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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…

The 33rd round of the MEIJI YASUDA J2 League took place this weekend, with nine out of 11 matches taking place as scheduled. Leaders Shonan Bellmare managed a narrow 1-0 win over Kamatamare Sanuki, successfully defending Andre Bahia's goal to go undefeated in their ninth straight match and climb to 70 points. After Yusuke Goto put Oita Trinita up …

Jubilo Iwata managed to hold Urawa Reds to a 1-1 MEIJI YASUDA J1 League draw on Sunday, preventing the visitors from taking a much-needed three points. Musaev opened the scoring for the Ecopa Stadium residents and Shinzo Koroki had to equalise with 10 minutes left, with the Reds unable to find the breakthrough after. It is a result that leaves Takafum…

It ensures the runners-up keep up the pressure on Antlers who in turn surged to a 4-2 win at bottom-side Albirex Niigata thanks to Leandro’s hat-trick. The Brazilian struck thrice in the second half of what was a late show from the Japanese champions, who found themselves trailing in the first five minutes and saw Albirex double their lead right be…

Ventforet Kofu have announced the signing of Australian striker Billy Konstantinidis on a full transfer. The right-footed 31-year-old has spent his entire career in Greece, most recently playing for Superleague side Veria FC. “It’s an honour to be joining this club. I want to score a lot of goals and assists and do what I can for the team,…

The J.League has announced a number of previously unsettled fixture schedules following recent 2017 AFC Champions League results affecting several J.League clubs. The final schedules are as follows (all times JST): Round 28 September 30 - Kawasaki Frontale vs. Cerezo Osaka (19:00, Todoroki Stadium) Round 30 October 21 - Sanfrecce Hiroshima vs…

The second leg of the 2017 AFC Champions League quarter-final took place on Wednesday night at Saitama Stadium, where Urawa Reds roared to a 4-1 win over Kawasaki Frontale to advance to on a 5-4 aggregate score. After falling 1-3 in the first leg at Todoroki Stadium, Urawa were dealt a further setback when Kawasaki defender Elsinho capitalised on sloppy …

Cerezo Osaka have announced the return of midfielder Rei Yonezawa from his loan to Renofa Yamaguchi. The 21-year-old had been assigned to the MEII YASUDA J2 League side since January, making 16 appearances including nine starts. “There’s not much time left in the season, but I want to play with all of my strength. Thank you for your suppor…

FC Tokyo on Sunday announced the dismissal of manager Yoshiyuki Shinoda for poor results. The 46-year-old, who took over the capital city side in July 2017, had amassed won just nine out of 25 games in this year’s MEIJI YASUDA J1 League. “I deeply apologise to our fans, supporters, and everyone involved with the club for failing to meet yo…

The MEIJI YASUDA J2 League’s 33rd round took place over the weekend with several teams making major moves into the play-off zone. As leaders Shonan Bellmare came out on top with a wild 5-3 win at Renofa Yamaguchi, second-place Avispa Fukuoka’s struggles continued with a 1-0 loss to Ehime FC.  The Level 5 Stadium outfit are winless in …

Vissel Kobe earned a much-needed 2-1 MEIJI YASUDA J1 League win over Gamba Osaka on Saturday, the embattled visitors matching their hosts in a strong showing. Nelsinho had been removed from his position after a string of disappointing results and it has fallen to interim boss Takayuki Yoshida to lead Vissel out of the slump. With Lukas Podolski leadin…

Gamba Osaka manager Kenta Hasegawa will not renew his contract at the end of the 2017 season, the club has announced. Hasegawa took over the side in 2013, leading Gamba to that year’s J2 League title. In their return to the J1 League the following year they won an unprecedented treble, taking home the title, J.League Cup and Emperor’s Cup. …

Fukushima United on Thursday announced the signing of midfielder Nilton, marking his return to the J.League for the first time in two years. The 24-year-old, who most recently plied his trade for Brazil’s Esporte Clube Taubate, came to Japan in 2014 for Tokyo Verdy and spent the following season at Consadole Sapporo.  Nilton, who scored a t…

Yokohama FC have announced the retirement of former midfielder Tomoya Uchida, who will join the club’s front office as a communications manager. The 34-year-old joined Yokohama in 2002, playing six seasons there before transferring to Omiya Ardija in 2008.  After three years and an additional season at Ventforet Kofu, he returned to Yokoham…

Japan were defeated 1-0 by hosts Saudi Arabia late on Tuesday night in their final match of 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifications. With their ticket to Russia already clinched following their 2-0 win against Australia on August 31, Vahid Halilhodzic’s back line and midfield remained largely unchanged while overseas-based attackers such as Hertha Berli…

The J.League has announced the results of its annual campaign to collect football shirts for children in developing nations across the world. After setting a goal of 400 donated shirts, the league received a stunning 570 which have been earmarked for children in Vanuatu, an island nation in the South Pacific Ocean. Previous donation drives have yielde…

The second leg of the J.League YBC Levain Cup quarter-finals took place on Sunday, with four teams booking their place in next month’s semi-final round as Kashima Antlers bowed out. Vegalta Sendai, who arrived at Kashima Stadium with a 3-1 advantage over Antlers, jumped to a 2-0 lead after goals by Hirotaka Mita and Takuma Nishimura.  Antle…

The 32nd round of the MEIJI YASUDA J2 League wrapped up on Sunday with FC Gifu eking out a late 2-1 win over Ehime FC. The hosts took the lead after just 15 minutes through Koya Kazama’s gorgeous right-footed effort from just inside the penalty area, but Koki Arita put the hosts level in the 79th minute with his close-range header. With just fou…

The 31st round of the MEIJI YASUDA J2 League opened on Saturday with 10 out of 11 matches taking place. Despite taking a 2-0 lead against visiting Yokohama FC, leaders Shonan Bellmare were forced to settle for a draw when 2011 J1 League MVP Leandro Domingues capped off a stunning comeback with his dramatic equalizes in the fifth minute of stoppage time f…

Jubilo Iwata on Wednesday announced the arrival of midfielder Hiroki Yamada, marking the player’s return to Yamaha Stadium for the first time since 2014. The 28-year-old has spent the last three years at 2.Bundesliga side Karlsruher SC, where he scored 10 goals in 88 appearances. “I’ve been given another chance to wear the blue shirt…