Japanese Non-league Football News

Just four rounds in to the new campaign, the 2006 JFL league table is already clarifying some important issues in terms of who the challengers and strugglers will be for what is a key season. Of the top teams, Honda FC kept up the early pressure on Saturday with a 2-1 win at Ryutsu Keizai University, but the other four clubs near them responded in convincing style as the round was completed on Sunday.

Sagawa Kyubin Tokyo hold on to the lead on goal difference following their 3-0 win at SC Tottori, which included goal number seven for the season for Tetsuya Okubo, who must surely be the hottest property in the Japanese non-league game at present. Hot on their heels come the pair from Toyama, YKK AP demolishing Mitsubishi Mizushima 4-0 - with all the goals coming in the first half - and their rivals Alo's Hokuriku going one better. A hat-trick from Naoki Ishibashi helped last year's strong finishers to a 5-0 thrashing of Honda Lock. Tochigi SC remain in touch after they beat FC Kariya 2-0, including a third goal of the season for Kentaro Yoshida.

Sagawa Kyubin Osaka overcame Arte Takasaki with a single Masayuki Okamura goal early in the second half to win the mid-table battle, whilst FC Ryukyu have yet to get off the mark following their 1-0 home defeat to fellow new boys JEF Club.

Honda Lock 0-5 Alo's Hokuriku
Sagawa Kyubin Osaka 1-0 Arte Takasaki
FC Kariya 0-2 Tochigi SC
Mitsubishi Mizushima 0-4 YKK AP
FC Ryukyu 0-1 JEF Club
SC Tottori 0-3 Sagawa Kyubin Tokyo

1 Sagawa Kyubin Tokyo 12 (+15)
2 Alo's Hokuriku 12 (+12)
3 YKK AP 12 (+10)
4 Honda FC 12 (+7)
5 Tochigi SC 10 (+4)
6 Sagawa Kyubin Osaka 7 (+3)
7 Arte Takasaki 7 (+2)
8 Rosso Kumamoto 7 (-)
9 Yokogawa Musashino 6 (+2)
10 Sony Sendai 3 (-3)
11 RKU 3 (-4)
12 JEF Club 3 (-4)
13 Sagawa Printing 2 (-4)
14 SC Tottori 2 (-5)
15 Honda Lock 1 (-9)
16 FC Kariya 1 (-10)
17 FC Ryukyu 0 (-5)
18 Mitsubishi Mizushima 0 (-11)