Japan Soccer
Urawa Reds took a giant stride towards winning the 2006 J-League title race yesterday. Urawa beat Marinos 1-0 at home, while nearest challengers Gamba Osaka and Kawasaki Frontale both lost. Gamba, without star Yasuhito Endo, went down 3-1 away to Kashima Antlers while Frontale lost an extraordinary match 5-4 to FC Tokyo, who came back from 3 goals down, scoring twice in time added on as Frontale were reduced to nine men.
At the bottom Kyoto Purple Sanga gained a draw at home with Ventforet Kofu but really needs 3 pointers, especially at home, at this stage of the season. The Kansai club has won only four times this season - the lowest number of wins in the J-League. Fellow strugglers Avispa and Cerezo, both lost at home, against Sanfrecce Hiroshima and Jubilo respectively.
Saturday 11 November
Cerezo Osaka 2 Jubilo Iwate 3
Urawa Reds 1 Yokohama F Marinos 0
Shimizu S-Pulse 1 Omiya Ardija 1
FC Tokyo 5 Kawasaki Frontale 4
Kyoto Purple Sanga 1 Venforet Kofu 1
Nagoya Gampus Eight 2 JEF United 1
Kashima Antlers 3 Gamba Osaka 1
Avispa Fukuoka 0 Sanfrecce 2
JEF United 1 Albirex Niigata 3
Oita Trinita 0 Grampus Eight 1
Leading Positions
Reds P30 Pts 65
Gamba P30 Pts 59
Frontale P30 Pts 58
S-Pulse P30 Pts 51
Jubilo P30 Pts 49
Antlers P30 Pts 49
J2
Vissel Kobe P44 Pts 84
Yokohama FC P44 Pts 83
Reysol P44 Pts 82
Vegalta Sendai P44 Pts 70
Sagan P43 Pts 70
J.League News
Japanese soccer betting tips
Soccerphile.com