Japan Soccer
Saturday 15 September / Sunday 16 Sept
Urawa Reds increased their lead at the top of the J-League again to four points over their main rivals Gamba Osaka. Gamba lost 0-2 at home to a resurgent Yokohama F Marinos while Urawa beat Sanfrecce Hiroshima in front of a season high 22,675 spectators at Hiroshima's Big Arch Stadium.
Shimizu S-Pulse are third after a 2-0 home win over struggling Ventforet Kofu.
Ardija, still struggling after the sacking of Dutch coach Robert Verbeek at the mid-season break went down 0-2 to Jubilo in front of only 8,432 fans.
In other games Grampus beat Antlers 3-0 in Nagoya and JEF United won 4-2 at home to Vissel Kobe. Kawasaki Frontale and Oita Trinita drew 2-2. Yokohama FC look doomed to immediate relegation as they are now 10 points adrift of Ventforet and Ardija after losing at home to FC Tokyo 0-2. 40,574 loyal fans saw Albirex Niigata capitulate in the second half to Reysol losing 1-2.
J2
In J2, Kyoto Sanga continue to close the gap on slumping front-runners Sapporo Consadole, while Rui Ramos' Verdy are making good progress in 4th after a poor start to the season.J1
Sanfrecce Hiroshima 2 Urawa Reds 4
Yokohama FC 0 FC Tokyo 2
Kawasaki Frontale 2 Oita Trinita 2
Gamba Osaka 0 Yokohama F Marinos 2
JEF United 4 Vissel Kobe 2
Albirex Niigata 1 Kashiwa Reysol 2
Shimizu S-Pulse 2 Ventforet Kofu 0
Nagoya Gampus Eight 3 Kashima Antlers 0
Omiya Ardija 0 Jubilo Iwata 2
Leading Positions
Reds P25 Pts 55
Gamba P25 Pts 51
S-Pulse P25 Pts 47
Antlers P25 Pts 45
Reysol P25 Pts 43
Marinos P25 Pts 42
Albirex P25 Pts 41
J2
Consadole P37 Pts 72
Kyoto Sanga P37 Pts 69
Vegalta P37 Pts 65
Verdy P37 Pts 62
Japan Soccer
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