11 Sep 2003(Thu)

It was a very worrying weekend for the J.League.

Unless, of course, you are a Kashima Antlers fan.

That's because Kashima hit the front after only four games of the second stage, by beating JEF United Ichihara 3-2 in a gripping match at Tokyo National Stadium.

What's more, Antlers really looked motivated and determined.

That is no surprise, as they had to watch arch rivals Jubilo Iwata win both stages last season, and then could not get close enough to mount a serious challenge in the first stage of this season.

Even without the injured Koji Nakata in midfield, Antlers still had plenty of cover in Takeshi Aoki and then, off the bench, Yasuto Honda, who is often under-appreciated by neutral observers. Honda is a real coach's player, tidying up all the loose balls in midfield or sometimes behind his defense, and filling the gaps when other players move forward.

He is a good organizer and has good vision around the pitch, knowing where he should be at the right time. For manager Toninho Cerezo, Honda must be a more than useful player to have on the bench.

It really was an enjoyable game, with plenty of goals, cards and controversy, but JEF United fell just short again.

Their manager, Ivica Osim, said exactly what he used to say after crunch games during the first stage: that first place for JEF United was too high, as it led to too much pressure every week and the players could not produce 100 percent game after game.

Before the second stage started he said he wanted JEF to be in fourth or fifth place most of the time, and then "sprint" for the line in the closing two or three weeks.

But his players once again set off at a furious pace, winning their first three matches!

Antlers ended all that, of course.

What a goal by Hirase! What a slice of luck to go in 2-1 up at halftime! What a captain in Akita to head the winning goal!

Yes, it looks like Antlers mean business in the second stage again.

ends