[igor5]

Japan J-League

03 May 06:00 Urawa Red Diamonds v JEF Utd Ichihara 1.50 3.50 5.50
03 May 06:00 Ventforet Kofu v Yokohama FC 1.75 3.40 4.00
03 May 08:00 FC Tokyo v Kashima Antlers 2.40 3.10 2.60
03 May 08:00 Kashiwa Reysol v Niigata 1.90 3.20 3.50
03 May 08:00 Nagoya Grampus Eight v Oita 1.61 3.50 4.50
03 May 08:00 Sanfrecce Hiroshima v Omiya Ardija 1.83 3.25 3.75
03 May 08:00 Vissel Kobe v Gamba Osaka 3.80 3.25 1.80
03 May 11:00 Shimizu S-Pulse v Jubilo Iwata 2.25 3.20 2.75
03 May 11:00 Yokohama F-Marinos v Kawasaki-F 2.37 3.10 2.62

Bet365

[$olvent]

J-League News: Gamba top the table going into 'Golden Week'

'Golden week' is a popular time of year in Japan, with many choosing to schedule time off around the several public holidays that take place towards the end of April and the start of May.

Far from taking time off, the J-League kicks into over-drive, with some of the biggest clashes in Japanese football whetting the appetite of football fans.

On the last weekend in April, 41,283 fans turned out at 'Big Swan' Stadium in Niigata, only to watch in disbelief as home side Albirex Niigata crashed 6-0 to Yokohama F. Marinos.

Urawa Reds' massive travelling support made up a large proportion of the 36,146 fans that turned out at Kashima Stadium, and it was the Reds' fans who went home happy, as a solitary Robson Ponte strike was enough to see off hosts Kashima Antlers.

A full round of midweek fixtures will take place on May 3, with several mouth-watering derbies catching the eye.

Vissel Kobe have the unenviable task of welcoming Gamba Osaka to Kobe Wing Stadium, as the two clubs clash in a 'Kansai Derby.' This will be the second time that they have met in 2007, with Gamba holding Kobe to a 2-2 draw when the two clubs clashed in the League Cup on March 25.

Yokohama F. Marinos are in devastating form, having beaten Oita Trinita 5-0 and Albirex Niigata 6-0 in successive matches. They take on Kawasaki Frontale in the Kanagawa Derby at Nissan Stadium, with Kawasaki looking fatigued in recent weeks after their exploits in the Asian Champions League.

Two of Japan's most bitter rivals clash at Nihondaira Stadium to complete the round, as Shimizu S-Pulse take on Jubilo Iwata in the Shizuoka Derby.

Jubilo famously beat Shimizu on penalties at Nihondaira Stadium in a championship decider in 1999, when the J-League was still contested over two separate stages.

All tickets for this long-awaited fixture have been sold, meaning that around 19,000 fans should cram into Nihondaira to see which club will claim the first bragging rights of 2007.

The regional match-ups continue when another full round of fixtures takes place on May 6.

Struggling Kyushu club Oita Trinita take on fellow southern outfit Sanfrecce Hiroshima, with Oita desperate for a win to scramble clear of the relegation zone.

Kashima Antlers clash with fellow giants Yokohama F. Marinos at Kashima Stadium, as two of the heavyweights of Japanese football look to escape from mid-table mediocrity.

Kawasaki Frontale take on neighbours FC Tokyo, and club officials will expect another near-capacity crowd at Todoroki Stadium for this game.

Pride of place goes to the Saitama Derby, however, as lowly Omiya Ardija host cross-town rivals Urawa Reds at Saitama Stadium. Omiya are currently second-from-bottom, and they need a drastic change of form and fortune if they are to avoid a lengthy battle against the drop in 2007.

The pick of the fixtures in J2 sees Vegalta Sendai take on Kyoto Sanga FC on May 3, before Sendai travel to Sapporo to take on Consadole on May 6, as first meets second at Atsubetsu Stadium.

http://soccerphile.blogspot.com

[Monty H.]

I have absolutly not an inkling of a clue about this league, ive read what you said and took all the matches in this J-league and placed 2 pts Overs on all of 'em

[igor5]

Great Time To Take On Bogey Team - Hiroshima Preview
Well, to be more honest this is actually a distinctly unfortunate point in the season for an underachieving and underfire Omiya Ardija team to be taking on a side that has won all four league fixtures between the two since Ardija gained promotion to J1. Sanfrecce Hiroshima may have taken only two points from their last three games, but their ever-dangerous front pairing of Ueslei and Hisato Sato should be more than enough to set alarm bells ringing for Robert Verbeek's fragile team.

Together the two have already notched a remarkable twelve league goals, the burly Brazilian currently the division's top marksman with seven. But this is merely a continuation of one of the most impressive scoring records in the country over recent seasons, to produce a tally that has now gone past the 100 mark for the 35-year-old. Japanese international Sato, a decade younger, might also be more diminutively built than his partner but is nevertheless arguably one of the most dangerous finishers that the J-League has to offer. And in Yuichi Komano, he and Ueslei have a team-mate single-mindedly aiming to provide them with service and goalscoring opportunities.

The likes of Daigo Kobayashi, Chikara Fujimoto and most especially overlapping full-backs Yasuhiro Hato and Takuro Nishimura would do well to take a leaf out of the book of Komano, for Ardija - so feeble in front of goal this season - may just have better luck in finding the net if the team's wide players are able to get the ball to strikers Salles and Kota Yoshihara. This is because Mihailo Petrovic's Sanfrecce team have one of the leakiest defence's in J1, Jubilo Iwata being the last to benefit from their generosity in a 4-2 win at the weekend.

So if Hiroshima present to their opponents a contrasting challenge - a weak defence with an explosive front line - the Squirrels are stuck playing the same old song. For it appears that if the Omiya back four makes any kind of slip-up, the offensive members of the side consistently find it extremely difficult to create and take chances. The feeling is growing that if Verbeek's team go a goal behind, it is more or less "game over". The Dutchman claims in interviews always to speak positively to his players and it is this mentality - and tactical approach - which Omiya need to adopt in matches such as that against Hiroshima.

Otherwise, no matter how error-prone the Sanfrecce defence, Ardija will not be in a position to exploit any opportunities that come there way; while at the other end, Sato and Ueslei will be waiting to pounce.

http://furtho.blog4.fc2.com/

[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

[$olvent]

Urawa - JEF United over 2.50

Urawa is favorit in this game they are second in table after Gamba with 17 points,JEF United are 14 with 8 points.After bad start of season JEF United seems to be back in their legs when they took 7 point in last 4 matches 2 win 1 draw and 1 lost game.in other side Urawa is good team that played good from the begin but lost game in their place from Kawasaki F. was not good for them.They have only one lost game and draw 2 times both times away.They havent won in their place since 07.04.2007 when they won Jubilo 2-1 so tonight i think they have something to show to their funs.Both teams know to score but JEF United are bad in Defence so i think in this game we will see more goals.I think that Urawa will have easy game tonight,in football nothing is sure but i think tonight Urawa will win this game and they will continou their ambition for being champion of Japan in batle with Gamba. I wish you luck..

www.soccervista.com

[Monty H.]

Originally Posted by Monty H.

I have absolutly not an inkling of a clue about this league, ive read what you said and took all the matches in this J-league and placed 2 pts Overs on all of 'em

That was silly but not a bad result. 5/9 and 1 half wins and half money back

07:00	Finished	Kofu	1 - 0	Yokohama FC	(0 - 0)
07:00	Finished	Urawa	1 - 1	Jef United Chiba	(1 - 0)
09:00	Finished	FC Tokyo	1 - 2	Kashima	(0 - 0)
09:00	Finished	Hirosima	2 - 1	Omiya	(1 - 1)
09:00	Finished	Kashiwa	0 - 0	Niigata	(0 - 0)
09:00	Finished	Kobe	2 - 2	G-Osaka	(1 - 1)
09:00	Finished	Nagoya	1 - 2	Oita	(0 - 1)
12:00	Finished	Shimizu	2 - 1	Iwata	(2 - 1)
12:00	Finished	Yokohama-M	2 - 1	Kawasaki-F	(1 - 0)