J-LEAGUE: MATCH # 24 HIGHLIGHT

Yuya Osako's sixth goal in four matches put Kashima Antlers on course for a convincing win over Kashiwa Reysol and returned them to the top of the chasing pack. It was a big weekend for Omiya, too, who ended their run of eight straight losses with victory over the leaders, Yokohama!

August was Yuya Osako's month with a hat trick against Sao Paulo, a rush of goals in the J. league and, only on Thursday, also the news that he had been called up again for Alberto Zaccheroni's national team squad. The 23-year old scored after 11 seconds against Shimizu on Wednesday but kept the fans waiting a little longer this time, firing Antlers in front in the 3rd minute of their 3-1 win over Reysol in Kashima. Osako's recent success has owed a lot to the quick supporting work of 21-year old Shoma Doi, making his fourth consecutive start, and Doi's sizzling shot produced that early corner. Kashima have the veterans, too, and 35-year old Juninho then slipped through twice the secure the win!

Nelsinho's resignation as Reysol's manager after the game came as a bolt from the blue. After taking over in 2009, he led Reysol to the J2 title in 2010, J. League championship in 2011 and Emperor's Cup last season. Their league form was disappointing earlier this year but a corner had been turned and Reysol were unbeaten in 9 consecutive league matches coming into the game in Kashima. Nelsinho spoke of not being able to settle for anything less than a high position in the league. Former Japan defender Masami Ihara moves up from head coach to caretaker manager for this week's Emperor's Cup opener against his old university, Tsukuba, and Yamazaki Nabisco Cup semi-final first leg match with Yokohama.

All of that, though, was far from everyone's else's minds as the game kicked off. The excitement started early with Doi dribbling forward and unleashing a powerful shot that Takanori Sugeno just pushed onto the bar and behind for a corner. The cross back from the short corner was knocked on by Kazuya Yamamura and Osako struck in sweetly on the turn. Antlers continued to cause Reysol all sorts of problems and next, in the 14th minute, Osako headed on a goal kick from the halfway line, Doi knocked down and Juninho raced on to finish with all the gathering momentum of his run. 

Reysol were in trouble and Nelsinho responded by bringing Tatsuya Masushima on as an extra man at the back in the 18th minute. Sugeno had to save from Juninho again a couple of minutes later but Reysol did now begin to settle and produce opportunities of their own from the wings. The expected showdown between two of Zaccheroni's promising young strikers produced a goal apiece when Masato Kudo received from Junya Tanaka in the 53rd minute and netted a stunning shot from the edge of the box that left Hitoshi Sogahata blindsided and rooted to the spot. Jorge Wagner, especially, was also making rich use of space on the left and for a period it did look as if Reysol might get something out of the match after all.

Antlers, however, were not resting on their laurels. Juninho, the J. League's top scorer with 22 goals for Kawasaki Frontale in 2007, was on fire again as Doi and Mitsuo Ogasawara played the quick through balls and he rounded Masushima in the 66th minute to claim his own second of the day. Juninho might have made that a hat trick in the final minute of regulation time but headed over at Ogasawara's free kick.

Omiya Ardija's topsy-turvy season has produced their longest unbeaten run followed by their longest sequence of defeats. A 1-0 victory over Yokohama F-Marinos may now have restored some confidence. Their run of eight losses also started against Yokohama on July 13th. Yokohama had an early chance when Kosuke Nakamachi headed against the bar at Shunsuke Nakamura's free kick. A long through ball from Lucas Neill in the 42nd minute sent Milivoje Novakovic on his way for the goal, the Slovenian striker passing back at the finish for Daigo Watanabe to fire in low. Yokohama pushed hard for the equaliser but Omiya, themselves still top of the table when they lost in Yokohama in July, held on for their first clean sheet since May and a truly much needed boost.

Sanfrecce Hiroshima could have rejoined Yokohama at the top on 47 points but fell instead to their second straight defeat, 2-1 at home to FC Tokyo. That was manager Hajime Moriyasu's first ever experience of consecutive J1 losses at the helm and the champions have now taken only two points from their last four matches. Kazuma Watanabe seized on a loose moment in the Hiroshima defence in the 16th minute to steal the ball and net his 17th goal of the season. Last season's top scorer, Hisato Sato, replied at a 62nd minute corner, the ball flicked cleverly to him by Hwang Seok Ho, but Takuji Yonemoto had the final word in the 81st minute at a low cross from Keigo Higashi.

That left Urawa Reds as the big beneficiaries at the top. Their 1-0 home victory over Albirex Niigata lifted them above Hiroshima into second place, a point behind Yokohama, who had beaten them so thoroughly on Wednesday. Urawa's break came in the 62nd minute, Yosuke Kashiwagi, playing his 200th J1 game, dribbling and playing through for Shinzo Koroki to chip keeper Masaaki Higashiguchi. Urawa didn't allow in-form Niigata striker Kengo Kawamata even a single shot!

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