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The final four of the J.League YBC Levain Cup is set, with Cerezo Osaka, Urawa Reds, Sanfrecce Hiroshima and Avispa Fukuoka moving onward to battle for two spots in the final.Cerezo won a wild tie with spectacular late dramatics to book their spot in the semi-finals. After a first leg 1-1 draw in Osaka, Frontale took control of the tie in the second leg aft…

It came deep into stoppage time, but Kawasaki Frontale got the win they needed over Yokohama F·Marinos to kick off a proper title fight. Check out that and the rest of the action from a terrific Matchweek 24 in the Meiji Yasuda J1 League.Kawasaki Frontale 2, Yokohama F·Marinos 1Leandro Damião and Teruhito Nakagawa traded first half goals, but Jesiel made su…

Thai superstar Supachok Sarachat’s move to Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo made headlines all over Thailand, and his Meiji Yasuda J.League debut put him right back on the front pages.Supachok delivered an assist just four minutes into his J.League career, putting the cherry on Consadole's dominant 5-1 win over Shonan Bellmare. Supachok was subbed on i…

A Kanagawa clash for the agesKawasaki Frontale have won the last two Meiji Yasuda J1 League titles and four of the last five, but their chances of winning yet another championship may be hinge on this weekend’s clash with league leaders, Yokohama F·Marinos.Marinos have been in splendid form and look the favorites to win their first J1 title since 2019, but …

Kawasaki Frontale have won the last two Meiji Yasuda J1 League titles and four of the last five, but their chances of winning yet another championship may be hinge on this weekend’s clash against Yokohama F·Marinos.The Tricolor are top of the league and have opened up an eight-point lead on second-place Kashima Antlers. Maybe more shockingly, they lead Fron…

Sanfrecce Hiroshima started off the J.League YBC Levain Cup quarter-finals off right, scoring twice in the last 20 minutes to beat Yokohama F·Marinos, 3-1, at Edion Stadium Hiroshima and take a two-goal lead into the second leg against the top team in J1.Yoshifumi Kashiwa gave Sanfrecce an early lead with a composed first touch and fierce volley, before Léo…

News ReleaseJapan Professional Football LeagueAugust 4th, 2022J.LEAGUE has announced that the 2022 MEIJI YASUDA J.LEAGUE will be available for viewing through the additional overseas broadcasting networks as follows.New broadcasting in India and Nigeria has been decided and in Thailand, in addition to SIAMSPORT, BG Channel is added as a new platform.Further…

The title is looking like Yokohama F·Marinos’ to lose after a monster weekend for their championship ambitions. That and more from Matchweek 23 in the Meiji Yasuda J1 League, coming at you here:Yokohama F·Marinos 2, Kashima Antlers 0The battle of first place vs. second place went Marinos’ way in a dominant performance that could have seen them score far mor…

Marinos and Antlers square offFirst place Yokohama F·Marinos take on second place Kashima Antlers on Saturday. They are not only the two best teams in the league, but also the two highest scoring teams. In an alternate reality, this massive clash would also feature the league’s top two goalscorers, but while Marinos will lean on Léo Ceará, Kashima will not …

The Meiji Yasuda J1 League is back in a big way this weekend, with a showdown between first and second place as Kashima Antlers travel to take on Yokohama F·Marinos in a monster clash.The home side sit five points above Kashima in the table and have been atop the standings for months, thanks in large part to their fearsome attack, which has notched 48 goals…

Japan are the champions of East Asia after a squad of almost entirely Meiji Yasuda J.League players captured the EAFF E-1 Football Championship.The Samurai Blue won their tournament opener and drew their second contest, setting up a winner-take-all battle against South Korea for the title.Led by Hajime Moriyasu, three-time J.League Manager of the Year, Japa…

Yokohama F·Marinos dropped points, giving the title challengers a chance to close the gap at the top. Did they take advantage? Find out that and everything else from this week in the Meiji Yasuda J1 League.Sagan Tosu 2, Yokohama F·Marinos 2Léo Ceará continued his blistering form with the opener, only to see Sagan answer with a pair of goals, but Kota Minunu…

The Osaka Derby is always a treat. Whether both teams are great, both teams are struggling, or the two teams find themselves on opposite ends of the table, Cerezo Osaka and Gamba Osaka are guaranteed to put on a show in the battle for city supremacy.This weekend, that show takes the stage at Panasonic Stadium Suita, where a spirited Gamba crowd will try to …

Léo Ceará remains unstoppableAt what point does a terrific run of form transform from a hot streak into something more spectacular? Léo Ceará may be reaching that point.The Yokohama F·Marinos man has eight goals and three assists in his last six games, a sterling run that has helped the Tricolor not only jump into first place, but build a little cushion at …

Six Meiji Yasuda J1 League clubs are going to the quarter-finals of the Emperor’s Cup, but they will be joined by at least one second division side - Ventforet Kofu. They defeated Sagan Tosu, 3-1, in the Round of 16 to advance in the competition and move three wins away from the title.Ventforet struck twice in the first half through Bruno Paraíba. The Brazi…

Gakuto Notsuda has been awarded KONAMI Goal of the Month for June for his spectacular left-footed blast to help Sanfrecce Hiroshima to victory in Matchweek 17.The Viola were trailing Cerezo Osaka, 1-0, when Notsuda got a bit of space in the 78th minute and hit a rocket from more than 25 yards. The shot left the goalkeeper no chance as it tucked into the top…

Shonan Bellmare had a marvelous June, assembling clean sheets in both of their matches to take full points and climb out of the relegation zone, and that excellent play earned Satoshi Yamaguchi Manager of the Month honors.Shonan began their terrific run of form at the end of May and it continued through June, beating F.C.Tokyo at home, 2-0, before a 1-0 win…

Kota Mizunuma wore the armband for first place Yokohama F·Marinos’ perfect June and added a pair of goals to capture KONAMI Monthly MVP honors.June was a light month in the Meiji Yasuda J1 League due to the international break, but Mizunuma still carried a big load for Japan’s top team at the moment. He scored the winner in a 2-1 victory over Gamba Osaka on…

Yokohama F·Marinos needed a late comeback against Cerezo, while Kawasaki Frontale put on a show and Vissel Kobe kept their win streak going. Let’s take a look at all the Matchweek 21 action from the Meiji Yasuda J1 League.Cerezo Osaka 2, Yokohama F·Marinos 2The Sakura looked bound for a massive win, but an 82nd-minute red card reduced them to 10 men and Mar…

Vissel Kobe are on the rise! After a difficult first half of the season, Andrés Iniesta and Co. have found the form they expected to have from the beginning of the season.Led by the terrific performances of Yoshinori Muto and Yuya Osako, the Ushi have won consecutive games to double their number of victories on the season. Those performances have taken the …