News

Cerezo Osaka missed the opportunity to go level on points at the top of the MEIJI YASUDA J1 League table with a 1-1 draw against Shimizu S-Pulse, as Hiroshi Kiyotake’s equaliser at the death was needed to seal a draw. The Yanmar Stadium residents have enjoyed a remarkable season since coming up from the J2 League, and entered the weekend within tou…

The 2017 MEIJI YASUDA J2 League’s 19th round began on Saturday as the battle for positioning in the top half of the table intensified even further. Leaders Avispa Fukuoka found themselves trailing at home to Nagoya Grampus after just 14 minutes, but mounted an inspiring comeback late in the second half.  Two goals from substitute Daisuke Is…

Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo will travel to Thailand for a July 22 friendly against Muangthong United, the club announced on Friday. The match, which kicks off at 19:00 GMT+7 at SCG Stadium, will see Thai national team star Chanathip Songkrasin suit up against his old side after he officially begins his loan spell at the J.League side this month. Consad…

Sanfrecce Hiroshima on Thursday announced the full transfer of defender Tsukasa Shiotani to UAE club Al Ain. The 28-year-old joined the club in 2012, contributing to all three of Sanfrecce’s J1 League titles and Super Cup wins. He was named to the J.League’s Best XI in 2014, 2015 and 2016. “I struggled with the idea to leave Sanfrecc…

Roasso Kumamoto on Monday announced the resignation of manager Hiroyuki Kiyokawa after unsatisfactory results thus far in the 2017 MEIJI YASUDA J2 League campaign. Kiyokawa, who oversaw only four wins mingled with 11 defeats in 2017, will be replaced by club chairman Tomoyoshi Ikeya, who previously managed the club from 2005 through 2008 as well as the l…

Japan drew 1-1 against Iraq on Tuesday in 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying, returning with a point from Tehran despite taking an early lead. The Samurai Blue scored the opening goal in the eighth minute when Yuya Osako cleverly headed in a corner kick from Keisuke Honda, who wore the captain’s armband on his 31st birthday.  Vahid Halilhodzic&…

Nagoya Grampus on Sunday announced injuries to three key players who could miss action heading into mid-July. Goalkeeper Seigo Narazaki will be out for two to three weeks after suffering a right calf injury in the team’s June 3 match against Zweigen Kanazawa. Veteran striker Keiji Tamada will require four weeks of recovery after injuring his rig…

The pressure is on J2 leaders Avispa Fukuoka after Shonan Bellmare drew even with them on points in this weekend’s MEIJI YASUDA J2 League action. The Kyushu side picked up a point at JEF United Chiba, managing a 0-0 draw at the Fukuda Denshi Arena. Further west, Daiki Sugioka’s goal in the 50th minute gave Bellmare a 1-0 win at Tokushima V…

The J.League on Thursday announced the recipients of the “2017 MEIJI YASUDA J.League Mastercard priceless japan Monthly MVP” award for May 2017. Kashiwa Reysol goalkeeper Kosuke Nakamura was picture-perfect in four appearances for Kashiwa Reysol, with the selection committee recognising his incredible saves, quick judgment and strong leadersh…

Vissel Kobe on Wednesday announced a set of injuries to defenders Wataru Hashimoto and Shunki Takahashi, with both players set to miss most of the summer as a result. Hashimoto will miss eight weeks of action after tearing his left adductor muscle, while Takahashi will require the same amount of recovery time after tearing his right hamstring. Both in…

Japan’s national team drew 1-1 with Syria on Wednesday night in the Kirin Challenge Cup 2017 at Tokyo Stadium. The international friendly was a key test for both sides ahead of 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying next week, with Japan scheduled to face Iraq in Tehran and Syria set for a showdown with China. With Kashima Antlers star Gen Shoji and Cer…

The draw for the 2017 AFC Champions League quarter-final took place on Tuesday afternoon in Kuala Lumpur, with Kawasaki Frontale and Urawa Reds paired with each other in the two-legged contest. After defeating Muangthong United in the Round of 16, Frontale will return to the quarter-final for the first time since 2009 when they were knocked out by Nagoya…

Argentine tactician Carlos Alberto Mayor has been appointed as the new manager of MEIJI YASUDA J2 League side Renofa Yamaguchi, the club announced on Monday. The 51-year-old, who represented Argentina at the 1988 Seoul Olympics, was a part of Avispa Fukuoka’s first-ever J.League squad in 1996.  He has managed a number of local clubs since h…

Kashima Antlers surged to the first win under new manager Go Oiwa’s regime in style, with Leandro’s brace sealing a 3-1 MEIJI YASUDA J1 League victory at Sanfrecce Hiroshima.  The 2016 Japanese champions had fallen off the pace in recent weeks in the chase for first place, a situation compounded by their AFC Champions League exit last we…

Gamba Osaka late last week announced that veteran striker Patric’s contract will not be renewed after its conclusion on June 30. The 29-year-old, who first arrived in Japan in 2013 when he played for Kawasaki Frontale and Ventforet Kofu, joined Gamba in 2014 and was an important contributor to their J.League MEIJI YASUDA J1 League title that year. …

The unpredictable MEIJI YASUDA J2 League continued to demonstrate its twists and turns on Saturday, with the league lead changing hands yet again after the day’s eight matches concluded. At Toyota Stadium, Nagoya Grampus took the lead early through Robin Simovic’s goal but went on to lose 3-2 to visiting Zweigen Kanazawa, who found the winner…

Jubilo Iwata this week revealed details of striker Koki Ogawa’s injury, which occurred during the recent 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup. The 19-year-old suffered from a torn left anterior cruciate ligament as well as a torn meniscus in the same knee early in Japan’s 2-0 loss to Uruguay in the second match of the group stage.  The news is a …

Kagoshima United striker Sittichok Paso has been selected for the upcoming Thailand Under-23 training camp, the club announced on Thursday. The J.League’s first Thai player will participate in the week-long camp beginning on June 3, which will conclude in a friendly match with the Iraq U-23s on June 10 in Chonburi. “I’m happy to have…

The AFC Champions League Round of 16 concluded on Wednesday night with Urawa Reds advancing to the quarter-finals after a dramatic 3-0 extra time win over Jeju United. The J.League representatives, who came into the match trailing 0-2 after last week’s first leg, started strongly with a pair of first-half goals by Shinzo Koroki and Tadanari Lee to …

The final matchday of the 2017 J.League YBC Levain Cup Group Stage took place on Wednesday night, with several of the participating teams still vying for a place in the Knockout Stage. FC Tokyo came into their finale at last-place Shimizu S-Pulse needing a win to top the group, taking a 1-0 lead in the 38th minute when Ryoya Ogawa scored his first goal o…