Kashima Antlers
Kashima Antlers
Kashima Antlers' AFC Champions League chances have take a severe blow with the news that captain Mitsuo Ogasawara will miss the rest of the season after suffering knee ligament damage in Kashima's 1-1 draw away at Kashiwa Reysol overnight.
The influential midfielder was stretchered from the field after colliding with Kashiwa's Alex in the sixteenth minute, and there was more drama just three minutes later when Kashima fans appeared to strike Alex with a flag-pole as the Brazilian midfielder lined up to take a corner.
The match was played in front of a tense atmosphere at Kashiwa Hitachi Stadium, as scuffles broke out between Reysol and Antlers fans with security struggling to contain the unruly behaviour.
On the pitch Popo handed the hosts the lead midway through the first half, and it took a last-gasp penalty from Marquinhos for Kashima to steal a share of the spoils and keep themselves in the J. League title race.
Kashima will face A-League outfit Adelaide United in the second leg of their AFC Champions League quarter-final at Hindmarsh Stadium on September 24, with the tie delicately poised following a 1-1 draw in the first leg in Japan.
Copyright © Michael Tuckerman & Soccerphile.com
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