Tut-tut, a bit of booing at the end of our loss to Ventforet Kofu

A game were expecting to win but after a couple of poor results hopefully Kakitani's goals will stop us from freefalling but we are in danger of missing one of our best chances in recent seasons to finish with a spot in the ACL. Kusakami started his first league game since joining us and was our most impressive player. We tried or were instructed to intricately pass our way directly through the Kofu team whilst on numerous occasions while our full-backs waved their arms in despair. One of the key successes of our way if playing is the width provided by our full-backs, which does leave us vulnerable with four at the back, but we didn't use them enough today. Culpi took off Kakitani and Kusukami a few minutes after Ventforet's Akito Kawamoto put the away side a goal up with what proved to be the winner. An odd change as Kusakami was looking dangerous throughout. A change of tactics would have been better especially after the nth attempt of playing through the middle was dealt with by Ventforet. A few fans in Kincho Stadium were booing at the end despite this being a young team needing support and, be fair to them, they aren't flirting with relegation like last season.

Notching up 2 wins in 2

A great start from us led to a Kakitani goal after some fine work from Sugimoto early on. Leaving Hugo unmarked in the 6 yard box after a corner could only mean a Kofu equaliser later in the 1^st half. Culpi might have been annoyed with the two Brazilians Edno and Simplicio who both picked up yellow cards just before half time and were taken off at the interval with Edamura and Minamino replacing them. The promising teenager hit the post in the 79^th minute and Yamaguchi was well placed to slam home the rebound. This was a vast improvement on what we saw last week. Not a great performance though but we have a 100% record so no complaints! Next up is another team with two wins in two, FC Tokyo. They travel down from the vast overcrowded soulless metropolis that is Tokyo to the vibrant, friendly, foodie Osaka.

Two wins in the J-League so far!

We played Ventforet Kofu without Kiyotake who was on Olympic qualifying duty (see you in London!) with Japan U22s and Inui becuase of his possible move to the Bundesliga. Read Culpi's thoughts about an Inui move here. Is Inui that good? He's been great in the ACL this year and previously in J2 but he must have a good agent I guess, he managed 4 goals in 33 matches in J1 last season. Despite that it only took a goal each from our subs Komatsu and Bando in the 85min and in injury time respectively to get us our second win this season. Tomorrow Nagoya visit Kincho with their legendary manager Dragan Stojkovic, Japanese international defender Tulio and the J-League's joint top goalscorer last season (they were champions by the way) Australian Joshua Kennedy.

Kiyotake scores the first against the mighty Kuwait 3-1 to Nippon 

Cerezo...back down to planet J-League

We got our first win of the season away to Avispa Fukuoka. Our last game was at Kincho against Yokohama and the referee. Uemoto got sent off for...nothing? We tried our best, Nagai ran his heart out. Inui was missing due to a possible move to the Bundesliga? Next game on Saturday away to Ventforet Kofu. Cerezo fans don't look below:

We only had 10 men

Marinos fans applauding the referee?

But unlike any other J-League team we are in the next round of the ACL facing Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors in September.