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Sanfrecce Hiroshima surged in April and manager Michael Skibbe has been duly rewarded with the J1 Manager of the Month award.The Viola went undefeated, winning their first three contests via clean sheet, including a 2-0 win against Yokohama F·Marinos. Sanfrecce added to this by rounding out the month with a pair of 2-2 draws, as Skibbe’s side showcased some…

Kyoto Sanga F.C. forward Peter Utaka has been named the Konami Monthly MVP for the month of April after scoring four goals that took him to the top of the Meiji Yasuda J1 League goalscoring chart.Utaka notched his quartet of goals in three matches, finding the net in a 1-1 draw against Gamba Osaka, then scoring twice in a win over Sagan Tosu, before scoring…

There was big action at the top and bottom of the table as Andrés Iniesta shone in a big win for Vissel Kobe in the relegation zone, while Kashima Antlers won convincingly to retain first place. Let’s check out all the Matchweek 13 action …Kashima Antlers 4, Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo 1Consadole hadn’t allowed a goal in five games, but Kashima tore them apa…

Kashima Antlers may be the Meiji Yasuda J1 League leaders, but a heavy loss for René Weiler’s men last weekend in Hiroshima has them in desperate need of a bounce-back performance in Matchweek 13.That’s no small task with a visit from Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo on tap - a team who have not allowed a goal in their current five-match unbeaten run.Consadole ha…

Sagan still lurkingSagan Tosu may not have been near the top of the table all season long, but they have been incredibly hard to beat. They have lost just one match so far this campaign, and while they would certainly have liked a few of their seven draws to have been wins, their ability to get something out of nearly every match is paying off.No team in th…

The AFC Champions League clubs returned to Meiji Yasuda J1 League action this week, but it was the slaying of table-topping Kashima Antlers that grabbed headlines. What went down in Matchweek 12?Sanfrecce Hiroshima 3, Kashima Antlers 0Yoshifumi Kashiwa scored twice as Sanfrecce put Kashima on their heels in a spectacular performance that rocked the league’s…

Another month is here and so is a new slate of global broadcasts airing on the official J.League International YouTube channel.In addition to a featured match from the 2022 J.League YBC Levain Cup, the arrival of May brings six localized broadcasts for Tokyo Verdy fans in Indonesia to enjoy — the first of which was seen earlier this week as superstar Pratam…

A year ago, a match between Yokohama F·Marinos and Nagoya Grampus would be one of the most anticipated in the entire Meiji Yasuda J1 League calendar, with the mighty Marinos attack and the fearsome Grampus defense a thrilling clash of styles between two of the best teams in the league.This season, only one of those clubs still fits the bill.Despite the depa…

We're back for another matchweek in the 2022 Meiji Yasuda J1 League. Here's what to keep an eye on...Welcome back, AFC Champions League clubsFour Meiji Yasuda J1 League clubs have been absent from the competition for the last few weeks due to playing in the AFC Champions League group stage, but they return to domestic action this weekend. Three te…

Kashima Antlers still stand atop the table after another win, but there’s a new team in third place and there was a shocking thumping of F.C.Tokyo. Find out what went down in Matchweek 11...Kashima Antlers 3, Júbilo Iwata 1Back in first place after a win last week, Kashima thumped Júbilo on the strength of Ayase Ueda’s sixth and seventh goals of the season.…

Matchweek 11 is here in the 2022 Meiji Yasuda J1 League. Let's take a look at three things to keep an eye on...Welcome to the title race, F.C.TokyoThe title race seems to grow by the week and the newest team in the mix is F.C.Tokyo.After a win over Gamba Osaka in a spectacular scene at the National Stadium, FCT travel to Avispa Fukuoka hoping to extend…

Kashiwa Reysol were the darlings of the league to start the 2022 season, powered by an excellent defense that saw them get off to a red-hot start to the campaign.Things have taken a turn in the last three matches, though, as Reysol have lost all three and their previously terrific defense has been hit for seven goals, while their attack has scored just one.…

The Meiji Yasuda J.League is officially sending three teams to the AFC Champions League knockout stages. Yokohama F·Marinos earned a crucial draw in their final group stage match, punching their ticket to the Round of 16, where they will join the previously qualified Urawa Reds and Vissel Kobe.Marinos entered their clash with K League club Jeonbuk Hyundai M…

It's a familiar sight: Kashima Antlers are leading the Meiji Yasuda J1 League table. The club celebrated their 1,000th J1 match by seeing three different goalscorers lead them past Cerezo Osaka, 3-0, and leapfrog defending champions Kawasaki Frontale for the top spot in the league.Yuma Suzuki put Antlers in front after just six minutes, pouncing on a r…

Matchweek 10 in the Meiji Yasuda J1 League saw a new team take over the top spot in the table, while the entire title race looks like a thriller with the top four teams separated by a mere four points.Cerezo Osaka 0, Kashima Antlers 3Yuma Suzuki continued his great season with a goal and assist as Kashima celebrated their 1,000th all-time J1 match with a vi…

J.LEAGUE has announced the 2022 MEIJI YASUDA J.LEAGUE will be available for viewing through additional overseas broadcasting networks in Vietnam, the Philippines, Indonesia (UseeTV), and Thailand (PPTV  HD  36).A current list of broadcast details can be seen here.Further announcements will be made upon determination of additional overseas broadcasters in fu…

Two of the four Meiji Yasuda J.League sides playing for continental supremacy booked their spots in the knockout stages of the AFC Champions League before the final matchday of the group stage. Urawa Reds and Vissel Kobe are guaranteed to advance in the competition, while Yokohama F·Marinos and Kawasaki Frontale are in position to join them in their group-s…

We're ready for another Meiji Yasuda J1 League matchweek! Here are our three things to watch for...Kashima take another crack at first placeKashima Antlers had the chance to take over first place last matchweek, but could only manage a draw so they held firm in second. They get another chance to jump into the top spot on Friday at Cerezo Osaka, though.…

All four Meiji Yasuda J.League teams in the AFC Champions League are now top of their groups heading into Matchday 5.Vissel Kobe held their spot atop Group J, while Kawasaki Frontale, Yokohama F·Marinos and Urawa Reds all leapt up to first in their groups to make it a perfect four-for-four after the most recent set of games.The biggest win of the matchday c…

Cerezo Osaka, Sanfrecce Hiroshima, and Kashima Antlers became the first three teams to advance out of the 2022 J.League YBC Levain Cup group stage thanks to results on Matchday 5.Kashima jumped to 10 points in Group A play with a 3-0 win over 10-man Oita Trinita. All three goals came after halftime, as Antlers turned on the pressure to assure their spot in …