24 Jul 2003(Thu)

Once again Jubilo Iwata's home ground staged a J.League classic.

Last season it was the 5-4 victory over Gamba Osaka toward the end of the first stage. This was a match decided in sudden-death extra time with an own goal by Gamba defender Tsuneyasu Miyamoto, even though the J.League Yearbook 2003 gives the credit to Norihiro Nishi.

I am sure Miyamoto will feel somewhat relieved by this, but clearly it was an own goal as he turned in Nishi's low drive.

On Sunday, Jubilo's compact stadium was bursting at the seams for the top-of-the-table clash with JEF United Ichihara.

The match finished 2-2, but either side could have won it in the closing minutes.

I thought it was a wonderful spectacle, and a great advertisement for the J.League.

I watched the match again on Sky Sports on Tuesday night, and any businessman who happened to tune in and who was thinking about investing in a Japanese sport would surely have been on the telephone the next day to the J.League marketing and sponsorship people.

Yes, it was that good: Fast, colourful, exciting.

Last week I wrote about the rise of Rodrigo Gral, and he lived up to his billing by scoring a true poacher's goal against United.

But what happened next caused me some concern.

At first I thought he was just going to reveal his white T-shirt under his blue Jubilo shirt with the slogan "100 per cent Jubilo."

But no, he continued to fumble around in his garments before producing a blue mask, which he put on and celebrated in front of the JEF United supporters behind the goal.

If this had happened in a country where the fans are not so well-behaved, there could have been a riot.

I could have imagined Rodrigo being pelted with missiles, such as plastic bottles and coins, by the away fans, and some of them even trying to jump over the fence to get to him.

There would have been complaints from opposing players about bad sportsmanship and disrespect, and from the local police about inciting fans, and Rodrigo could have been brought before the football authorities and faced disciplinary action.

Celebrating a goal is one thing, but did Rodrigo go too far with his behaviour in front of the visiting supporters?

I asked JEF's manager, Ivica Osim, about this after the game, but he was not concerned.

It was interesting to note, though, that two JEF players, Chano and Sandro, were shown the yellow card for fouls shortly after Rodrigo's opening goal.

Were the players frustrated and angry?

If so, then maybe Rodrigo's mask had done its job.

Personally, I feel his behaviour was over the top.

But it could not detract from a great game.

ends