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. It was an unhappy afternoon for Urawa's third-choice goalkeeper Nobuhiro Kato, who conceded four goals in the final half hour after Urawa's Tsukasa Umesaki had cancelled out Yoshizumi Ogawa's early first half strike. Elsewhere Jubilo Iwata beat Shimizu S-Pulse 2-0 in the third Shizuoka derby of the season at Yamaha Stadium, with Robert Cullen and Gilsinho capitalising on some sloppy S-Pulse defending. Shimizu thought they had opened the scoring when Kazuki Hara rattled the net on twenty-seven minutes, however his strike was ruled out for offside. Jubilo took advantage when Takuya Matsuura curled in an inch-perfect cross for Robert Cullen to steal in behind the defence and nod home the opener after thirty-six minutes, and Jubilo scored a crucial second just before half-time when Gilsinho robbed Shimizu playmaker Jungo Fujimoto of possession before curling an excellent finish beyond Yohei Nishibe in the Shimizu goal.

The J. League gears up for a five week recess following this weekend's round of action, with plenty at stake for clubs at both ends of the table. Consadole Sapporo kick off the weekend against Nagoya Grampus, and the two sides could hardly be experiencing more contrasting fortunes. Sapporo remain second-from-bottom despite their most recent 2-1 win away at Omiya Ardija. Second placed Nagoya were held to a 0-0 draw at home by Vissel Kobe in their most recent clash, with both of those matches taking place in atrocious conditions as wet weather continues to plague the league. There's a high profile clash at Saitama Stadium as Urawa Reds host Gamba Osaka, and the Reds can thank an errant linesman's flag for their 1-0 win over Kawasaki Frontale at a packed Todoroki Stadium last weekend. Edmilson had opened the scoring from the penalty spot for Urawa, however Kawasaki looked to have equalised through Hiroyuki Taniguchi - only for his effort to be chalked off due to an offside flag, despite the fact that Urawa midfielder Nobuhisa Yamada appeared to be playing Taniguchi onside. Kyoto Sanga FC have dropped into the relegation zone following a 1-0 defeat away at bottom club JEF United, and they will take on Yokohama F. Marinos in the unfamiliar surrounds of Kagoshima's Kamoike Stadium. Kyoto have attracted large crowds to their Nishikyogoku Stadium home this season, however they cannot rely on home advantage when they 'host' Marinos at the 36,000-capacity Kamoike Stadium on the southern island of Kyushu - hundreds of kilometres from their Kyoto base. Elsewhere Jubilo Iwata take on high-flying FC Tokyo at Yamaha Stadium, Kashima Antlers host Kashiwa Reysol, bottom club JEF United welcome Oita Trinita to the Fukuda Denshi Arena, Kawasaki Frontale take on Omiya Ardija at Todoroki Stadium, while on Sunday Vissel Kobe take on Albirex Niigata and Tokyo Verdy welcome Shimizu S-Pulse to Ajinomoto Stadium looking to avenge a recent 5-0 thrashing in the League Cup. In J2 the highlight fixtures see Sagan Tosu host Sanfrecce Hiroshima, Cerezo Osaka welcome second placed Shonan Bellmare to Nagai Stadium, Vegalta Sendai take on mid-table Montedio Yamagata, while Yokohama FC clash with Avispa Fukuoka at Mitsuzawa Stadium. J1 clubs will return to league action on June 28, however the three final group stage games of the Nabisco League Cup are set down for May 25, May 31 and June 8. Alex Miller signs on as coach of JEF United Having sacked Croatian coach Josip Kuze just 24-hours after claiming that he had the club's full support, JEF United have signed former Rangers star and Liverpool first-team coach Alex Miller to take over as coach of the embattled Chiba side. Miller watched from the stands as United beat Kyoto Sanga FC under the watchful eye of assistant coach Shigeo Sawairi, but the Scotsman will need to make a swift transition from the English Premier League to the J. League, with the Chiba Dogs still five points behind Consadole Sapporo at the foot of the table. The cashed-up United will reportedly pay Miller an annual salary of 500,000 pounds and they are also keen on trying to lure unsettled Newcastle United striker Michael Owen to the J. League. Owen came through the ranks at Liverpool during Miller's time as first-team coach, and with the Chiba side desperate to find a goalscorer - they've scored a paltry nine goals in 12 games played this season, United could be set to launch an audacious bid for the England star. AFC Champions League Gamba Osaka booked their place in the knock-out stages of the AFC Champions League by beating Thai outfit Chonburi FC 2-0 at Supachalasai Stadium in Bangkok on May 7. Substitute Masato Yamazaki opened the scoring for the Osakans just seconds after entering the fray, before Lucas Severino wrapped up the points with a late second. Gamba have an unassailable lead at the top of Group G with one match remaining. Kashima Antlers, meanwhile, are locked in a neck-and-neck battle with Beijing Guoan FC for a place in the final eight. The two sides are locked on 12 points with one game remaining, however with Kashima possessing a vastly superior goal difference, the Ibaraki outfit will progress should the two teams remain level on points at the end of the group stage. Defending champions Urawa Reds will join the competition at the quarter-final stage, with the draw set to be announced on May 24. Japan National Teams Takeshi Okada has named his squad for the upcoming Kirin Cup set to take place between May 22 - 27, with European-based trio Shunsuke Nakamura, Daisuke Matsui and Makoto Hasebe all receiving call-ups. Kawasaki Frontale defender Yusuke Igawa was the only surprise inclusion, although Urawa midfielder Keita Suzuki and strikers Seiichiro Maki and Ryoichi Maeda of JEF United and Jubilo Iwata were also called up, despite having missed much of the season through injury so far. Japan take on the Ivory Coast on May 24, before clashing with Paraguay three days later. Meanwhile Japan under-23 coach Yasuharu Sorimachi has dropped lanky FC Tokyo striker Sota Hirayama from a squad that will take part in an international tournament at the end of the month, preferring instead to call up Catania striker Takayuki Morimoto and Urawa Reds youngster Sergio Escudero. Japan take on the Netherlands, hosts France and Chile at the Toulon international tournament, with particular interest in the clash between the Netherlands and Japan, who face each other in Group B of the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. The USA and Nigeria are Japan's other opponents at the Olympics, with Sorimachi's team looking to become the first to win a medal since Japan claimed bronze at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City. Copyright © Michael Tuckerman & Soccerphile.com J.League News Tags Bet with Bet 365 World Soccer News Soccer betting tips Soccer Books & DVDs Tags Soccer News soccer football J-League K-League Betting

Sunday, 11 May Urawa Reds now lead the table after a hard fought 1-0 win away to Kawasaki Frontale at Todoroki Stadium as Antlers lost by the same score at Shimizu S-Pulse . Kyoto Sanga, after a decent start are quickly falling in to the danger zone. Their latest defeat 1-0 at bottom club JEF J1 JEF United 1 Kyoto Sanga 0 Kawasaki Frontale 0 Urawa Reds 1 Niigata Albirex 1 Iwata Jubilo 0 Nagoya Grampus 0 Vissel Kobe 0 Omiya Ardija 1 Sapporo Consodole 2 Oita Trinita 2 Tokyo Verdy 0 Shimizu S-Pulse 1 Kashima Antlers 0 FC Tokyo 0 Kashiwa Reysol 1 Gamba Osaka 2 Yokohama F Marinos 2 Leading Positions Urawa P12 Pts 26 Grampus P12 Pts 25 Frontale P12 Pts 20 FC Tokyo P12 Pts 20 Reysol P12 Pts 19 J2 In J2, Sanfrecce still lead the league followed by Bellmare and Vegalta. Thespa Kusatsu 1 Cerezo Osaka 3 Sagan Tosu 2 Tokushima Vortis 1 Montedio Yamagata 3 Mito Hollyhock 1 Avispa Fukuoka 0 Sanfrecce Hiroshima 3 Yokohama FC 1 Ehime FC 0 Vegalta Sendai 2 Ventforet Kofu 0 Roasso Kumamoto 0 FC Gifu 2 Shonan Bellmare 2 Sagan Tosu 1 Leading Positions Sanfrecce P12 Pts 26 Bellmare P12 Pts 24 Vegalta P12 Pts 22 Cerezo P12 Pts 22 Sagan P12 Pts 21 Yokohama FC P12 Pts 20 Previous week's J.League results and standings Bet with Bet 365 World Soccer News Soccer betting tips Soccer Books & DVDs Tags J-League Results

Josip Kuze became the second manager in the J.League first division to be sacked in the 2008 season, following Holger Osieck's marching orders from the Urawa Reds after just two matches. JEF United Chiba announced on their website that they had terminated the 55-year-old Croatian's contract on Wednesday without providing further details. It is not immediately known who will replace Kuze. JEF are winless in 11 matches and are in last place with two points from two draws. We caught up with Kuze following United's 3-0 loss to the Urawa Reds at Saitama Stadium on Tuesday, less than 24 hours before his firing. Did you think you could have gotten something out of today's match with the score locked at 0-0 at halftime? "I'm disappointed, of course. We lost. They scored three goals. We have the right organization but we made mistakes and gave the opponent the advantage." And now you're 10 points out of 16th place (just above the drop zone). "It's a difficult situation and the other clubs have big advantages. We have only two points, we are analyzing everything, we need new players." The Japanese papers cited sources within JEF who said you were planning to step down if you didn't win today. So these rumors were obviously not true? "Newspapers always speculate. I was talking with the club and we are talking about all the possibilities. They say no way, I will stay. I want to stay and they want me to stay. We are thinking positively. Of course we have to analyze things and first of all we want to get more players. That's all I know." So the team told you they were happy with your perform ance? "I didn't say that, I am just trying to be objective. In my opinion we are working hard. As a coach I try all day to analyze things. The players are happy, the coach is happy, everything is OK. But I wasn't prepared to come here and find that we lost four or five players in the midfield before our preseason even started. But even that is not the problem. In my opinion it's because we had many injured players and many players are slowly coming back into the team. For example (Ryota) Aoki, he started playing only three weeks ago. (Seiichiro) Maki has a problem. (Shohei) Ikeda started two weeks ago. Reinaldo played only one game. (Takuya) Kokeguchi also, and (Yuta) Baba. All those players, one by one they have been coming to the team and that's a problem." So in your opinion the mood at the club is good? "It's not a bad atmosphere. We have a good working atmosphere. We are trying to make a more enthusiastic mood and to make a competitive and winning spirit. But everything is OK--in the dressing room and in the training. The only bad thing is that we cannot win." What needs to be done to stop the rot? "In my opinion it is time to analyze everything after the game against Oita (on May 10). Because after that we have a break. It's time to sit down and figure out what's the best thing for JEF. Anyway, I have a lot of experience. I want to stay. I think I can turn things around. But I have demands. To make a good team, we need to change some positions on the team and bring in some strong figures." Do you have any players in mind? "Yes, of course, but it is a difficult time for foreigners right now because we can't do anything until the first of June. And for Japanese players also we are talking to some clubs but they also want to finish that first stage and then they can say for certain who they can or can't trade away." What's JEF's biggest problem right now? "Our problem is our defense. In my opinion we have no intelligence in defense, soccer intelligence. Without intelligence you can't make a compact defense. Individually they have power, they can cover and everything, but thinking and reading the game is a problem. Correcting things during the game is a problem. And we need one leader in defense with intelligence." Your team put up quite a fight today for the first hour. They seem more motivated than in previous games. "This bad situation is motivation for our players. And they know that now each game is so important and so I think our attitude is OK, and our organization is good, but individual mistakes put us in a difficult situation. And that's difficult to learn. That's a problem. Can they learn it or can they not learn it? And how long will it take for them to learn it? We have no time to wait." Copyright: C.G. Williams & Soccerphile.com Bet with Bet 365 World Soccer News Soccer betting tips Soccer Books & DVDs Tags Soccer News soccer football J-League K-League Betting

It was honours even in the Shizuoka derby, although Jubilo Iwata will be the far happier after they turned in a battling display. The Yamaha-backed club took the lead in front of a full house of 20,330 at Nihondaira Stadium, with Japan international Yuichi Komano stroking an accurate left-foot effort beyond the diving Yohei Nishibe to hand Jubilo a deserved first half lead. Shimizu S-Pulse responded in scrappy fashion just three minutes after the restart, with 23-year-old striker Kazuki Hara volleying home after the Jubilo defence had failed to clear a cross from Shimizu playmaker Jungo Fujimoto. Jubilo midfielder Takahiro Kawamura picked up two yellow cards within the space of sixty seconds to receive his marching orders with twenty-five minutes remaining, however Shimizu were unable to take advantage as a lack of composure in front of goal cost them dearly. Both Fernandinho and Daisuke Ichikawa got in behind the Jubilo defence over the closing stages, only to fire high into the packed stands behind Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi's goal. The two teams will meet again in the League Cup at Nihondaira Stadium on May 25. In other J. League fixtures a crowd of 34,436 was on hand at Toyota Stadium, however the home fans were left disappointed as Nagoya Grampus crashed to their third straight defeat. They went down 2-1 to Gamba Osaka, for whom Bare scored twice either side of a twenty-five yard piledriver from Nagoya midfielder Yoshizumi Ogawa. Bottom club JEF United were beaten 1-0 at home by Kashiwa Reysol in the Chiba derby, Tokyo Verdy beat Yokohama F. Marinos 3-2 in an entertaining encounter at the National Stadium, while FC Tokyo recorded an impressive 3-0 away win over Omiya Ardija. Another seven J. League fixtures will take place on May 6, with the pick of the action seeing Jubilo Iwata host Kawasaki Frontale at Yamaha Stadium, FC Tokyo welcome an out-of-form Nagoya Grampus to Ajinomoto Stadium, while league-leading Urawa Reds host bottom club JEF United at Saitama Stadium. Copyright © Michael Tuckerman & Soccerphile.com J.League News Tags Bet with Bet 365 World Soccer News Soccer betting tips Soccer Books & DVDs Tags Soccer News soccer football J-League K-League Betting

The extended Golden Week holiday period has caused headaches for defending J. League champions Kashima Antlers. The Ibaraki giants were run off their feet in the final fifteen minutes of their clash with Omiya Ardija on April 27, as the Saitama outfit came roaring back to record an impressive 1-1 draw. Young striker Shinzo Koroki had handed Kashima an early lead at a packed Omiya Park, however the hosts hit back with a header from captain Yoshiyuki Kobayashi with fifteen minutes remaining. Omiya battered their illustrious rivals thereafter, and they should have snatched a winner when playmaker Daigo Kobayashi fired high and wide after he had been played in by a perfect through ball from Brazilian striker Denis Marques. Three days later Kashima were held to a 2-2 draw at home by Vissel Kobe, with some uncharacteristically poor defending aiding Kobe's cause. Marquinhos handed Kashima the lead with a bullet header midway through the second half, however a mix-up in the Kashima defence allowed Takayuki Yoshida to steal in behind the back four and produce a simple finish for the equaliser. With three minutes remaining mercurial Kobe striker Yoshito Okubo then scored one of the easiest goals of his career, as Kashima goalkeeper Hitoshi Sogahata inexplicably raced out of his area to meet a long punt forward - only to be beaten to the ball by Okubo, who simply nodded the ball around the stricken keeper before tapping it into an empty net. Kashima hit back less than sixty seconds later through the goal of the game, as Marquinhos produced a clinical finish after being played in by Danilo. On May 3 Kashima travel to Todoroki Stadium for a tough looking fixture with Kawasaki Frontale. The Kanagawa side have won both of their fixtures under Tsutomu Takahata, who took over as coach following the shock resignation of Takashi Sekizuka. In the other highlight fixtures on May 3 local rivalries catch the eye, as Omiya Ardija host FC Tokyo in a clash of two unexpected high fliers at Omiya Park. There's a nostalgia-filled encounter set to take place at the National Stadium between Tokyo Verdy and Yokohama F. Marinos, while Nagoya Grampus will look to end a two-game losing streak when they welcome Gamba Osaka to Toyota Stadium. JEF United welcome prefectural rivals Kashiwa Reysol to town for the Chiba derby, and United coach Josip Kuze is desperate for a win. His team are yet to register a victory this season, and the Chiba Dogs are already five points adrift of second-from-bottom Consadole Sapporo. While most expected JEF United to be involved in a relegation dogfight, few would have predicted that the 2005 and 2006 League Cup champions would be so far adrift at this early stage. Ironically these two sides have already met at Fukuda Denshi Arena in this season's League Cup, where they played out a hard-fought 1-1 draw. A year to the day since they last met at Nihondaira Stadium, Shimizu S-Pulse and Jubilo Iwata renew hostilities in the Shizuoka derby. Two defeats to their arch-rivals last season cost Jubilo coach Adilson his job, however Jubilo's then-tormentor Cho Jae-Jin has since departed for the K-League. Both of these sides go into this clash in form, with Shimizu S-Pulse having downed FC Tokyo 1-0 on April 26, before beating Kashiwa Reysol 2-0 in Chiba three days later. Jubilo Iwata came from behind to beat JEF United 2-1 thanks to a brace from Gilsinho, before they downed Kyoto Sanga FC 2-0 at Yamaha Stadium on April 29. The two Shizuoka outfits will meet again in the League Cup at Nihondaira on May 25, so both will be itching to gain the upper hand in what is likely to be an epic encounter. Sanfrecce Hiroshima lead the way in J2, with the relegated outfit having lost just once in their nine league games so far. They hammered Tokushima Vortis 4-1 in front of 7,254 fans at Pocarisweat Stadium on April 29, with Koji Morisaki and Hisato Sato both helping themselves to a double. Vegalta Sendai are in second after they thrashed Sagan Tosu 3-0 before a crowd of 13,461 at Yurtec Stadium in their latest encounter, while fallen giants Cerezo Osaka are in third. Pierre Littbarski's Avispa Fukuoka have been the division's most disappointing side, with the Kyushu outfit currently lying tenth in the J2 standings. Littbarski raided his former club Sydney FC for defender Mark Rudan and midfielder Ufuk Talay, as well as adding Australian international Joel Griffiths to his ranks. The Aussies have failed to settle, however, with Rudan currently out with a knee injury, while the robust styles of Talay and Griffiths have caught the eye of some of J2's more pedantic referees. Takehito Shigehara questioned over alleged panty theft Japan international Takehito Shigehara has been questioned by police over an alleged underwear theft that is said to have taken place in September 2001. The Kashiwa Reysol star is alleged to have gained entry to a woman's Kobe apartment and stolen several pairs of her underwear, as well as a mobile phone. Shigehara was recently called up to the Japan squad by coach Takeshi Okada, however the midfielder is currently absent from the Kashiwa Reysol line-up pending the outcome of police investigations. Japanese Players overseas Makoto Hasebe : VfL Wolfsburg Makoto Hasebe scored his first goal for VfL Wolfsburg in their most recent 2-2 draw at Bayer Leverkusen - although there was an element of fortune to the strike, with the former Urawa man appearing to foul Leverkusen defender Hans Sarpei as he bundled the ball over the line. Junichi Inamoto : Eintracht Frankfurt The much-travelled Junichi Inamoto has started in Eintracht Frankfurt's last three Bundesliga encounters, and the one-time Arsenal midfielder is expected to feature in Frankfurt's upcoming clash with defending champions VfB Stuttgart. Shinji Ono : VfL Bochum Injury-prone ex-Feyenoord midfielder Shinji Ono has fallen out of favour with VfL Bochum coach Marcel Koller, with Ono having made just three starts for the Ruhr club since his January transfer from Urawa Reds. Shunsuke Nakamura : Celtic Celtic are five points clear at the top of the Scottish Premier League following their most recent 3-2 defeat of arch-rivals Rangers, in which Shunsuke Nakamura played the full ninety minutes. Despite the victory Rangers are still in the box seat to claim the Premier League crown, with the Glasgow giants having three games in hand over their city rivals.

Sunday, 27 April Dragan Stojkovic's Nagoya Grampus remain atop the J-League despite losing 2-0 away to lowly Verdy. Urawa Reds coach Gert Engels had a triumphant return to a former club when his team crushed Kyoto Sanga 4-0 in the ancient capital. Shimizu S-Pulse had a decent result winning 1-0 over visiting FC Tokyo to pull a little further away from the mire at the bottom. J1 Kyoto Sanga 0 Urawa Reds 4 Tokyo Verdy 2 Nagoya Grampus 0 Shimizu S-Pulse 1 FC Tokyo 0 Sapporo Consodole 0 Niigata Albirex 1 Oita Trinita 1 Yokohama F Marinos 0 Kawasaki Frontale 3 Kashiwa Reysol 2 JEF United 1 Iwata Jubilo 2 Omiya Ardija 1 Kashima Antlers 1 Vissel Kobe 2 Gamba Osaka 1 Leading Positions Grampus P8 Pts 19 Antlers P8 Pts 17 Urawa P8 Pts 16 FC Tokyo P8 Pts 14 Marinos P8 Pts 13 J2 In J2, Sanfrecce still lead the league followed by Bellmare and Sagan in hot persuit. Sagan Tosu 2 Tokushima Vortis 1 Yokohama FC 1 Cerezo Osaka 1 FC Gifu 2 Yokohama FC 3 Ehime FC 1 Vegalta 1 Montedio Yamagata 0 Avispa Fukuoka 0 Ventforet Kofu 1 Ehime FC 0 Roasso Kumamoto 1 Sanfrecce Hiroshima 2 Vegalta Sendai 3 Mito Hollyhock 3 Shonan Bellmare 4 FC Gifu 2 Leading Positions Sanfrecce P8 Pts 17 Bellmare P8 Pts 15 Sagan P8 Pts 15 Yokohama FC P9 Pts 14 Vegalta P9 Pts 13 Last week's J.League results and standings Bet with Bet 365 World Soccer News Soccer betting tips Soccer Books & DVDs Tags J-League Results

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. Nevertheless Nagoya's confidence will be sky-high ahead of their visit to Ajinomoto Stadium where they take on the hapless Tokyo Verdy, who followed up a 5-0 thrashing by Shimizu S-Pulse in the League Cup with a similarly embarrassing 5-1 defeat by an injury-hit Kashiwa Reysol last weekend. Shimizu S-Pulse take on FC Tokyo at Nihondaira Stadium, with these two sides having already met in the League Cup at the same venue this season. Shimizu won that game 3-1, and with the Shizuoka outfit hovering just above the relegation zone, they'll hope for a repeat scoreline in front of their passionate supporters. Northern sides Consadole Sapporo and Albirex Niigata will slug it out at the Sapporo Dome, with both teams looking to pull away from the bottom three. Fourteenth placed Sapporo have made a shaky return to the top flight, but they'll feel confident of taking something from a Niigata side that is currently entrenched in the relegation zone. The pick of the fixtures sees newly promoted Kyoto Sanga FC take on Urawa Reds at what will be a packed Nishikyogoku Stadium. These two sides have already met twice in the League Cup this season, with Kyoto outplaying their more fancied rivals on both occasions. They were unable to conjure a winner in a thrilling 3-3 draw in Kyoto, while the return clash at Komaba Stadium ended in a 1-1 stalemate. Kyoto will hope that it's a case of third-time lucky when they meet Urawa in the league, however they are missing the suspended Ataliba, Sidiclei and Tatsuya Masushima - as well as coach Hisashi Kato, all of whom were controversially sent off by referee Ryuji Sato in Kyoto's most recent 1-0 loss away at Albirex Niigata. On Sunday defending champions Kashima Antlers make the trip to Omiya Park to take on locals Omiya Ardija, while there's a hotly anticipated Kansai derby on the cards when Vissel Kobe host local rivals Gamba Osaka. With the Golden Week holiday period heralding a jam-packed fixture list there is also a full round of matches on April 29. The pick of those games sees Urawa Reds take on last season's J2 champions Consadole Sapporo at Saitama Stadium, Yokohama F. Marinos host regional rivals JEF United at Nissan Stadium, while ex-Kawasaki Frontale playmaker Magnum faces up to his former club when Nagoya host Kawasaki in what should be an absorbing duel at Mizuho Stadium in Nagoya. Kawasaki Frontale manager Takashi Sekizuka steps down 47-year-old Kawasaki Frontale manager Takashi Sekizuka has resigned, citing poor health for his decision. The popular Sekizuka was the second-longest serving manager in the top flight behind Gamba Osaka's Akira Nishino, having guided Kawasaki from the Second Division into the upper echelons of the top flight. He steered the Kanagawa club to a second place finish in J1 in 2006, before Kawasaki reached the quarter-finals of the AFC Champions League a year later. Sekizuka will be replaced by his assistant Tsutomu Takahata, who steps up to take over as manager of a side that has struggled in the new season so far. Nabisco League Cup The third round of Nabisco League Cup group-stage fixtures took place on April 16, with few surprises to speak of. Nagoya Grampus lead the way in Group A after they beat Vissel Kobe 2-0 thanks to goals from Keita Sugimoto and a strike from veteran midfielder Toshiya Fujita, while Urawa Reds prop up the group after their 1-1 draw at home to Kyoto Sanga FC. In Group B Shimizu S-Pulse thrashed a sorry-looking Tokyo Verdy 5-0, with midfielder Fernandinho scoring a first-half brace. The undefeated Shimizu top the group, with FC Tokyo and Jubilo Iwata locked in a tight battle for second place following their 1-1 draw in the capital. JEF United may be propping up the J. League standings, but the 2005 and 2006 League Cup champions sit atop Group C, although they are level on points with Consadole Sapporo after the two sides played out a 0-0 draw in Chiba. Kawasaki Frontale thrashed Kashiwa Reysol in the other game, with Juninho scoring a hat-trick. Yokohama F. Marinos are unbeaten in Group D, and they hammered a woeful Omiya Ardija 4-0 in their clash at Mitsuzawa Stadium, with ex-Cruzeiro striker Roni scoring twice. In the evening's other fixture Albirex Niigata drew 1-1 with Oita Trinita, leaving Oita in second place in the group. The next round of fixtures are scheduled to take place on May 25. AFC Champions League Kashima Antlers crashed to their first defeat in the AFC Champions League on April 23, going down 1-0 to Beijing Guoan thanks to Tiago's solitary strike at Beijing's Fengtai Stadium. The defeat will have left Kashima coach Oswaldo de Oliveira fuming after he complained bitterly of a fixture list that saw his side play domestic giants Urawa Reds and Gamba Osaka ahead of the clash, while Beijing Guoan went into the match having enjoyed a ten-day break in the Chinese Super League. Kashima lead the way in Group F on goal difference, with only the group winners progressing to the quarter-finals. Gamba Osaka sit atop Group G of the Champions League after they comfortably disposed of A-League side Melbourne Victory, winning 2-0 at Expo '70 Stadium in the northern outskirts of Osaka thanks to a brace from striker Masato Yamazaki. The next round of fixtures are set to take place on May 7. Copyright © Michael Tuckerman & Soccerphile.com J.League News Tags Bet with Bet 365 World Soccer News Soccer betting tips Soccer Books & DVDs Tags Soccer News soccer football J-League K-League Betting

Sunday, 13 April Reigning J-League champions Kashima Antlers lost for the first time this season away at Urawa Reds. Nagoya Grampus 0-2 winners away at Shimizu now top the league. J1 Sapporo Consodole 2 Iwata Jubilo 1 Yokohama F Marinos 2 Kashiwa Reysol 0 Shimizu S-Pulse 0 Nagoya Grampus 2 JEF United 0 Omiya Ardija 4 Tokyo Verdy 1 FC Tokyo 2 Oita Trinita 0 Kawasaki Frontale 0 Kyoto Sanga 2 Vissel Kobe 1 Urawa Reds 2 Kashima Antlers 0 Gamba Osaka 2 Niigata Albirex 0 Leading Positions Grampus P6 Pts 16 Antlers P6 Pts 15 Urawa P6 Pts 12 Marinos P6 Pts 12 Sanga P6 Pts 11 J2 In J2, Avispa Fukuoka under new coach Pierre Littbarski continue to struggle. The imported Australians in the team yet to settle. Sanfrecce lead the standings and hope to bounce back to J1 at the first time of asking. Avispa Fukuoka 1 - 5 FC Gifu Montedio Yokohama 1 Yokohama FC 0 Vegalta Sendai 1 - 1 Tokushima Vortis Mito Hollyhock 2 - 2 Roasso Kumamoto Sagan Tosu 1 - 1 Thespa Kusatsu Bellmare 1 - 0 Ventforet Kofu Sanfrecce Hiroshima 4 - 1 Cerezo Osaka Leading Positions Sanfrecce P6 Pts 14 Sagan P6 Pts 12 Bellmare P7 Pts 12 FC Gifu P7 Pts 11 Vegalta P7 Pts 11 Last week's J.League results and standings Bet with Bet 365 World Soccer News Soccer betting tips Soccer Books & DVDs Tags J-League Results

The sixth round of the J. League throws up two significant clashes, with the eleventh Tokyo derby competing for headlines along with the eternal classic between Urawa Reds and Kashima Antlers. Fallen giants Tokyo Verdy host their Ajinomoto Stadium co-tenants FC Tokyo on April 12, with Verdy having only just registered their first win in the league since winning promotion back to the top flight. They won away at Vissel Kobe in Round 5 thanks to 18-year-old Hiroki Kawano's volley, but it is the return of striker Hulk that could prove key to Verdy's chances of maintaining their top flight status. The 21-year-old Brazilian propelled Tokyo Verdy to promotion by scoring 37 league goals in 42 appearances in J2 last season, but after failing to settle at Kawasaki Frontale, Hulk has made a permanent switch across the Tama River for a reputed fee of around 500 million yen. On Sunday the highlight clash of the day undoubtedly takes place at Saitama Stadium, when bitter rivals Urawa Reds host defending J. League champions Kashima Antlers. There is plenty of history between these two clubs, but another chapter was added on an extraordinary final day last season when Kashima pipped Urawa to the post to lift the league trophy in thrilling circumstances. The Reds will be aching for revenge against their arch-nemesis, although they will have their work cut out for them against a Kashima side that has won all five of their league fixtures at a canter this season. In other highlight Round 6 fixtures, Consadole Sapporo look to crack their first home win of the season in the league when they host Jubilo Iwata at the Sapporo Dome, struggling JEF United welcome Omiya Ardija to the Fukuda Denshi Arena, Tokai rivals Shimizu S-Pulse and Nagoya Grampus face off at Nihondaira Stadium, while there's a Kansai derby between Kyoto Sanga FC and Vissel Kobe at what will be a packed Nishikyogoku Stadium in Kyoto. Relegated Sanfrecce Hiroshima lead the way in J2, although they are level on points with Sagan Tosu as the early jostling for promotion places kicks off in earnest. Yokohama FC and Vegalta Sendai are hot on their heels, but it has been a disappointing start for Pierre Littbarski's Avispa Fukuoka, with the Kyushu outfit currently lying in ninth following their latest 3-1 loss away at Tokushima Vortis. This weekend Fukuoka host newcomers FC Gifu at Hakata no Mori, while the other highlight clashes see Vegalta Sendai take on Tokushima Vortis, Shonan Bellmare welcome relegated Ventforet Kofu to Hiratsuka, while there's a clash of the big guns when Sanfrecce Hiroshima take on Cerezo Osaka at Big Arch Stadium in Hiroshima. AFC Champions League Kashima Antlers look set to cruise beyond the group stage of the AFC Champions League, after the Ibaraki side maintained their one hundred percent record with a 1-0 victory over Beijing Guoan FC on April 9. Former Sao Paulo midfielder Danilo scored the only goal of the game as Kashima notched up their third straight win in the competition, although there was a blow for coach Oswaldo de Oliveira as Japan international Atsuto Uchida was forced to leave the field with a back injury late in the second half. Meanwhile a last-minute winner from substitute Lucas Severino saw Gamba Osaka beat Melbourne Victory 4-3 in a thriller watched by 23,857 fans at the Telstra Dome in Melbourne. The A-League side raced out to an early lead through Danny Allsopp, however Gamba pegged back the hosts thanks to goals from long-range specialist Takahiro Futagawa and the predatory Bare. There was controversy when Gamba captain Satoshi Yamaguchi appeared to be fouled in the build-up to Melbourne's equaliser - which Roddy Vargas headed home, and Bare then had a goal ruled out after officials judged that his header had not crossed the line after bouncing down off the crossbar. Melbourne retook the lead midway through the second half through the ubiquitous Allsopp, but Gamba roared back as Yamaguchi equalised with a trademark header. The stage was set for a winner, and Gamba duly conjured it as teenager Michihiro Yasuda crossed for substitute Lucas Severino to head home in the final minute. The victory leaves Gamba three points clear of Chonburi FC at the top of Group G, with Melbourne Victory and Chunnam Dragons both locked on three points at the bottom of the group. The next round of fixtures scheduled to take place on April 23. Japan National Team Japan slumped to a 1-0 defeat in hot and humid conditions in Bahrain on March 26, in their second qualifying game for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. Takashi Okada spared Celtic star Shunsuke Nakamura the trip to the Middle-East, while Urawa Reds striker Naohiro Takahara picked up an injury on the eve of the match. Their absences failed to mask a desperately poor showing from the Blue Samurai, with many questioning why not a single Kashima Antlers player was used despite the Ibaraki side lifting last season's J. League trophy. Japan now turn their attention to the annual Kirin Cup, where they will face the Ivory Coast at Toyota Stadium on May 24, before taking on Paraguay at Saitama Stadium three days later. Their World Cup campaign resumes on June 2 when they take on Oman in Yokohama. Japanese players overseas Takayuki Morimoto : Catania