"It's Groundhog Day!"
There's no sign of Punxsutawney Phil, but Nagoya Grampus coach Dragan Stojkovic must be checking
his calendar in disbelief as the Aichi-based side prepare to face FC Tokyo at Ajinomoto Stadium for
the second time in three days.
Naohiro Ishikawa looks set to play the Ned Ryerson role to the Serbian coach's Phil Connors, with
Ishikawa causing opponents plenty of irritation with some career-best form.
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Like it's much-maligned English cousin, the League Cup in Japan is facing an image crisis. That's
nothing new for J. League officials, who for years have struggled with the competing interests of
Japan's biggest clubs.
A revamped Asian Champions League has brought the League Cup issue to a head.
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At a time when the J. League is crying out for a team to take the championship by the scruff of the
neck, the top five continue to falter in their race for the title.
Kashima Antlers continue to lead the way on 54 points, but they will be disappointed with their
most recent 0-0 draw at home to the defensive-oriented Albirex Niigata.
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"I let the players down, and I want to apologise to the fans who came all the way out here to
see us. I know it's over and done with, and that there's no sense in getting down about
this."
"But this one hurts, and it's depressing. I can't find the words to describe how badly I
feel."
Shimizu S-Pulse coach Kenta Hasegawa's sombre quip to The Daily Yomiuri in the wake of his team's
2-0 League Cup final defeat to Oita Trinita on November 1 stood in glaring contrast to the euphoria
emanating from the Trinita dressing room.
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Around 50,000 fans will descend on the National Stadium in Tokyo on November 1 as Oita Trinita do
battle with Shimizu S-Pulse for the 2008 League Cup trophy.
Oita Trinita go into the match as rank outsiders, particularly with the Kyushu club missing
influential midfielder Shingo Suzuki through suspension.
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Bottom club JEF United stunned table topping Kashima Antlers as the J. League resumed following the
week-long All-Star break, winning 3-1 at a packed Fukuda Denshi Arena in Chiba.
Australian defender Eddy Bosnar opened the scoring for United with a thunderbolt free-kick just
before half-time, but it was talismanic striker Seiichiro Maki who stole the show, steering home
two superb headers after the interval.
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Round 19 in the J. League could prove a turning point for several clubs with a number of marquee
fixtures set down for the weekend of July 26/27.
The pick of the Saturday fixtures see FC Tokyo host Yokohama F. Marinos at Ajinomoto Stadium, as
teams from Japan's two largest cities get ready to rumble in the capital.
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The sixth and final matchday of Japan's Nabisco League Cup group stage took place on June 8, with
six teams advancing to the knock-out stage to join AFC Champions League combatants Kashima Antlers
and Gamba Osaka in the final eight.
The shock of the afternoon came before a crowd of 35,417 at Saitama Stadium, where visitors Nagoya
Grampus thumped hosts Urawa Reds 5-1, with in-form striker Keita Sugimoto scoring a hat-trick after
coming off the bench at the fifty-seventh minute mark.
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They may be struggling in the league, but Shimizu S-Pulse are on course to book a place in the
quarter-finals of the Nabisco League Cup following their most recent 4-2 victory over local rivals
Jubilo Iwata on May 25.
Playmaker Jungo Fujimoto scored twice for the Shizuoka side, but it was 23-year-old striker Kazuki
Hara who stole the show, turning in an eye-catching performance as he looks to press claims for a
regular starting position in Kenta Hasegawa's side.
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Nagoya Grampus lead the J. League standings by three points ahead of the traditional Golden Week
rush. The Toyota-backed outfit are playing fast-paced, attacking football under new coach Dragan
Stojkovic, however Nagoya fans are quick to point out that they were also leading the league at the
same stage last season, only to limp home to an eventual eleventh placed finish.
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Gert Engel's first match in charge of Urawa Reds, following the sensational sacking of Holger
Osieck, ended in defeat. Urawa's loss to Vissel Kobe 1-0 in the Nabisco League Cup was Urawa's
third successive loss without scoring.
Group A
Nagoya Grampus 0 Kyoto Sanga 1
Urawa Reds 0 Vissel Kobe 1
Group B
Shimizu S-Pulse 3 FC Tokyo 1
Tokyo Verdy 0 Jubilo 2
Group C
Kawasaki Frontale 0 JEF United 2
Kashiwa Reysol 1 Sapporo Consadole 1
Group D
F Marinos 1 Oita Trinita 0
Albirex Niigata 2 Omiya Ardija 2
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After sensationally sacking coach Holger Osieck in the aftermath of Urawa's second successive
league defeat of the season, all eyes will be on Saitama Stadium for the beginning of the Gert
Engels era as Urawa Reds kick off their Nabisco League Cup campaign at home to Vissel Kobe.
Club president Mitsunori Fujiguchi claimed that Osieck had lost the support of the players, and
former assistant coach Engels will hope to win over players and fans alike with some positive
results in Urawa's upcoming League Cup matches.
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The 2008 J-League fixture list has been announced, with the season kicking off on March 8 and
winding up on December 6 after 34 rounds of matches.
The highlight match of the opening round is the clash between heavyweights Yokohama F. Marinos and
Urawa Reds at Nissan Stadium.
Kashima Antlers kick-off their title defence by hosting J2 champions Consadole Sapporo in their
opening fixture at Kashima Stadium.
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The action in Japan switched from league football to the knock-out variety this weekend, with Gamba
Osaka winning the Nabisco League Cup by defeating Kawasaki Frontale 1-0 at a packed National
Stadium in Tokyo on November 3.
Japan under-20 international Michihiro Yasuda scored the only goal in the 56th minute, but after
weathering an early Kawasaki onslaught, Gamba were worthy winners.
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Teenager Michihiro Yasuda couldn't have picked a better time to claim his first professional goal,
scoring the winner in Gamba Osaka's 1-0 win over Kawasaki Frontale in the final of the Nabisco
league cup in Tokyo on Saturday.
Yasuda, 19, scored the lone goal of the afternoon in the 56th minute by redirecting a cross from
Brazilian striker Bare.
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J-League News: Gamba lead the way, as the J-League breaks for the summerGamba Osaka remain five points clear of defending champions Urawa Reds at the halfway point of the
season, as the J-League pauses for a six week summer recess.
Gamba beat Omiya Ardija 3-0 at Komaba Stadium in the last round of matches, with Akihiro Ienaga,
Takahiro Futagawa and Magno Alves all getting on the scoresheet.
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