be out of reach, unless both Kashima and Kawasaki both lose today - an unlikely scenario!
Three games to go and Kawasaki have an away day at already relegated Oita. The pressure being off them Trinita MIGHT see them score a win and upset the apple cart! Kashima away at mid-table Ktoto, who have nothing to play for should see maximum points for Antlers, while Gamba are away at S-Pulse. Gamba need to win that to stave off S-Pulse, open up a gap and push for the final games. A defeat here for Gamba will see them finished in the hunt for the Championship, and have their ACL spot in danger, also.
The penultimate game MIGHT see a winner already, but, of course the powers-that-be in the J.League will be hoping for a last day finale. Kashima Antlers v. Gamba Osaka will kill off one or the other, or may kill off both if they draw and Frontake beat Albirex. But ALbirex will be still going for that 3rd ACL position and will pull out all the stops!
The final game sees Kashima Antlers away at Urawa Reds who will be playing for pride.... Kawasaki Frontale are away in Kashiwa, who will probably be relegated already and nothing to play for? Gamba entertain JEF, who will also be in J2 by then ? It looks as if Kashima have the toughest final hurdle.
It's going to go down to the wire??!! :-)
Let's play a little game here..... here's what it looks like going into the game this weekend, with four games to go...
Kawasaki Frontale 55 +22
Kashima Antlers 54 +13
Gamba Osaka 51 +15
Shimizu S-Pulse 50 +12
F.C.Tokyo 49 +9
... and here are the predictions.... Nov.8th
Kashima 3-0 Montedio
FC Tokyo 1-0 Reds
Frontake 4-0 JEF
Gamba 4-1 Kyoto
Kashiwa 0-3 S-Pulse
... then we'll have...
Kawasaki Frontale 58 +26
Kashima Antlers 57 +16
Gamba Osaka 54 +18
Shimizu S-Pulse 53 +15
F.C.Tokyo 52 +10
... Nov.21st ...
S-Pulse 1-2 Gamba
Kyoto 1-2 Antlers
JEF 1-3 FC Tokyo
Oita 1-1 Frontale
... giving us...
Kashima Antlers 60 +17
Kawasaki Frontale 59 +26
Gamba Osaka 57 +19
F.C.Tokyo 55 +12
Shimizu S-Pulse 53 +14
... Nov.28th/29th
Antlers 1-2 Gamba
Frontale 1-2 Albirex
FC Tokyo 1-1 Vissel
Marinos 2-1 S-Pulse
... so, with one game to go it looks like this...
Gamba Osaka 60 +20
Kashima Antlers 60 +16
Kawasaki Frontale 59 +25
F.C.Tokyo 56 +12
Shimizu S-Pulse 53 +13
and, so, down to the last game of the season.....
Dec.5th
Reds 4-1 Antlers
Reysol 0-4 Frontale
Niigata 2-2 FC Tokyo
Gamba 5-2 JEF
S-Pulse 0-2 Nagoya
.... so the final table looks like this - really - place your bets NOW!
Gamba Osaka 63 +23
Kawasaki Frontale 62 +29
Kashima Antlers 60 +13
F.C.Tokyo 57 +12
Shimizu S-Pulse 53 +11
Tokyo and S-Pulse fans should forgive me for not considering them too much in this equation but I think it's down to Frontale, Antlers and Gamba to either win it or allow the others to take it. These three SHOULD take the ACL spots, though. But who will make it to the top on the final day? A first-time Champion in Kawasaki? Or a three-peat for Antlers? Or will Gamba pull back those four points and take it!!?
Let's take a look.....
This weekend sees the teams enter the fray with four games left and 12 points to play for. Kashima are home to Montedio who are now safe and will have little to motivate them now that the pressure is off. If Kashima don't win this one, they won't deserve the title! Frontale will finish off JEF, who are not quite mathematically down so just might give it all and surprise the top team! But it's doubtful! Gamba take on Kyoto and should take the points... if they don't the title will probably be out of reach, unless both Kashima and Kawasaki both lose today - an unlikely scenario!
Three games to go and Kawasaki have an away day at already relegated Oita. The pressure being off them Trinita MIGHT see them score a win and upset the apple cart! Kashima away at mid-table Ktoto, who have nothing to play for should see maximum points for Antlers, while Gamba are away at S-Pulse. Gamba need to win that to stave off S-Pulse, open up a gap and push for the final games. A defeat here for Gamba will see them finished in the hunt for the Championship, and have their ACL spot in danger, also.
The penultimate game MIGHT see a winner already, but, of course the powers-that-be in the J.League will be hoping for a last day finale. Kashima Antlers v. Gamba Osaka will kill off one or the other, or may kill off both if they draw and Frontake beat Albirex. But ALbirex will be still going for that 3rd ACL position and will pull out all the stops!
The final game sees Kashima Antlers away at Urawa Reds who will be playing for pride.... Kawasaki Frontale are away in Kashiwa, who will probably be relegated already and nothing to play for? Gamba entertain JEF, who will also be in J2 by then ? It looks as if Kashima have the toughest final hurdle.
It's going to go down to the wire??!! :-)
Let's play a little game here..... here's what it looks like going into the game this weekend, with four games to go...
Kawasaki Frontale 55 +22
Kashima Antlers 54 +13
Gamba Osaka 51 +15
Shimizu S-Pulse 50 +12
F.C.Tokyo 49 +9
... and here are the predictions.... Nov.8th
Kashima 3-0 Montedio
FC Tokyo 1-0 Reds
Frontake 4-0 JEF
Gamba 4-1 Kyoto
Kashiwa 0-3 S-Pulse
... then we'll have...
Kawasaki Frontale 58 +26
Kashima Antlers 57 +16
Gamba Osaka 54 +18
Shimizu S-Pulse 53 +15
F.C.Tokyo 52 +10
... Nov.21st ...
S-Pulse 1-2 Gamba
Kyoto 1-2 Antlers
JEF 1-3 FC Tokyo
Oita 1-1 Frontale
... giving us...
Kashima Antlers 60 +17
Kawasaki Frontale 59 +26
Gamba Osaka 57 +19
F.C.Tokyo 55 +12
Shimizu S-Pulse 53 +14
... Nov.28th/29th
Antlers 1-2 Gamba
Frontale 1-2 Albirex
FC Tokyo 1-1 Vissel
Marinos 2-1 S-Pulse
... so, with one game to go it looks like this...
Gamba Osaka 60 +20
Kashima Antlers 60 +16
Kawasaki Frontale 59 +25
F.C.Tokyo 56 +12
Shimizu S-Pulse 53 +13
and, so, down to the last game of the season.....
Dec.5th
Reds 4-1 Antlers
Reysol 0-4 Frontale
Niigata 2-2 FC Tokyo
Gamba 5-2 JEF
S-Pulse 0-2 Nagoya
.... so the final table looks like this - really - place your bets NOW!
Gamba Osaka 63 +23
Kawasaki Frontale 62 +29
Kashima Antlers 60 +13
F.C.Tokyo 57 +12
Shimizu S-Pulse 53 +11
Sunday, 1 November 2009
Grampus Ease into Emperor's Cup 4th Round
Nagoya keep their hopes of winning some silverware this season alive, with a hard-earned win over HOnda Lock in he Emperor's Cup.
Nagoya Grampus
Koji Nishimura
Hayuma Tanaka, Maya Yoshida, Shohei Abe, Shohei Abe
Yoshizumi Ogawa, Keiji Yoshimura, Naoshi Nakamura (Alex Santos 58), Magnum
Keiji Tamada (Keita Sugimoto 75), Josh Kennedy (Yuki Maki HT)
Scorers: Yoshimura 68, Maki 79
Honda Lock FC
Kawasahima
Sawamura, Ueda, Shirakawa, Maeda
Kanaishi, Etsuda, Takei, Yamasshita (Harada 3)
Sudo (Kumamoto 66), Mizunaga
Nagoya Grampus
Koji Nishimura
Hayuma Tanaka, Maya Yoshida, Shohei Abe, Shohei Abe
Yoshizumi Ogawa, Keiji Yoshimura, Naoshi Nakamura (Alex Santos 58), Magnum
Keiji Tamada (Keita Sugimoto 75), Josh Kennedy (Yuki Maki HT)
Scorers: Yoshimura 68, Maki 79
Honda Lock FC
Kawasahima
Sawamura, Ueda, Shirakawa, Maeda
Kanaishi, Etsuda, Takei, Yamasshita (Harada 3)
Sudo (Kumamoto 66), Mizunaga
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