Summer football
J.League 2012
The first week of August means sweltering temperatures in Japan and the action in the J. League is also hotting up. Sanfrecce Hiroshima are the current league leaders just after the halfway point of the campaign, but second-placed Vegalta Sendai are hot on their heels.
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| Between The Lines: Navigating The World Of Japanese Football by Sean Carroll |
Saturday's full round of action sees Sanfrecce host Shimizu S-Pulse in one of the day's highlight fixtures, while Urawa Reds welcome neighbours FC Tokyo to Saitama Stadium. Vegalta Sendai entertain a dour Yokohama F. Marinos, while at the other end of the table the two Osakan sides Cerezo and Gamba are desperate for a win when they host fellow strugglers Consadole Sapporo and Omiya Ardija respectively.
In the pick of Sunday's J2 fixtures, league leaders Ventforet Kofu are on the road at Thespa Kusatsu, while Yokohama FC welcome Shonan Bellmare to Mitsuzawa Stadium in a Kanagawa derby. Chiba outfit JEF United host Tochigi SC at Fukuda Denshi Arena, while fellow promotion hopefuls Tokyo Verdy welcome Kataller Toyama to Ajinomoto Stadium.
Ventforet Kofu currently lead the way on 50 points in the second tier, with the trio of JEF United, Verdy and Shonan all just a point behind them.
