JEF United
Nabisco League Cup: Defending champions JEF United race out of the blocks
The J-League was in recess last week, as the opening fixtures of the League Cup took centre stage.
Contested by J1 clubs only, the League Cup kicks off with a six-game Group stage.
The talking point after two games has been the form of three teams currently struggling in the J-League.
JEF United have picked up just one point in the J-League so far, but they have recorded two successive wins in their League Cup Group A, defeating Vissel Kobe 4-1 in Kobe, before returning to Chiba to defeat Sanfrecce Hiroshima 2-1.
Omiya Ardija have also recorded two wins in Group B, beating Yokohama F. Marinos 1-0 in Yokohama, before their 2-1 home victory over Kashiwa Reysol at Komaba Stadium.
In Group D, Ventforet Kofu took on Nagoya Grampus Eight twice in the space of four days. Nagoya - who were missing Frode Johnsen and Kim Jung-Woo through international duty, succumbed both times, losing 2-1 in Kofu and 1-0 in Nagoya, to a team that is yet to score a goal in the J-League this season.
Oita Trinita top Group C after two successive victories. They beat Yokohama FC 1-0 at home, before defeating a troubled FC Tokyo 2-0 in the capital.
The next round of matches will take place on Wednesday, April 4.
Asian Champions League
Japan's two representatives in the Asian Champions League, Urawa Reds and Kawasaki Frontale, have both been given automatic passage into the last eight of the League Cup competition.
In the Champions League, both clubs won their opening fixtures.
Urawa defeated Indonesian club Persik Kediri 3-0, while Kawasaki Frontale also faced Indonesian opposition, ultimately running out 3-1 winners over Arema Malang, in a bruising encounter in Malang.
Matchday 2 proved tougher, as both Urawa and Kawasaki drew.
Urawa made the long trip to Sydney, where they came from two goals down to record a 2-2 draw against 2005 A-League champions Sydney FC. Upwards of 1000 Urawa fans travelled to the harbour city, creating a noisy atmosphere in the away end at Aussie Stadium.
At Todoroki Stadium, Kawasaki Frontale could only conjure a somewhat unexpected 1-1 draw, against Thai team Bangkok University.
Japanese National Teams
Japan National Team
Japan defeated Peru 2-0 at Nissan Stadium in Yokohama on March 24. Coach Ivica Osim called up overseas stars Shunsuke Nakamura and Naohiro Takahara for the first time, and they were influential in the outcome of this match.
Japan opened the scoring when Nakamura's accurate free-kick was headed home by JEF United striker Seiichiro Maki.
Naohiro Takahara took advantage of another Nakamura free-kick early in the second half, controlling the ball and turning in one movement, before lashing home a powerful right-footed drive to double Japan's advantage.
Goalkeeper Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi made his 100th appearance for Japan. The match also marked the return to international duty of Yokohama F. Marinos defender Yuji Nakazawa.
Japan Olympic Team
After their disappointing 2-1 win over Malaysia on March 14, the Japan under-22 national team continue their quest for qualification to the Beijing Olympics, when they take on Syria at the National Stadium in Tokyo on March 28.
Japan National Women's Team
The Japan National Women's Team qualified for a place at the FIFA 2007 Women's World Cup in China, beating Mexico 3-2 on aggregate in their two-legged playoff on March 17.
Japan lost 2-1 at the Nemesio Diaz Stadium in Toluca, however Eriko Arakawa's early goal was enough to see "Nadeshiko Japan" through.
Japanese Players Overseas
Takayuki Morimoto : Catania
On loan Tokyo Verdy starlet Takayuki Morimoto suffered a season-ending injury during training at the Sicilian club, rupturing the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee. He will most likely be out of action for at least six months.
Mitsuo Ogasawara : Messina
There are widespread reports suggesting that former Kashima Antlers midfielder Mitsuo Ogasawara will leave his Sicilian club Messina during the summer. Ogasawara is unhappy with the lack of game time that he has received at the struggling Serie A club, and is reportedly hoping to transfer to another Italian club, when his contract with Messina expires in June.
Alessandro Santos : Salzburg
Alessandro Santos has featured regularly since leaving Urawa for Austrian Bundesliga club Salzburg. He started in their most recent victory over FC Wacker Tirol, on March 17.
Tsuneyasu Miyamoto : Salzburg
Former Gamba Osaka defender Tsuneyasu Miyamoto has featured less regularly for new club Salzburg, although he replaced Alessandro Santos for the final half hour of their most recent Bundesliga match against FC Wacker Tirol.
Kenji Fukuda : Numancia
Kenji Fukuda is enjoying an extended run of form at Spanish Second Division outfit Numancia. The former Nagoya Grampus Eight and FC Tokyo striker has scored seven goals in 27 appearances for the club so far this season, although it hasn't been enough to lift them out of a mid-table position.
Copyright © Michael Tuckerman & Soccerphile.com
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