J.League Round-up
Soccerphile.com's Sanborn Brown
on the latest action
in the J.League.
15 October 2004~While the top of the J1 table
is crowded with Kanto teams — Yokohama Marinos, Urawa Reds,
JEF, etc. — the race to the bottom is happening much closer
to home. As of mid-October, Vissel Kobe was in sole possession of
last place in the second stage, with just 4 points after four draws
in 9 matches.
Just above Vissel is Osaka Cerezo with 5 points
on one win and two draws. Only a bit higher at 9 points, Kyoto Purple
Sanga is leading the pack headed for relegation to J2 next season.
Following a dreadful first stage — and only 2 wins to date
in the second stage — hey are in last place in the overall
two-stage point standings.
However, November may yet save the team: with
the exception of one tough match against JEF, Sanga faces three
lightweights in Oita Trinita, Vegalta Sendai, and Gamba Osaka, the
last of which is currently the best team in western Japan.
Gamba, however, is mired in 10th place, with only
10 points to show for itself. Instead of the annual visits from
the national team member-laden Marinos, Reds, and Jubilos, the 2004
soccer season may witness a parade
of Sagans, Ventforets, and Hollyhocks coming to play in Kansai.
The national team was on the road in the early
part of October
to play in two friendlies. Against Tunisia, Sampdoria's Atsushi
Yanagisawa scored the lone goal of the match to give Coach Zico
a much-needed victory.
In Bucharest, Japan faced a much stronger opponent
in Romania, which is currently ranked 20th in the world. In the
first half of the match — played in front of sparse midday
crowd — Japan was lethargic and outplayed by the home side.
Chelsea forward Adrian Mutu, in particular, caused problems for
the back line.
He beat Urawa Reds's Tsuboi Keisuke and fooled
keeper Kawaguchi Yoshikatsu with a low shot that Kawaguchi could
only get a hand on — and then watch as it rolled over the line
and into the net. In the second half, though, Japan looked much
improved. After a lovely little pass from Nakata Hidetoshi, Yanagisawa,
once again, found the net.
Although Romania had the better chances, the game
ended 1-1. Nakazawa Yuji, in particular, put in a strong performance;
the tall defender stifled many attacks and nearly scored on a header
from close range.
Text: Sanborn Brown
http://www.soccerphile.com
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