Honda Fires Japan to Easy Win Over Mild Chile

A year playing football in a less demanding, but physical, league seems to have done Keisuke Honda the world of good. He was instrumental in Japan's comfortable 4-0 win over an under-strength Chile in a last night's friendly at Nagai Stadium. His fierce shot led to the first goal, as Okazaki pounced on the 'keeper's fumbled save to fire Japan into an early lead.

Okazaki added a second before half time, when defender Nakazawa played him through with an inch-perfect pass, as he burst between two defenders to fire past the hapless Chile custodian. Yuki Abe snuffed out any South American hopes of a revival in the second half, as he powered home a typically powerful header from a corner. Honda then rounded off his evening's work, with a neat finish in extra time, to open his account for Japan. Although he started to tire late in the half, he was still able bury Naoki Yamada's lay-off with an instant curling shot into the far corner.

Other Views

Japan Times: Some like it hot / Japan warms up for 2010 qualifying with rout of Chile

Goal.com: Japan Thrash Chile in World Cup Warm-up

Jubilo Shunt Grampus Off Unbeaten Run

In a surprise move, Grampus started this game with both forward Maki and defender Takeuchi in from the start. They replaced Tamada and Tanaka respectively, despite playing in the midweek game against Beijing. We suspect, that keeping Tamada on the bench was a motivation issue, considering that it would be likely make him even more determined to make a impression when he did come on. Unfortunately, the loss of Ogawa near the end proved more decisive, as Iwata run out 2-1 winners in an absorbing contest of contrasting styles.

The first half saw Jubilo make the better start, with a couple of early chances going astray. Both Nishi and Gilsinho looking sharp and working hard to put pressure on Nagoya. In contrast to Iwata's testing, probing build-up, Nagoya' play was more ponderous and relied on longer balls from the side. These saw a Maya header from a free-kick sail just over the bar, and the hard-working Maki also send a glancing header from a corner over bar. Abe put over several useful crosses, that posed a serious threat to Jubilo defense. A downward Lee header proved too firm and bounced over the bar. Jubilo testing, probing attacks. Maeda free header, from corner, goes wide. Nishi header, from Yamamoto cross whipped in from the right, hit under-side of cross bar, but rebounded to safety. This proved to be Yamamoto's last contribution to events, as he was injured by Ogawa's challenge as he whipped the ball over. Deflected Naoshi shot forced Kawaguchi to tip over.

HT: 0-0

Jubilo started the second half as they had the first, with a Ueda volley from a Gilsinho cross going just wide. Tamada replaced the ineffective Nakamura 10 minutes into the half, and as expected dropped into a position just behind Maki and Davi. A rare accurate Takeuchi cross just eluded Davi. This was shortly followed by another Maki header from a good Abe cross that again drifted just wide of Kawaguchi's far post. Lee broke forward after dispossessing Maya near the halfway line, but was unable to get off a clear shot. He later tested Narazaki with a rising shot from a tight angle that forced the Nara native to tip the ball over.

Ogawa was dismissed 10 minutes from the end, after hauling down a Jubilo player to earn his second yellow card of the day. Jubilo promptly took the lead when Nasu neatly put way the rebound after a header had come back off the bar. A Naruoka 20-yarder then doubled Jubilo lead five minutes from the end. Davi pulled a goal back, with a glancing header from a Tamada free kick, as Jubilo paid the penalty for making a substitution before the kick. Tamada then saw a good effort saved as Nagoya pressed for the equalizer. Tamada and Davi combined well again on a free kick, this time Kawaguchi making a fingertip save to deny the Brazilian. Jubilo almost extended their lead early in injury-time when a quick break forced Narazaki into a good save. So, despite Grampus having the majority of the possession, it was Jubilo that made effective use of it, when they had the ball.

The loss sees Grampus Grampus fall back to seventh place, 10 points behind leaders Kashima, and they will resume league play, after the national team break, without Ogawa. The two yellow cards mean he will earn an automatic suspension for the next game against JEF United. On the other hand, Magnum is expected to rejoin the team in June, and may well be back in time for the resumption. The question is, can any of the youngsters (Fukushima and Hanai in particular) capitalize on a serious of mediocre performances by the midfield, to force their way into the team.

Jubilo Iwata
Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi
Yuichi Komano, Daisuke Nasu, Kentaro Ooi, Shuto Yamamoto
Kosuke Yamamoto (Sho Naruoka 35), Kota Ueda, Norihiro Nishi (Yoshiaki Ota 66), Gilsinho,
Lee Keun Ho (Rodrigo), Ryoichi Maeda
Scorers: Nasu 83, Naruoka 85

Grampus
Seigo Narazaki
Akira Takeuchi (Hayuma Tanaka 66), Maya Yoshida, Takahiro Masukawa, Shohei Abe (Keita Sugimoto 85)
Naoshi Nakamura (Keiji Tamada 55), Kei Yamaguchi, Keiji Yoshimura, Yoshizumi Ogawa
Yuki Maki, Davi
Scorer: Davi 88

Ogawa Selected for Best 11 of ACL Group Stage

Goal.com Asia has selected three players from Japanese clubs for their best eleven of the just completed group stage. This, of course, includes Yoshizumi Ogawa, but also Ogasawara of the Antlers and Leandro from Gamba.

Click here for the full eleven.

Vissel's Kim Out for Two Months

Vissel Kobe have announced that midfielder Kim Nan Il will be out for action for about two months, after pulling a muscle during the warm-up for the game against Niigata on Sunday. The calf injury (?) does not sound too serious, so it is a bit surprising to see that it is expected to keep Kim out of action for two months.

Guoan Cloggers Snatch a Point

Nagoya's fresh-faced youngsters earned a point in Beijing to finish their ACL group stage unbeaten in six games. Although none of the youngsters had a particularly spectacular game, they all contributed to a solid team performance. They also seem to have survived unscathed from some typically amateurish 'tackling' that has no place in a professional competition.

Grampus got off to the better start, with Tsuda sending a dipping shot just over the bar. However, despite some very crude play by their defense, Guoan posed the occasional threat when going forward and Liang saw a good effort jut clear the bar. This was followed by a golden chance from tight angle, but Hui clipped the outside of post with the goal at his mercy. Meanwhile, the Chinese Cloggers had two players booked for dangerous two-footed challenges within the opening 30 minutes, and a third player booked for a crude push.

Nagoya took the lead when Yamaguchi won free-kick on the edge of box, after a neat bit of control outfoxed his marker. Hanai saw his curling effort from the resultant free-kick smack the bar, but Niikawa was on hand to react smartly and bury the rebound into the net.

The second half saw Grampus look a bit more comfortable and composed, but Guoan were occasionally dangerous down the wings. In particular, the pace of the two Griffiths brothers often created danger, but they lacked the finesse to make the most of the opportunities. Beijing did eventually pull level after period of pressure, towards the end of the half, with some good control and a well-taken shot by Hui. The thugish Zheng sees himself dismissed after a another two-footed challenge earlier in the half is followed by blatant arm block on Sugimoto, neither of which made any attempt to play the ball. No wonder the Chinese league cannot attract decent players, no true professional would risk playing there, leaving them with simple mercenaries who do not care as long as the money is good.

FootyTube has highlights of the first half.

Beijing Guoan Vs. Nagoya Grampus at FootyTube.com

Guoan Cloggers
Zhang Si Peng
Lang Zheng, Zhou Ting, Xu Yun Long (Modibo 62)
Sui Dong Liang, Wang Dong (Zhang Xinxin 34), Wang Ke (Ryan Griffiths 75), Zhu Yifan
Du Wen Hui, Guo Hui, Joel Griffiths
Scorer: Guo Hui 81

Grampus
Koji Nihimura
Genta Matsuo, Akira Takeuchi, Maya Yoshida, Masaya Sato
Kei Yamaguchi, Shinta Fukushima, Sho Hanai
Yuki Maki, Tomohiro Tusda, Oribe Niikawa
Scorer: Niikawa 35

Other Views
ESPN Star: Beijing Guoan 1-1 Nagoya Grampus
Kyodo News: Nagoya, Beijing end 1-1 tie in ACL

Start-em Young

The Grampus starting line-up for tonight's ACL game in Beijing contains Matsuo and Sato in defence, Fukushima and Hanai in midfield, and Niikawa up front. With 20-year-old Yoshida also in the line-up, this make one of the youngest teams Grampus have ever fielded. Most of our other rookies have 'made' the bench. :-)