[igor5]

Sports/J.LEAGUE: Cornucopia of tasty soccer matches on tap during Golden Week

Thursday is Constitution Day. For some it's day to reflect on what it means to live in a democratic society. For others it's just another day off during Golden Week, a golden opportunity to flee the country.

And for soccer aficionados it's Round 9 of the J.League. The weatherman's calling for sunshine and a high of 23, and I'm calling for nine mouthwatering matches and a steady succession of beers afterward. Happy holidays!

* * *

Urawa Reds (2) vs. JEF United Chiba (14)

The big news at Urawa this week was the internal gag order placed on all things Washington. The hulking striker allegedly threw a tantrum when he was substituted against Shanghai Shenhua in China a week ago and was left off the squad by manager Holger Osieck in Urawa's unremarkable 1-0 win over Kashima in Round 8. The latest reports out of the Urawa camp are that the 32-year-old Washington has both apologized and pledged to stay a Red until he retires. No disrespect to striker Yuichiro Nagai, but the Reds without Washington are like quality mild salsa--full of flavor but packing no bite.

Ventforet Kofu (10) vs. Yokohama FC (18)

Ventforet is on a roll after opening the season with four straight defeats. Kofu collected three wins and a draw to remain undefeated in April and should have little trouble dispatching last-place Yokohama, which needed a questionable own goal from Shimizu on the weekend to earn its first point in six matches.

Kashiwa Reysol (3) vs. Albirex Niigata (9)

The teams had radically different days in the office last weekend. Reysol upended Nagoya 2-0 with such aplomb that for the first time this season they gave the impression they may have what it takes not only to remain in J1, but to still be competing at the top of the table at the end of the season. Albirex, on the other hand, didn't know what hit them when they welcomed the wildly inconsistent Yokohama F Marinos to Niigata on Saturday. Hiroshi Hayano's marauding mariners handed Niigata their worst loss, 6-0, since a 7-0 pounding by Jubilo Iwata last September. Sanfrecce Hiroshima (13) vs. Omiya Ardija (17)

Robert Verbeek's days as manager of Ardija must surely be numbered. The team has struggled to a 1-1-6 record and haven't scored more than a goal in any match this season. With no offense to contend with, Sanfrecce may feel they have carte blanche to pour forward against the Squirrels. This one could get ugly.

F.C. Tokyo (15) vs. Kashima Antlers (12)

The Reds may lack teeth without Washington, but the Antlers aren't even able to gum the opposition at this point. Of the seven goals Kashima has scored this season, three came from Atsushi Yanagisawa, who is sidelined for three months with a broken foot. That leaves the Antlers, who were bad to the point of amusing in front of goal against Urawa on Sunday, with few options. Striker Marquinhos has only scored in one of eight matches this seasons, so manager Oswaldo Oliveira is having to make due with youngsters Shinzo Koroki (20) and Ryuta Sasaki (19), who after Round 8 share a scant 20 games between them in the J.League.

Sadly, things are even worse at F.C. Tokyo, whose offense is comprised of last year's leading scorer Lucas, World Cup veteran Paulo Wanchope and Under-22 striker Sota Hirayama. The team has scored six goals collectively this season, making this match a prime candidate for a nil-nil draw.

Yokohama F Marinos (8) vs. Kawasaki Frontale (4)

For the first time this year, Yokohama posted two straight wins and they did so in a manner not even the most diehard F Marinos fan would have predicted: with a 5-0 win over Oita in Round 7 and a 6-0 win over Albirex in Round 8.

The Marinos have exhibited flashes of brilliance and flashes of hopelessness this season. Against Frontale it probably doesn't matter which aspect of their game they bring to the table, as Frontale is strong enough to deal with either.

Nagoya Grampus Eight (5) vs. Oita Trinita (16)

Nagoya has lost three of four but shouldn't have many problems with 15th-place Trinita, who are playing their worst soccer since making J1 in 2003. How nasty has Oita been? They haven't scored in four matches, they've conceded 11 during that span and the only win they've mustered came against Omiya, one of only two teams worse than they are.

Vissel Kobe (11) vs. Gamba Osaka (1)

Akira Nishino's players have more goals than any other team, are tied with Nagoya for fewest goals conceded and are quite capable of leaping tall buildings in a single bound. Gamba have been super so far this season and the run-of-the-mill Vissel Kobe are unlikely to have anything like a stick of kryptonite in their arsenal to thwart the league leaders on Thursday. The only thing that could trip up Gamba is if they start getting ahead of themselves with a grudge match against Urawa on May 13. But with strikers Magno Alves (4 goals), Bare (4) and Ryuji Bando (2) all fighting for a place in the starting lineup, there is certainly no lack of motivation up front.

Shimizu S-Pulse (7) vs. Jubilo Iwata (6)

Under-22 national team striker Robert Cullen has four goals in his last four games and finally seems to be coming into his own. Jubilo put a nasty 5-2 loss to Gamba in Round 7 behind them with a 4-2 win over Sanfrecce last weekend, while Shimizu, true to form, has played it tight every match this season. The same can be expected Thursday. If the S-Pulse hope to avoid their fourth game without a win, they'll need one player to grab the game by the throat by scoring on a consistent basis.

http://www.asahi.com/english/Herald-...705020050.html