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Kashima Antlers made a shocking change two weeks ago, replacing their manager in the middle of a title chase. Out went René Weiler and in came Daiki Iwamasa.After one game, the returns look good.Antlers made the change after going winless in their last five under Weiler, keeping just one clean sheet and struggling to score goals without the Europe-bound Aya…

Another matchweek is upon us in the Meiji Yasuda J1 League. Let's take a look at three headlines...Has Iwamasa sorted out the Kashima attack?Ayase Ueda was J1's leading scorer when he was sold to Cercle Brugge in the Belgian top flight on July 1 so it is only natural that Kashima Antlers have struggled to sort out their attack in his absence. The …

The AFC Champions League knockout stages are finally here in Saitama, with three Meiji Yasuda J1 League teams remaining in search of continental glory.Yokohama F·Marinos and Vissel Kobe topped their groups in April, while Urawa Reds went through as a second-place team, but all three enter the Round of 16 knowing just four results separate them from the top …

Everaldo has been awarded KONAMI Goal of the Month for July after his magnificent bicycle kick in Matchweek 20.Kashima Antlers found themselves trailing Cerezo Osaka, 3-2, in the 89th minute when a long ball was nodded into Everaldo’s path. The Brazilian took a touch to evade a defender, but it took him wide of the goal, with his back to goal and seemingly …

Kevin Muscat has been named Manager of the Month for July after his Yokohama F·Marinos team put together yet another unbeaten run. Muscat has assembled a deadly attack that is best in the league and was on full display in July. Led by Léo Ceará, who scored six goals in the month to leap to the top of the league’s goal scoring chart, the Tricolor scored 14 g…

Léo Ceará put together one of the best months in recent memory in July, helping Yokohama F·Marinos solidify their position atop the Meiji Yasuda J1 League table and earning him KONAMI Monthly MVP honors.Léo Ceará had six goals and an assist in July, helping the Tricolor to an undefeated month. Marinos won three games and drew two in that time and they could…

Matchweek 25 in the Meiji Yasuda J1 League was abbreviated after three matches were postponed due to Typhoon Meari and we wish good health to all those affected. Six J1 matches were played, though, so let’s dive into the action from the top flight.Kashima Antlers 2, Avispa Fukuoka 0Kashima looked excellent in their first match of the Daiki Iwamasa era, ridi…

Gamba Osaka and Shimizu S-Pulse are embroiled in a race for survival that reaches top speed this weekend when the two teams meet at Panasonic Stadium Suita in a crucial relegation six-pointer.Gamba are in 16th place, which would send them into a play-off against the Meiji Yasuda J2 League play-off winner, but S-Pulse are just one spot and two points ahead o…

Can Frontale keep the pressure on Marinos?Kawasaki Frontale pulled off their biggest win of the season last week, toppling league leaders Yokohama F·Marinos in stunning fashion and kicking off their proper title push. They’re now just eight points off the top, with two matches in hand, putting them in position to make a strong run at an unprecedented fifth …

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…