J1 LEAGUEBangkok United youth train with FC Tokyo U-18
Two 17-year-old Bangkok United academy players are currently spending a month in training with FC Tokyo’s Under-18 team. Their arrival in Japan came about as part of the partnership between Bangkok United and FC Tokyo, along with the support of Tokyo club sponsor Nichiban. As part of their visit, the two players are also attending the Shinjuku J…Fri, 13 Oct 2017 - 20:56 JST
Samurai BlueJapan U-17 fall to France despite Miyashiro consolation
The FIFA Under-17 World Cup Group Stage continued on Wednesday with Japan losing 2-1 to France in their second match. The Europeans seized the initiative early on, with Amine Gouiri scoring the opening goal in the 13th minute after cutting through Japan’s defensive line. Japan hunted for an equaliser with Takefusa Kubo leading the charge, …Fri, 13 Oct 2017 - 00:23 JST
Samurai BlueKagawa saves Japan against Haiti
Japan needed a last-gasp goal from Shinji Kagawa to escape defeat against Haiti and scrape a 3-3 draw in their final game of the Kirin Challenge Cup on Tuesday. The Samurai Blue had roared into a two-goal lead via Shu Kurata and Kenyu Sugimoto before 20 minutes, but almost fatally took their foot off the gas at Nissan Stadium. Sensing weakness, Haiti …Wed, 11 Oct 2017 - 21:05 JST
Samurai BlueNakamura hat-trick propels Japan U-17s to opening win
Japan’s FIFA U-17 World Cup campaign got off to a nearly-flawless start early on Monday morning with a 6-1 win against Honduras. Mitsubishi Yowa SC striker Keito Nakamura netted a hat-trick by the 43rd minute, with 16-year-old FC Tokyo phenomenon Takefusa Kubo making the score 4-1 by half-time. Japan continued to press in Guwahati, with Kawasaki…Tue, 10 Oct 2017 - 19:49 JST
League CupFrontale join Cerezo in YBC Levain Cup final
Cerezo Osaka and Kawasaki Frontale will contest the 2017 J.League YBC Levain Cup final after winning their respective semi-finals on Sunday courtesy of last-gasp goals. In the Osaka derby, newly-promoted Cerezo triumphed 2-1 at Gamba, the 4-3 aggregate win over their local rivals sealed by a bullet header in the 95th minute from Yasuki Kimoto, who added …Mon, 9 Oct 2017 - 23:16 JST
J2 LEAGUEBellmare continue march to promotion
Shonan Bellmare took yet another big step towards their anticipated return to the top flight on Saturday night in MEIJI YASUDA J2 League action. The BMW Stadium residents struggled in the first half against Mito Hollyhock, but found their pace in the second half with goals by Ryunosuke Noda and and Ryo Takahashi in addition to a Hollyhock own g…Mon, 9 Oct 2017 - 04:45 JST
Samurai BlueJapan down plucky New Zealand in Kirin Cup
Japan kicked off their Kirin Challenge Cup campaign with a win against New Zealand, with Yuya Osako and Shu Kurata securing a 2-1 win on Friday. After a first half without goals, FC Koln star Osako netted the Samurai Blue’s first from the penalty spot - an opener that was cancelled out by Chris Wood’s strike before the hour mark. It then f…Sat, 7 Oct 2017 - 22:38 JST
League CupOsaka Derby ends in draw in Levain Cup semi-finals
The first leg of the 2017 J.League YBC Levain Cup semi-finals took place on Wednesday evening, with all four teams still in contention for the early November final at Saitama Stadium. A wild back-and-forth at Yanmar Stadium Nagai concluded in a 2-2 Osaka Derby draw between Cerezo Osaka and Gamba Osaka. 2015 Levin Cup New Hero Award winner Shuhei Akasa…Thu, 5 Oct 2017 - 20:09 JST
J2 LEAGUEAvispa reclaim second place as Grampus pile on goals
Another wild MEIJI YASUDA J2 League weekend saw several positions shift in the races for automatic promotion and a spot in the J1 Promotion Playoff. With Shonan Bellmare hanging onto first place following their 4-2 win over Zweigen Kanazawa, Avispa Fukuoka returned to second place after Koji Yamase and Riki Matsuda scored early in the team’s 2-1 vi…Tue, 3 Oct 2017 - 00:37 JST
J1 LEAGUEKoroki at the double in hard-fought Reds win
Shinzo Koroki’s brace enabled Urawa Reds to battle to a 3-2 MEIJI YASUDA J1 League victory at Vegalta Sendai The Japan international struck before the half-hour mark, a goal that was cancelled out by Hirotaka Mita, before notching again after 60 minutes. Rafael Silva then fired in the Reds’ third even if Crislan’s consolation c…Tue, 3 Oct 2017 - 00:34 JST
J1 LEAGUEFrontale crush Cerezo to close on Antlers
Kashima Antlers’ 1-0 loss at Sagan Tosu blew the MEIJI YASUDA J1 League title race wide open, with Kawasaki Frontale closing in the table. Akito Fukuta’s 80th-minute winner against league leaders and Japanese champions Antlers allowed Frontale to close within five points of the top of the table. The contenders put five past former challeng…Sun, 1 Oct 2017 - 23:27 JST
Samurai BlueKurumaya earns debut Japan call-up for Kirin Challenge Cup
The Japan Football Association on Thursday announced the Samurai Blue’s squad of 24 players for their upcoming Kirin Challenge Cup matches against New Zealand and Haiti. 11 J.League players were selected for the pair of international friendlies, including Kashiwa Reysol goalkeeper Kosuke Nakamura and Urawa Reds midfielder Wataru Endo. Kawa…Fri, 29 Sep 2017 - 20:35 JST
AFC CHAMPIONS LEAGUEReds earn big away draw in ACL semi-final
The first leg of the 2017 AFC Champions League East semi-final took place on Wednesday night, with Urawa Reds drawing 1-1 at Shanghai SIPG. Urawa struggled against Shanghai’s powerful attacking squad of Hulk, Oscar and Elkeson from the start. Indeed, it was former Tokyo Verdy player Hulk who netted the opener in the 15th minute with a powerful free…Thu, 28 Sep 2017 - 20:47 JST
J1 LEAGUESaito out for season with knee injury
Yokohama F. Marinos attacker Manabu Saito will require eight months to recover after tearing his right anterior cruciate ligament, the club announced on Tuesday. The 27-year-old ruptured his knee during F. Marinos’ 3-2 loss at Ventforet Kofu on Saturday in the MEIJI YASUDA J1 League Round 27. The diagnosis means that Saito, who represented Japan…Wed, 27 Sep 2017 - 20:22 JST
J1 LEAGUEChanathip named AFF Player of the Year at gala
Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo midfielder Chanathip Songkrasin was named the ASEAN Football Federation’s (AFF) Men’s Player of the Year on Saturday night at the AFF Awards 2017 federation’s annual gala. The Thai star led his country’s national team to their fourth AFF Suzuki Cup title last December and was named MVP of the tournament.…Tue, 26 Sep 2017 - 22:12 JST
J2 LEAGUEDramatic win keeps Nagasaki in second place
The 34th round of the 2017 MEIJI YASUDA J2 League took place this weekend as promotion-hopeful teams continued to jockey for position in the final stretch of the campaign. On Saturday, leaders Shonan Bellmare maintained their unbeaten streak with a 0-0 draw at Kyoto Sanga. Facing JEF United Chiba at home and with the game tied up at 1-1, V-Varen Nagas…Tue, 26 Sep 2017 - 01:44 JST
J1 LEAGUEAntlers inch yet closer to title with Gamba win
Kashima Antlers took giants steps towards defending their MEIJI YASUDA J1 League title by beating Gamba Osaka 2-1 on Saturday while Kawasaki Frontale and Cerezo Osaka faltered. Despite falling behind to Hwang Ui-jo’s seventh-minute opener, Go Oiwa’s Antlers thoroughly dominated Gamba and deservedly equalised in first-half stoppage time throug…Sun, 24 Sep 2017 - 23:40 JST
JFAKubo & Hirakawa make Japan U-17 World Cup squad
The Japan Football Association on Friday announced the country’s squad for the upcoming FIFA Under-17 World Cup, which will take place from October 6 through October 28 in India. Included are FC Tokyo U-18 striker Takefusa Kubo and midfielder Rei Hirakawa, both of whom have played an active role in the J3 League with the club’s U-23 side. …Sun, 24 Sep 2017 - 00:21 JST
JFAAntlers edge Reds Emperor’s Cup Round of 16
The Emperor’s Cup Round of 16 took place on Wednesday night, and there were no upsets to be found as eight J1 League sides advanced to the October 25 quarter-finals. Wataru Hashimoto and Kazuma Watanabe scored for Vissel Kobe in their 2-0 win at Matsumoto Yamaga, while Takaki Fukumitsu’s sixth-minute goal was enough to give Cerezo Osaka a 1-0…Thu, 21 Sep 2017 - 22:15 JST
J2 LEAGUEAvispa draw at Roasso in typhoon-delayed match
The MEIJI YASUDA J2 League Round 33 match between Roasso Kumamoto and Avispa Fukuoka ended 1-1 on Monday after it was postponed by the typhoon. Won Du-Jae put the visitors into the lead at Egao Kenko Stadium in the 69th minute, but Roasso responded just four minutes later when Shintaro Shimada equalised from the penalty spot. The match finished in the…Tue, 19 Sep 2017 - 23:47 JST
