It's been almost a year in coming, but Urawa Reds finally took possession of the top of the J. League standings following one of their best performances under German coach Volker Finke. The J. League giants brushed aside Kawasaki Frontale 3-0 in front of 46,313 supporters at Saitama Stadium, with early goals from midfielder Hajime Hosogai and diminutive striker Tatsuya Tanaka setting the home team on their way. Hosogai took advantage of some poor Kawasaki defending to chest a loose ball down on the edge of the penalty area, and while he directed his half-volley straight at Eiji Kawashima, the Japan no. 2 could only manage to deflect the ball into the top corner on its way in. Things went from bad to worse for the visitors soon after, as Tatsuya Tanaka embarked on a mazy run from midfield before unleashing a piledriver that flashed into the top corner of the goal, with the superb strike no doubt putting Japan coach Takeshi Okada on notice. With talisman Kengo Nakamura on the bench as he continued his recovery from a broken jaw, Kawasaki almost cut the deficit as Masaru Kurotsu's long-range strike looped off a defender and clattered against the post. The Kanagawa side went even closer just minutes later as defender Yusuke Igawa bundled home, only to have his effort incorrectly ruled out for offside. In what was the most highly-charged of encounters, Kawasaki though they had found a way back into the game shortly after the restart, as they were awarded a penalty following Wilfried Sanou's clumsy foul on North Korean international Chong Tese. However Urawa goalkeeper Norihiro Yamagishi proved tough to beat from twelve yards, as he guessed correctly to fling himself to his right and keep out Renatinho's low spot-kick. The stage was set for a final Urawa goal and it came from the unlikeliest of sources, as substitute Satoshi Horinouchi tapped home after Kawashima could only parry Edmilson's curling right-foot strike. "I think we're on the right track, regardless of what anyone thinks and today's result and performance back that up," Urawa coach Finke told The Daily Yomiuri after the match. "The two early goals certainly helped and I think given the way we were playing, the third goal was just a matter of time." Urawa leapfrogged Shimizu S-Pulse into top spot in the standings, although the Shizuoka side remain the only unbeaten team left following their 1-1 draw away at Gamba Osaka on Saturday. Veteran Gamba midfielder Tomokazu Myojin opened the scoring for the Kansai side at a packed Expo '70 Stadium in Osaka, however Japan striker Shinji Okazaki equalised with a deflected effort midway through the second half. J2 Relegated sides Kashiwa Reysol, Oita Trinita and JEF United have all made bright starts to life in the second tier, with Kashiwa looking the team to beat after seven rounds of action. Brazilian coach Nelsinho's team are the only unbeaten side left in the division, after the Sun Kings comfortably dispatched of Sagan Tosu 2-0 at Kashiwa Hitachi Stadium in Chiba. Oita Trinita thumped Thespa Kusatsu 3-1 away from home, however JEF United slumped to a disappointing 2-1 loss in front of more than 7,500 fans at Momotaro Stadium in the west of Japan, as the visitors went down 2-1 away at Fagiano Okayama. The Shikoku derby finished scoreless - to the disappointment of the 11,115 fans who turned out at Pocari Sweat Stadium - with local rivals Tokushima Vortis and Ehime FC forced to share the spoils in a hard-fought encounter. Kashiwa Reysol lead the nascent standings from Oita Trinita, with surprise package Roasso Kumamoto currently lying in third place in the table. Copyright © Michael Tuckerman & Soccerphile.com J.League News Tags World Cup Pens World Cup football

At approximately 5.20pm on a chilly Saturday afternoon, the 2009 J. League champions will thrust their glittering trophy into wintry Japanese skies. Whether it is two-time defending champions Kashima Antlers left celebrating, or the trophy-hungry Kawasaki Frontale, is the question still to be resolved. Kashima hold the upper hand after Oswaldo de Oliveira's side obliterated the only other title contender Gamba Osaka last weekend, as the Antlers ran riot in a 5-1 home victory. Kawasaki kept alive their hopes of claiming a first ever piece of silverware thanks to a narrow 1-0 win at home to Albirex Niigata. Not for the first time in J. League history, it all comes down to the final day of the season - with fans once again set to pack stadia up and down the country. Tickets for the clash between Urawa Reds and their bitter rivals Kashima have been sold out for weeks, ensuring that more than 60,000 fans should turn out a packed Saitama Stadium. The Reds may be disappointed to have missed out on a top-three finish and a place in next season's Asian Champions League, but they would love nothing more than to derail Kashima's title ambitions. Meanwhile, relegated Kashiwa Reysol will host Kawasaki Frontale at the compact Kashiwa Hitachi Stadium in Chiba, with Kashiwa dropping out of the top flight on the back of their 1-1 draw away at Omiya Ardija last time out. Nevertheless, the Sun Kings will be determined to make life as tough as possible for a nervy Kawasaki - who have already lost the League Cup final to local rivals FC Tokyo this season. Takashi Sekizuka's free-flowing Kawasaki side may play some of the most attractive football in Japan, but they've blown countless opportunities to wrap up the league title this season. Should they fail to claim the title, Frontale will find it tough to shake off the tag as 'chokers' - with the J. League's nearlymen once again so close, yet so far from that elusive piece of silverware. Kashiwa Reysol will be joined by Oita Trinita and JEF United in J2 next season, with Vegalta Sendai and Cerezo Osaka already confirmed to replace them. The final promotion place will be taken by either Shonan Bellmare or Ventforet Kofu, and both will be nervously monitoring scores around the grounds of J2. However, it's the Kanto plain that will command all the attention, as Kashima look to capitalise on their two-point break over Kawasaki. Should Kashima fail to beat Urawa at a hostile Saitama Stadium, then it could be Kawasaki left celebrating at the compact Hitachidai. Copyright © Michael Tuckerman & Soccerphile.com J. League News Tags Soccer News football

FC Tokyo have been crowned 2009 Yamazaki Nabisco League Cup champions after beating Kawasaki Frontale 2-0 in the final in Tokyo on November 3. Before a sell-out crowd of 44,308 fans at a packed National Stadium, teenage midfielder Takeuji Yonemoto opened the scoring with a swerving long-range drive that appeared to catch Kawasaki goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima off-guard. Yonemoto had been honoured with the competition's "New Hero" award on the eve of the match, and he added the Man Of The Match crown for good measure thanks to a commanding midfield display. The languid midfield anchorman kept Kawasaki playmaker Kengo Nakamura well shackled throughout, and by the time FC Tokyo added a second goal through towering striker Sota Hirayama just before the hour mark, the trophy was destined to stay in the capital. Defeat leaves Kawasaki still searching for their first major title and marks the second time in three seasons that the Kanagawa outfit have lost the League Cup final. Coach Takashi Sekizuka will need to rejuvenate his side ahead of a tense J. League title race, with Kawasaki just a point above defending champions Kashima Antlers with four games remaining. The plaudits belong to FC Tokyo for the time being, as Hiroshi Jofuku's side claim a second League Cup trophy having also won the tournament back in 2004. Copyright © Michael Tuckerman & Soccerphile.com J.League News Tags Soccer News football

All the colour of the Japanese Yamazaki Nabisco League Cup final will descend upon the National Stadium in Tokyo on November 3, with this year's showpiece event set to be an all-local affair. FC Tokyo have reached their first League Cup final since 2004, with Hiroshi Jofuku's team winning through on the back of some impressive displays. The capital club topped their group from 2008 finalists Shimizu S-Pulse, before confidently dispatching Nagoya Grampus in the quarter-finals. Their final four tie saw them pitted against cup specialists Shimizu, where a 3-2 aggregate win over the two legs propelled them into a final played in their home city. If FC Tokyo figured they would command the lion's share of support at a jam-packed Kokuritsu Kyogijo, their hopes were dashed when neighbours Kawasaki Frontale also won through to the final. The Kanagawa outfit took a different route to the Culture Day showdown, parachuting into the League Cup at the quarter-final stage due to their participation in the 2009 AFC Champions League. Takashi Sekizuka's side signalled their intent with an aggregate 3-1 quarter-final win over Kashima Antlers, before beating local rivals Yokohama F. Marinos by the same scoreline in the semi-finals. With the city of Kawasaki located just twenty kilometres from downtown Tokyo, thousands of Frontale fans will make the short trip to the capital, as they look to put the memories of their 2007 final defeat to Gamba Osaka behind them. Sekizuka's free-scoring outfit could be forgiven for having their minds on other matters, with Kawasaki currently leading the J. League table by a point from defending champions Kashima Antlers. However, Kawasaki arguably have the upper hand going into this League Cup final clash, with FC Tokyo's talismanic midfielder Naohiro Ishikawa set to miss the rest of the season through a serious knee injury. Ishikawa had rattled home fifteen league goals prior to his shock injury, whilst Japan defender Yuto Nagatomo is also racing against the clock to prove his fitness for this clash, as FC Tokyo brace themselves for the potential absence of their two most dynamic personnel. They'll nevertheless be desperate to add to their solitary trophy, after FC Tokyo claimed the 2004 League Cup crown by beating Urawa Reds on penalties. Kawasaki Frontale are equally determined to lift some silverware, with the Kanagawa side still waiting for a maiden major trophy. Higher stakes than usual for this Tamagawa Clasico then, as two of the most popular clubs in the region do battle for the 2009 League Cup at the National Stadium in Tokyo. Copyright © Michael Tuckerman & Soccerphile.com J.League News Tags Soccer News football

The J. League has announced that the clash between Kashima Antlers and Kawasaki Frontale will be resumed from the 75h minute after last weekend's fixture was halted due to torrential rain. Second placed Kawasaki had taken a 3-1 lead at the home of their league leading rivals when referee Masayashi Okada was forced to call time on a waterlogged pitch.