- JFA
Avispa upset by Renofa in Emperor’s Cup
The final four matches of the second round of the 96th Emperor’s Cup were played on Wednesday, with one J1 League meeting a shocking end to their campaign. Nejd Pecnik’s goal was enough to see Omiya Ardija past Gainare Tottori with a 1-0 score, while Vissel Kobe were rarely troubled in a 7-1 rout of Suzuka Unlimited FC. Yokohama F. Marinos…Thu, 08 Sep 2016 · 10:02 JST - Samurai Blue
Dominant Japan victorious in Thailand
Only the heroics of Thailand’s goalkeeper kept the scoreline respectable as Japan eased to a 2-0 win in 2018 World Cup qualifying on Tuesday. War Elephants custodian Kawin Thamsatchanan was heroic between the hosts’ posts as Vahid Halilhodzic’s men laid siege all night, racking up 11 shots on target by the end. Japan therefore racked…Wed, 07 Sep 2016 · 10:02 JST - Samurai Blue
Halilhodzic: Japan must improve in front of goal
Vahid Halilhodzic has urged Japan to turn over a new leaf in front of goal beginning from their 2018 World Cup qualifying clash with Thailand. The Samurai Blue travel to face the Southeast Asian giants at Rajamangala Stadium days after suffering an inauspicious 2-1 home loss to UAE at the start of their campaign. And while Halilhodzic blamed the refer…Tue, 06 Sep 2016 · 10:02 JST - League Cup
Gamba join Reds in Levain Cup semi-finals
Wins both large and narrow on Sunday propelled four teams into the semi-finals of the 2016 J.League YBC Levain Cup. At Mitsuzawa Stadium, Kayke’s goal on the verge of half-time gave Yokohama F. Marinos a 1-0 win over Omiya Ardija, allowing the hosts to advance on away goals with a 2-2 aggregate score. Urawa Reds left no question of their desire …Mon, 05 Sep 2016 · 10:02 JST - JFA
Jubilo progress as Grampus and Ventforet stumble in Emperor’s Cup
The majority of the second round of the Emperor’s Cup took place on Saturday, with three J1 League clubs suffering “giant killing” upsets by J3 League sides and others nearly suffering the same fate. Ventforet Kofu were the first top division team knocked out of the Cup when they lost 6-7 to Oita Trinita in penalty kicks. The K…Mon, 05 Sep 2016 · 10:02 JST - League Cup
Reds Umesaki injures ACL
Urawa Reds midfielder Tsukasa Umesaki has suffered damage to his anterior cruciate ligament, the club announced on Friday. The injury took place during the team’s 2-1 win at Vissel Kobe in the first leg of the 2016 J.League YBC Levain Cup quarter-final. An announcement regarding Umesaki’s required recovery time on his left knee will be mad…Sat, 03 Sep 2016 · 10:02 JST - Samurai Blue
UAE slump represents Japan’s state, says Halilhodzic
Vahid Halilhodzic was resigned to defeat as he spoke to media on Thursday night following Japan’s 2-1 home loss to UAE in their 2018 FIFA World Cup AFC Final Qualifying opener. Ahmed Khalil struck twice from set-pieces after Keisuke Honda had opened the scoring, providing the Samurai Blue the worst possible start in their bid to appear in Russia. …Sat, 03 Sep 2016 · 10:02 JST - Samurai Blue
Japan undone by set-pieces in shock UAE defeat
Ahmed Khalil shocked a sold-out Saitama Stadium on Thursday when his brace enabled UAE to defeat Japan 2-1 in the first match of the final phase of 2018 World Cup qualifying. Japan had taken the lead when Keisuke Honda stole in at the back post to head home a free-kick in the 11th minute. But AFC Player of the Year Khalil equalised before half-time wi…Fri, 02 Sep 2016 · 10:02 JST - J2 LEAGUE
Roasso fall to Ehime in makeup game
Roasso Kumamoto lost 2-1 to Ehime FC in Wednesday’s rescheduled 2016 MEIJI YASUDA J2 League Round 11 fixture. Minoru Suganuma gave the hosts the lead in the 28th minute. But the Shikoku side fought back through Kosuke Shirai’s equaliser and Ibuki Fujita’s late game-winner. The result sees Ehime climb to 11th place with 39 points.Thu, 01 Sep 2016 · 10:02 JST - Samurai Blue
Japan coach Halilhodzic demands UAE result
Vahid Halilhodzic has warned that Japan cannot relax and afford another debacle like the Singapore one as they enter the third and final round of 2018 World Cup qualifying. The Samurai Blue take on UAE on Thursday at Saitama Stadium looking to get the last phase of qualification off to a good start. And Halilhodzic wants his players to keep their focu…Thu, 01 Sep 2016 · 10:02 JST - League Cup
Ardija, Urawa take lead in Levain Cup quarters
The first leg of the 2016 J.League YBC Levain Cup quarter-final delivered a set of dramatic results that are sure to have fans on the edge of their seat until the final whistles on Sunday. Akihiro Ienaga’s late goal gave Omiya Ardija a 2-1 win over Yokohama F. Marinos, a large step toward reaching their first-ever cup final. Kosei Shibasaki scor…Thu, 01 Sep 2016 · 10:02 JST - J1 LEAGUE
Vegalta midfielder Sasaki out for rest of regular season
Vegalta Sendai midfielder Takumi Sasaki underwent surgery to repair ligament damage to his right ankle, the club announced on Tuesday. The 18-year-old made his professional debut in July, appearing as a substitute in two MEIJI YASUDA J1 League fixtures. Sasaki’s recovery is expected to require three months, keeping him out for virtually all…Thu, 01 Sep 2016 · 10:02 JST - J2 LEAGUE
Matsumoto dealt Tetsuto blow
Matsumoto Yamaga defender Hiroshi Tetsuto will miss the next six weeks after injuring his left hamstring in a recent match. The 33-year-old, who has six substitute appearances this season, suffered the injury in his team’s scoreless draw at Renofa Yamaguchi on August 21. Matsumoto remain leaders in the race for the second and final automatic pro…Tue, 30 Aug 2016 · 10:02 JST - Samurai Blue
Endo, Maruyama called up to Samurai Blue squad
Urawa Reds’ Wataru Endo and FC Tokyo’s Yuichi Maruyama have been called up to Japan’s national team for their upcoming 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. The announcement from the Japan Football Association comes after defenders Tomoaki Makino and Yuto Nagatomo were forced to withdraw from the squad due to injuries. 11 J.League players …Mon, 29 Aug 2016 · 10:02 JST - J1 LEAGUE
Grampus re-sign veteran defender Tanaka
Nagoya Grampus have announced that former defender Marcus Tulio Tanaka will re-join the club through the end of the 2016 MEIJI YASUDA J1 League season. The former Samurai Blue star has been included in nine J.League Best Elevens, including 2006 when he was named league MVP after capturing the J1 title with Urawa Reds. Tanaka, who began participating i…Mon, 29 Aug 2016 · 10:02 JST - JFA
Cerezo’s double-digits score leads J.League romp in Emperor’s Cup
The only surprises on the second day of the Emperor’s Cup opening round were the margins of victory as J.League teams cruised to easy victories in all of their matches. The biggest win of the day took place at Kincho Stadium, where Kenyu Sugimoto’s five goals fuelled Cerezo Osaka’s 10-0 win over Shikoku League members R.Velho Takamatsu.…Mon, 29 Aug 2016 · 10:02 JST - J1 LEAGUE
Frontale flop at home
Kawasaki Frontale were stunned by a sensational Diego Oliveira hat-trick as Kashiwa Reysol whipped the MEIJI YASUDA J1 League Second Stage leaders 5-2. Yahiro Kazama’s men had entered the tie looking to extend their lead at the top of the standings on Saturday but were quickly blown away by the irrepressible Brazilian. Oliveira stunned the crowd…Sun, 28 Aug 2016 · 10:02 JST - JFA
Emperor’s Cup opens with blowouts, upsets
The 96th Emperor’s Cup began on Saturday, with amateur and collegiate teams competing with J.League clubs to become champions of Japan. The opening round of matches featured participants in the MEIJI YASUDA J2 and J3 League taking on prefectural representatives, with the J.League clubs usually emerging victorious. Current J2 leaders Consadole Sa…Sun, 28 Aug 2016 · 10:02 JST - J2 LEAGUE
Hollyhock sign Korean defender
Mito Hollyhock on Friday announced the arrival of defender Yoo Lomon. The South Korean 24-year-old, who studied at Japan’s Ryutsu Keizai University, most recently represented K-League side FC Seoul. “I know I’m arriving in the middle of the season, but I want to work hard for the club, the fans, and for myself,” Yoo said. Ho…Sat, 27 Aug 2016 · 10:02 JST - J2 LEAGUE
Jakovic called up by Canada
Shimizu S-Pulse defender Dejan Jakovic has been called up by Canada ahead of their 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, the club announced on Friday. The CONCACAF nation will travel to face Honduras, whom they trail on goal difference, in a crucial match on September 2 before hosting El Salvador in the fourth round finale on September 6. Jankovic, who has …Sat, 27 Aug 2016 · 10:02 JST