6 goals from 6 different players...Yamagata were poor

Earlier this year we drew with Montedio in Yamagata but this was a completely different set of teams. In terms of the players and confidence. Even though Cerezo were missing Kiyotake, injured in the Olympic qualifier, this game had the biggest gulf in class between two J-League teams I've ever seen. I hope for the Montedio supporters this was a one off display from them! That man Bando opened the scoring with his 9th goal in J1 this season. Fujimoto added the next with a header. Yamagata showed no resistance or fight in the 2nd half and we soon added two more within 5 minutes of the restart from Sakemoto and Ogihara, who came through the Japan Olympic qualifier unscathed. With the match won Culpi made some changes looking to rest some players before the ACL quarter final in Korea on Tuesday. The creative Fabio scored his first goal for us followed by our new number 7, Yohei Otake scoring a penalty to end a miserable night for Montedio. We face a much bigger challenge next in Korea to keep our 4-3 advantage from the first leg against Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors.

Spirits still high with the away fans

Now realising this won't be a good away trip?

Ogihara being congratulated

Creativity and now goals...looks a bit like Ronaldinho?

Otake's penalty

Asian Champions League Quarterfinal

We can't defend and three away goals wasn't ideal against a strong Jeonbuk side from Korea. But in another ridiculously open game we came out on top. Kiyotake scored the winner and his second, both from Sakemoto corners to make it 4-3 and adding goals from Bando and Bo-Kyung. Next we face a trip to Korea on the 27th, good luck chaps.





Mixed fortunes for Spurs and Cerezo

Cerezo did OK for spells away in Korea (in a fairly empty Japan/Korea world cup stadium) against Jeonbuk but we wasted our best chances, didn't do too well defensively and had some injury problems. It was an exciting game we lost 1-0. We have a decent enough chance of making it through to the next stage though. Jin-Hyeon was good, Inui was...Inui, had a great chance but fluffed it horribly, he can do so much better and has to this season. Martinez was struck down with an illness (Lennon-like for Spurs in Europe) and only made it to the bench and on for a few minutes in the second half. Spurs of course are well and truly out of the Champions League and it's going to be a close call whether or not we make it again next season, thanks for the adventure this season! Bale won player of the season without actually being the best player for Spurs this year. A fantastic North London derby last night/this morning (depending on where you live) even though the result didn't really help either team football was the winner, match of the seaon so far? Arsene Wenger acting like a kid after losing out on three points and none of our strikers scoring, Van der Vaart picking up the slack, business as usual.

Sometimes brilliant Welshman

Asian and UEFA Champions Leagues

Cerezo 1-0 Jeonbuk. Inui played better than he has in a long time, he looked dangerous and was rewarded with the winning goal. Pimpao missed from just outside the six yard box in the second half. Jin-Hyeon made a great save one on one with Jeonbuk's most dangerous player on the night. We are looking good to progress. An unexpected bonus on the night was Gamba losing in their ACL game.

Away support, it's not like Europe.

Home support, it's like Europe

Indeed they are "mad green"

Inui and co. celebrate

I4 celebrates

The team celebrate with our mascot

Spurs on the other hand, Crouch's red card means we have little chance in the next leg, Lennon pulling out at the last minute, literally. It was painful to watch, Real had a stupid amount of shots on goal and we ran out of steam with 10 men. Di Maria with a fantastic goal (while Bale was getting treatment on the sidelines). But it has been great so far, the Real fans were chanting (in Spanish of course) "stupid" when Crouch got his marching orders and it's tough to argue with that. Our fans were superb throughout. Japan are considering, or re-considering, their decision to withdraw from the Copa America. Man U did well against Chelsea, Schalke did brilliantly against Inter after this amazing goal from Dejan Stankovic.

Weekend roundup and Tuesday's Champions League double!

Spurs ruthlessly drew 0-0 at Wigan to remain in 5th and out of contention for a Champions League spot for now. Lots of live Premier League games this weekend on J-Sports, here's hoping Man City slip up tonight. Here's an interesting interview with Sandro one of our star Champions League performers. Spurs play Real Madrid away on Tuesday with Bale likely to be fit but our usual injury problems at centre back.. Real lost at the Bernabeu this weekend which was, amazingly, Jose Mourinho's first home loss for 9 years! Higuain also returned after a four month absence in this game. Elsewhere in Europe an important result in Italy's Serie A with the Milan derby finishing 3-0 in AC Milan's favour.

Our Korean opponents

Japan were scheduled to make their second appearance since 1999 in the Copa America this July but the JFA are now considering what do after the disaster. Cerezo take on Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors in Nagai Stadium this Tuesday. Jeonbuk are previous winners of the ACL in 2006 and scored four without reply in their last ACL game in Indonesia against Arema. They look like the toughest team we will face in this group. In world football news the Asian football boss Bin Hammam will challenge Sepp Blatter for the FIFA presidency.

Internationals and charity matches

Cerezo won 2-0 against Kyoto Purple Sanga in a charity match on Saturday with goals from Takahashi and Pimpao. J1 and J2 fixtures will now resume from the 23rd of April and our ACL game against Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors on Tue 5th April in Osaka is unaffected. England beat a poor Welsh team 2-0, Lampard pen and Darren Bent goal early in the first half. Tomorrow there is a huge charity game between the JFA and J-League in Nagai Stadium, tickets selling out ridiculously quickly along with huge queues in Nagai park to watch the practices today and yesterday. The highlight of this weekend fixtures for me though was one particular friendly, Brazil v Scotland, played at the Emirates for some (£$?) reason, why not in Scotland? The emergence of the next Brazilian superstar perhaps? Enjoy Neymar (he's 19, which might explain his haircut!)...

Cerezo Asian Champions League Group G Fixtures

Here are all of the fixtures for our group known by me as 'the group of the unknown.'

	02 March 2011 19:00	JEONBUK HYUNDAI MOTORS (KOR)-SHANDONG LUNENG FC (CHN)	Jeonju World Cup Stadium
	02 March 2011 19:00	CEREZO OSAKA (JPN)-AREMA INDONESIA (IDN)	Osaka Nagai Stadium
	16 March 2011 15:30	SHANDONG LUNENG FC (CHN)-CEREZO OSAKA (JPN)	Shandong Luneng Stadium
	16 March 2011 15:30	AREMA INDONESIA (IDN)-JEONBUK HYUNDAI MOTORS (KOR)	Kanjuruhan Stadium
	05 April 2011 15:30	AREMA INDONESIA (IDN)-SHANDONG LUNENG FC (CHN)	Kanjuruhan Stadium
	05 April 2011 19:00	CEREZO OSAKA (JPN)-JEONBUK HYUNDAI MOTORS (KOR)	Osaka Nagai Stadium
	20 April 2011 15:30	SHANDONG LUNENG FC (CHN)-AREMA INDONESIA (IDN)	Shandong Luneng Stadium
	20 April 2011 19:00	JEONBUK HYUNDAI MOTORS (KOR)-CEREZO OSAKA (JPN)	Jeonju World Cup Stadium
	03 May 2011 15:30	AREMA INDONESIA (IDN)-CEREZO OSAKA (JPN)	Kanjuruhan Stadium
	03 May 2011 19:30	SHANDONG LUNENG FC (CHN)-JEONBUK HYUNDAI MOTORS (KOR)	Shandong Luneng Stadium
	10 May 2011 15:00	JEONBUK HYUNDAI MOTORS (KOR)-AREMA INDONESIA (IDN)	Jeonju World Cup Stadium
	10 May 2011 19:00	CEREZO OSAKA (JPN)-SHANDONG LUNENG FC (CHN)	Osaka Nagai Stadium