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Japanese Soccer News - December 2006

Michael Tuckerman reports

National Team Men | Players Overseas | J.League | J.League Betting Tips | Japanese Goods

Japanese Soccer News

J-League News: J-League News: Urawa J-League Champions

Urawa Reds have won their first ever J-League title.

The club from the southern suburbs of Saitama clinched the title with a 3-2 win over Gamba Osaka, in front of 62,241 fans at Saitama Stadium.

Gamba opened the scoring after twenty-one minutes through their Brazilian ace Magno Alves, but Urawa's Brazilian Robson Ponte equalised just six minutes later.

With Gamba needing to win by three clear goals to claim the championship, the title was all but wrapped up when Urawa's top scorer Washington scored a minute before half-time.

Urawa extended their lead on the hour mark when Washington claimed his second of the match, taking him level at the top of the goalscoring charts with Magno Alves.

Satoshi Yamaguchi scored a late goal for Gamba but it was too little, too late, as Saitama Stadium erupted in wild celebration.

Both Washington and Magno Alves ended the season with 26 goals apiece, although Washington scored his goals in five matches less than his Brazilian counterpart.

Elsewhere in the J-League, 2005 runner's-up Cerezo Osaka were relegated after losing 3-1 at home to Kawasaki Frontale. Cerezo will join Kyoto Purple Sanga in J2 next season.

Avispa Fukuoka finished level on 27 points with Cerezo, but will contest the promotion/relegation playoff courtesy of having a better goal difference - by just two goals.

Fukuoka will take on Vissel Kobe, who finished third in J2. The matches will take place at Kobe Wing Stadium on December 6, with the return leg at Hakatanomori Stadium in Fukuoka on December 9.

Kashiwa Reysol will join Yokohama FC in the First Division next season, after both teams won promotion from J2. Kashiwa secured their return to the top flight after a one year absence by beating Shonan Bellmare 3-0 at Hiratsuka Stadium.

Japanese Players Overseas

Naohiro Takahara: Eintracht Frankfurt

Takahara scored a magnificent hat-trick in the club's 3-2 win over Alemannia Aachen, at a rain-soaked Tivolistadion. Takahara smashed two volleys passed Aachen goalkeeper Kristian Nicht, before holding off two defenders to slot home the winner and take his tally to six goals in the Bundesliga this season.

Shunsuke Nakamura: Celtic

Nakamura played in Celtic's 1-0 win over Aberdeen at the weekend, but started on the bench during the club's 3-1 loss to FC Kobenhavn in the UEFA Champions League.

Junichi Inamoto: Galatasaray

Galatasaray lost the derby to bitter rivals Fenerbahce at the weekend, but Junichi Inamoto earned praised for his performance in that match. He also played the full ninety minutes as Galatasaray beat Liverpool 3-2 in the UEFA Champions League.

Takayuki Morimoto: Catania

Highly rated youngster Takayuki Morimoto, who is on a year long loan from Tokyo Verdy, was on the bench for Catania in their 2-2 draw against Ascoli in Serie A at the weekend. He seems to be on the verge of making his first appearance in the Italian top flight.

Koj Nakata: FC Basel

Nakata has recovered from his recurring nose injury and played the full ninety minutes in FC Basel's 3-0 win over FC Luzern on Monday.

J1/J2 Playoff

Vissel Kobe and Avispa Fukuoka played out a nervy 0-0 draw in their promotion/relegation playoff at Kobe Wing Stadium last night.

Fukuoka were fielding several former Kobe players, while Avispa manager Ryoichi Kawamatsu was also coming up against his former club.

Neither side could find a breakthrough on a cold evening in Kobe, to give themselves an advantage in the second leg.

The two clubs meet again at Hakata-no-Mori Stadium in Fukuoka on December 9, to decide who will take part in the First and Second Divisions next season.

Japanese National Team

Japan - Asian Games

After defeating Japan on penalties at the recent Asian Youth Championships, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea has also knocked Japan out of the 15th Asian Games football tournament in Doha, Qatar.

The North Koreans defeated Japan 2-1, with Yong Jo Hong opening the scoring after four minutes.

Tokyo Verdy defender Yugo Ichiyanagi – the team's oldest player despite being just 21, equalised for Japan after seven minutes.

Yong Jun Kim scored the winner for the North Koreans after sixty-three minutes, to set up a charged quarter-final clash against the Republic of Korea.