Lee finalizes move to Southampton

LONDON — Japan striker Tadanari Lee has signed a two-and-a-half-year deal with Southampton with the option of a further year, the second-tier English Championship club said Wednesday.

"The 26-year-old put pen to paper after rejecting several advances from top flight European sides, and will be immediately available for selection," Southampton said.

"He could therefore make his debut in Saturday's F.A. Cup fourth round tie at Millwall."

Japanese players have had limited success in England, but Lee — who is of South Korean descent, but became a naturalized Japanese citizen in 2007 so that he could play at the Beijing Olympics — is determined to impress from the outset.

"I want to help the team to great things," Lee said in a statement through the Saints. "We all want to get to the Premier League, and I am the same. I hope that I can show the fans that they can trust me to play my best for the club at all times."-http://www.japantimes.co.jp

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Antlers duo working out in San Jose

Kashima Antlers midfielders Mitsuo Ogasawara and Masashi Motoyama have both been training with the San Jose Earthquakes and will be on trial through the end of the week, the Major League Soccer club said on its official website Wednesday.

The former Japan internationals have been at the Earthquakes' training facility since Monday, competing in short-field drills on their first day of training and a full session on Tuesday.

But a Kashima official said, "They (Ogasawara and Motoyama) are just taking part in practice as a way of extending their personal training."- http://www.japantimes.co.jp

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Frontale counting on Nakamura to fill leadership role

KAWASAKI — An 11th-place finish last season suggests Kawasaki Frontale's days as a J. League championship contender are over, but playmaker Kengo Nakamura is refusing to go quietly as the club prepares for another tilt at a first-ever title.

Frontale went into last year's campaign having finished each of the previous five seasons in the top five, claiming the runnerup spot three times to establish themselves firmly among the division's heavyweights. But a rash of high-profile departures and the arrival of rookie manager Naoki Soma hinted that 2011 would be a year of transition, and so it proved as a run of eight straight defeats over the summer derailed the Kanagawa club's title challenge.

Now, with long-serving striker Juninho leaving over the winter, Frontale's prospects look anything but clear. More responsibility than ever will rest on the shoulders of midfield inspiration Nakamura, and the 31-year-old admits he is unsure what to expect.- http://www.japantimes.co.jp

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Big crowd pays tribute to Matsuda

Yokohama — A crowd of over 40,000 turned out Sunday to watch Hidetoshi Nakata and other former Japan teammates of the late Naoki Matsuda play in a memorial match for the former defender, who passed away last summer aged just 34.

Current and former players of Yokohama F. Marinos, where Matsuda spent most of his career, as well as players of newly promoted second-division club Matsumoto Yamaga also took part in the event at Nissan Stadium, Yokohama's home ground.

All of the players who took part in the match, including Nakata and Tsuneyasu Miyamoto, who played alongside Matsuda in defense at the 2002 World Cup, formed Matsuda's No. 3 squad number on the pitch and the match was preceded with a moment's silence.

"It has to take something pretty special to be able to get players like these here," said Nakata, who retired from international soccer after the 2006 World Cup in Germany. "I was never far away from Matsu (Matsuda) after getting to know him at 14 years old. We both spoke our minds but he didn't hide anything and that made me feel comfortable. I think we were a great combo."- http://www.japantimes.co.jp

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Midfielder Abe returns to Reds

Saitama — Urawa Reds said Tuesday they have brought back Japan midfielder Yuki Abe from second-tier English Championship side Leicester City.

The 30-year-old Abe had canceled his contract with Leicester City to get back to his family in Japan.

Abe joined Leicester City from Urawa in the summer of 2010 and scored two goals in a total of 52 league matches in England.

Equally effective in defense or a holding midfield role, Abe helped Japan reach the second round of the World Cup finals in South Africa in 2010. He has been capped 53 times for the national team.

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Mark Milligan returns to the A-League for the Victory

Melbourne Victory have signed former Socceroo defender Mark Milligan to the club on a loan until the end of the A-League season. The move, subject to an International Transfer Certificate, comes after the end of the J-League where Milligan’s side JEF United, in Japan’s J-League 2, finished sixth and made the quarter-finals of the Emperor’s Cup.

The 26 year-old said, “The Japanese season has finished up now, so rather than have an extended break, I was really keen to get back to the A-League and Melbourne Victory was a very attractive option for me.” “Playing overseas really heightens your interest in the domestic game back home, so I’ve been keeping a close eye on the A-League since I moved away a few years ago, and I’m really excited to be back until the end of the season.” “Hopefully I can help get the club’s season back-on-track. The Melbourne Victory fans are the most passionate in the country so it will be great to play in front of them again, only this time as a Victory player,” Milligan added. Melbourne Victory Coach, Jim Magilton, said he was eager to see the former Olyroos captain in action.- http://www.theroar.com.au

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12BET News Update 1/24

Makino determined to get career back on track at Urawa

SAITAMA — Last year was one to forget for both Urawa Reds and Tomoaki Makino, but the national team defender believes 2012 will be a different story after joining the fallen Saitama giants on a season-long loan.

Urawa, Japan's best-supported team and J. League champions in 2006, began preparations for another campaign in the first division over the weekend, with everyone at the club simply happy to be there. Reds avoided relegation to J2 only on the final day of last season, with defeat in October's Nabisco Cup final rubbing salt into the wounds of a club that has been in steady decline since winning the Asian Champions League in 2007.

For Makino, 2011 was hardly a bed of roses either. The 24-year-old left Sanfrecce Hiroshima for German side Cologne in January after making the 2010 J. League team of the season, only to find that life in the Bundesliga was not what he had anticipated. Makino made just eight appearances for the Rhine club, prompting Cologne general manager — and former Urawa boss — Volker Finke to seek a solution with a 12-month loan deal with his previous employers. With the turning of the calendar wiping the slate clean, Makino is confident the arrangement can benefit both parties.

"There are a lot of players here that I knew beforehand, so already it feels quite natural for me," he said at Urawa's training ground over the weekend. "Urawa Reds are the standard-bearer club of Japanese football. The image I had before I came here was that this is Japan's big club, and it needs to get back to the level that it belongs at.- http://www.japantimes.co.jp

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Asian Leagues Guide: J League news update 1/23

Asian Leagues Guide: J League news update 1/23: Vancouver Whitecaps add midfielder Jun Marques Davidson The midfielder played with his new coach in the U.S. lower leagues in 2010, and sp...

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J League news update 1/23

Vancouver Whitecaps add midfielder Jun Marques Davidson

The midfielder played with his new coach in the U.S. lower leagues in 2010, and spent most of his career in Japan.

Dual Japanese/American citizen Jun Marques Davidson has joined the Vancouver Whitecaps. The 28-year-old played with head coach Martin Rennie with the Carlolina RailHawks in 2010.

“Jun is one of the most technically gifted players that I have coached," said Rennie. "He's a defensive-minded midfielder with a strong pedigree of quality and experience after playing in the Japanese J.League for a number of years. His passing awareness and ability to break up play in the middle is tremendous. He will be a great addition to the group.”

Davidson spent the 2011 season with J.League Division Two (J2) side Tokushima Vortis. Prior to joining the RailHawks, the midfielder spent time in Japan's top division with Omiya Ardija and Albirex Niigata.

“I am excited and thankful to Martin Rennie, Vancouver Whitecaps FC, and MLS for this opportunity,” said Davidson. “I will do my best to help the club achieve its goals and look forward to celebrating success with the fantastic supporters in Vancouver.” - http://www.goal.com/

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Asian Leagues Guide: J League news 1/22

Asian Leagues Guide: J League news 1/22: Golden Kings extend winning streak to seven The Ryukyu Golden Kings have accomplished a number of firsts in their history, including this: ...

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J League news 1/22

Golden Kings extend winning streak to seven



The Ryukyu Golden Kings have accomplished a number of firsts in their history, including this: They were the first time other than the Osaka Evessa to win a bj-league title. They also became the first professional sports team in Okinawa in 2007.

On Saturday, they became the first team in the 2011-12 season to reach 20 wins, doing so by edging the Shiga Lakestars 84-81 in Yasu, Shiga Prefecture.



The Western Conference-leading Golden Kings (20-5) have won seven straight games. Dai Oketani's club has exhibited the patience, poise and depth of a championship team since the season started, and has improved along the way.

Anthony McHenry paced Ryukyu with 17 points, center Dillion Sneed added 16 points on 6-for-9 shooting in his season debut and Naoto Kosuge scored 15.

Josh Peppers led Shiga (16-9) with 19 points, Ray Nixon had 17 points with nine boards, Julius Ashby scored 15 and Yu Okada added 13 as both teams begin their quest in the season's second half to reach the Final Four. - http://www.japantimes.co.jp

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Asian Leagues Guide: 12BET Indian league News Update 1/20

Asian Leagues Guide: 12BET Indian league News Update 1/20: I-League: Dempo get sweet revenge against Air India PUNE: The instructions couldn't have been simpler. Losing to the same side two times wa...

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12BET Indian league News Update 1/20

I-League: Dempo get sweet revenge against Air India

PUNE: The instructions couldn't have been simpler. Losing to the same side two times was something Dempo coach Armand Colaco told his boys he wouldn't accept and they let him know his word is respected with a smart 3-1 win over Air India at the Balewadi Sports Complex, Pune, on Wednesday.

A Ranti Martins brace sandwiched between a Koko Sakibo goal meant the Goan giants moved back to familiar ground - top of the table.

Dempo turned the heat on in the second half after Air India started like they were up to get the travellers for the second time in a season. 'Keeper Pawan Kumar let them believe after he saved Ranti's shot from close before brilliantly pushing out the Nigerian's attempt from the penalty spot when Lamine Tamba brought down Koko early in the first half. But the show couldn't be sustained.

Martins made an apology of atonement for his first-half gaffe when he tapped in from close range after the Air India defence didn't bother to clear a loose ball in the box.  - http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/

 

 

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Asian Leagues Guide: 12BET Indian league News Update 1/19

Asian Leagues Guide: 12BET Indian league News Update 1/19: East Bengal 4-1 Pailan Arrows: Penn And Tolgay Orchestrate A Comfortable Victory After enduring a torrid week, East Bengal finally give thei...

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12BET Indian league News Update 1/19

East Bengal 4-1 Pailan Arrows: Penn And Tolgay Orchestrate A Comfortable Victory

After enduring a torrid week, East Bengal finally give their supporters something to cheer about, registering a comprehensive win over Pailan Arrows....

East Bengal bounced back in style from their recent disappointments as they made short work of the Pailan Arrows outfit.

Trevor Morgan's boys defeated the Indian developmental outfit 4-1 with Tolgay Ozbey scoring a brace ( 31st, 76th minute) and Penn Orji (27th minute) and Robert Lalthlamuana (57th minute) compelting the rout. Pailan could only get a consolation goal through defender Prathamesh Maulingkar (60th minute).

The Red and Gold brigade began the match slowly, probably needing time to recover from the supporter backlash that had met their disappointing performances in the local league where they lost back to back matches against arch-rivals Mohun Bagan and then against unfancied Techno Aryans. However they slowly started getting into their stride and Sanju Pradhan's brilliant run down the left flank resulted in them opening the scoring. Sanju's shot could only be parried onto the path of the onrushing Penn Orji by the Arrows' custodian Naveen Kumar. Penn expertly headed the ball in to make it 1-0 for East Bengal in the 27th minute.

The goal seemed to have helped East Bengal move up another gear, as in the 31st minute it was again Penn Orji who played a brilliant ball to Tolgay to make it 2-0 for the Kolkatan outfit as the young Arrows outfit was all at sea against a rampaging East Bengal. However Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, the young goalie justified his selection when he expertly saved a Pailan freekick and also a header from Bijendra Rai.

East Bengal had further chances to extend the lead as Tolgay expertly cut inside from the right, but his shot was dragged just wide. Just before the break Tolgay was clean through but a last ditch challenge from Pailan defender, Gurtej Singh Sr. made him miss the target.- http://www.goal.com/

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Asian Leagues Guide: J League news 12BET update 1/18

Asian Leagues Guide: J League news 12BET update 1/18: Reysol, Marinos to play in opener Reigning champion Kashiwa Reysol will face Yokohama F. Marinos at home on the opening weekend of the 2012 ...

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J League news 12BET update 1/18

Reysol, Marinos to play in opener



Reigning champion Kashiwa Reysol will face Yokohama F. Marinos at home on the opening weekend of the 2012 season as the J. League released the fixtures for the upcoming campaign on Tuesday.

Kashiwa, which became the first team in J. League history to win the championship a year after winning the second division, is involved in Asian Champions League action away to Thailand's Buriram Pea on March 7 and will play Yokohama in the only J. League fixture of the day on March 11.



Vegalta Sendai play Kashima Antlers on March 10 at Yurtec Stadium in what is set to be an emotional meeting on the eve of the first anniversary of the Great East Japan Earthquake. The quake and subsequent tsunami ravaged Japan's northeast coastline and inflicted serious damage on the stadiums of both teams.

The rest of the first-division matches will also be played on March 10, with promoted Sagan Tosu to face Cerezo Osaka and top-flight returnees FC Tokyo and Consadole Sapporo away to Omiya Ardija and at home to Jubilo Iwata, respectively.

The J1 season wraps up on Dec. 1, while the 22-team second tier kicks off March 4 and runs through Nov. 11. - http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

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East Bengal FC vs Pailan Arrows INDIAN I-LEAGUE 12BET online sports betting 1/18 4:30PM GMT 8

East Bengal looking to come back to winning ways

Currently ranked 2nd from the bottom of the table, the Pailan Arrows take on title contenders East Bengal at the Salt Lake Stadium on Tuesday. East Bengal are presently on 27 points from 14 matches while Pailan have 7 points from 13 matches.

The Arrows have a golden opportunity to score some unlikely points with East Bengal not in the best of form. Having drawn the previous match against Pune FC, the Red and Gold Brigade desperately need a win against Pailan. The last time the two teams met, the match ended in a goalless draw.

East Bengal's Coach Trevor Morgan said, "It is tough for any team to break down an opponent who prefers to play defensively. In our previous encounter Pailan looked like they would be satisfied with a point and they achieved it at the end."- http://sports.ndtv.com



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12BET J League News 1/16

Two-time J-League Golden Boot winner Ryoichi Maeda to return to Japan after unsuccessful West Ham trial

Jubilo Iwata confirmed that the Hammers have opted against signing the Japan international 

English Championship promotion hopefuls West Ham United have decided not to sign Japan international Ryoichi Maeda after his trial with the club this week.

The 30-year-old striker, who won the J-League Golden Boot award in 2009 and 2010, is expected to return to Japan on Monday.

Maeda's Japanese club Jubilo Iwata confirmed the trial had been unsuccessful on Sunday.

Jubilo president Hiroyuki Yoshino told Japanese media: “We understand they were unable to agree terms.”

West Ham boss Sam Allardyce had admitted after Saturday's 1-0 league win at Portsmouth that he was in the market for a striker in January.

"I am looking for another striker because from the chances we created we have not been clinical enough and that has been a problem," Allardyce told reporters. - goal.com

 

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12BET J League Newa 1/15

 Cologne loan Makino back to J-League

German top flight side Cologne said Wednesday they have loaned Japanese defender Tomoaki Makino - just eight appearances in two seasons - to J-League side Urawa Red Diamonds"With this loan we are giving him an opportunity to get more playing time in the J-League and with the national side, which is important for him," said Cologne sporting director Volker Finke.Makini, eight caps under his belt, has struggled to get in the side following his January 2010 move from Sanfrecce Hiroshima, for whom he scored 20 goals in 127 matches.- http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

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Asian Leagues Guide: J-League news 12BET update 1/13

Asian Leagues Guide: J-League news 12BET update 1/13: Makino returning to Japan on loan COLOGNE, Germany — Cologne says it is sending defender Tomoaki Makino back to Japan for one year on loan ...

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J-League news 12BET update 1/13

Makino returning to Japan on loan



COLOGNE, Germany — Cologne says it is sending defender Tomoaki Makino back to Japan for one year on loan to the Urawa Red Diamonds to gain more experience.

Makino arrived in Cologne one year ago from Sanfrecce Hiroshima but has made only eight Bundesliga appearances.

Cologne sports director Volker Fink says the 24-year-old Makino "needs to play regularly" and that Cologne wants to "help in his further development" at home. - http://www.japantimes.co.jp

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Asian Leagues Guide: 12BET Asian League News 1/12

Asian Leagues Guide: 12BET Asian League News 1/12: Zac ready for new year's challenges The Japan men's soccer team couldn't have had a better year in 2011, winning the Asian Cup i...

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12BET Asian League News 1/12

Zac ready for new year's challenges

The Japan men's soccer team couldn't have had a better year in 2011, winning the Asian Cup in January and safely reaching the final round of World Cup qualifying with two matches to spare.

It wasn't until a 1-0 defeat to North Korea Nov. 15 in Pyongyang, that Japan lost for the first time under Alberto Zaccheroni, whose unbeaten run stretched to an amazing 16 games.

Zaccheroni, though, believes 2012 could be even better.

"There are a lot of players in Japan with a bright future," he said in an interview with the Tokyo Sportswriters Club. "If they improve at a steady rate, there will be even more depth within the squad.

"We have a lot of options, and we have a number of players who are good enough to be in the first team. It's important to remember that we made it through the third round of qualifying without (Yuto) Nagatomo and (Keisuke) Honda."- http://www.japantimes.co.jp

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Asian Leagues Guide: J-Leagues news 12BET update 1/11

Asian Leagues Guide: J-Leagues news 12BET update 1/11: Sorimachi named Yamaga coach Japan's Beijing Olympic coach Yasuharu Sorimachi has been appointed manager of newly promoted J. League second-...

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J-Leagues news 12BET update 1/11

Sorimachi named Yamaga coach



Japan's Beijing Olympic coach Yasuharu Sorimachi has been appointed manager of newly promoted J. League second-division team Matsumoto Yamaga, the club announced on Friday.

Nagano-based Yamaga had been searching for a coach to replace Yoshiyuki Kato, who guided the team to promotion from the semi-professional Japan Football League but does not have the required coaching credentials to manage a J. League team.

The 47-year-old Sorimachi has promoted both Albirex Niigata and Shonan Bellmare to the J. League top flight during his career. He left Shonan after the team finished 14th in J2 last season. - http://www.japantimes.co.jp

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