Japanese Non-league Football News

The teams competing in the JFL this season are continuing to do a remarkably efficient job at dividing the league table into two more or less equal halves, something that became yet more the case due to the two fixtures played on Saturday. Rosso Kumamoto are now looking increasingly strong in sixth place thanks to their first away win of the year, 2-0 at Arte Takasaki - J-League hopefuls on paper, but a side whose results so far on the pitch are a long way away from the standard needed to earn them a place among the pros. Yokogawa Musashino were the day's other winners, ex-Urawa Reds forward Yosuke Kobayashi netting his fifth of the season in a 2-1 win over Sony Sendai to go seventh in the division, just three points off the lead.

Arte Takasaki 0-2 Rosso Kumamoto
Yokogawa Musashino 2-1 Sony Sendai



The look of wide-eyed horror of Arte Takasaki fans, as they realise that - once again - their team aren't good enough to go for a place in the J-League

2005 Kansai League champions Banditonce Kobe are the early leaders of the race for the 2006 title, as a goal and two assists from former Yokohama FC striker Masato Ishida helped them to a potentially vital 4-2 win against ambitious newly-promoted side FC Mi-o Biwako Kusatsu. Last year's top challengers, Kobe FC 1970 and Ain Food, are both in the bottom half - and although Kobe squeezed past Takada FC 3-2 to pick up their first points of the year, Ain lost 2-1 at AS Laranja Kyoto and are still seeking their first points of the year.

In Division 2, relegated side FC Kyoto BAMB 1993 move to the top of the table thanks to a 3-1 win at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Kobe, but level on points with them are Hermano Osaka - who also came down from the top flight at the end of 2005 - and Technonet Osaka, 3-2 winners at Osaka-based student outfit Riseisha FC. Down at the bottom and still pointless after two games are Kohga School, who were beaten 4-2 by Kihoku Football Group.



Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Kobe before their game with FC Kyoto BAMB


Division 1

AS Laranja Kyoto 2-1 Ain Food
FC Mi-o Biwako Kusatsu 2-4 Banditonce Kobe
Kyoto Shiko Club 0-2 Sanyo Electric Sumoto
Takada FC 2-3 Kobe FC 1970

1 Banditonce Kobe 6 (+4)
2 Sanyo Electric Sumoto 6 (+3)
3 FC Mi-o Biwako Kusatsu 3 (+1)
4 Takada FC 3 (+1)
5 AS Laranja Kyoto 3 (-)
6 Kobe FC 1970 3 (-2)
7 Ain Food 0 (-3)
8 Kyoto Shiko Club 0 (-4)


Division 2

Kihoku Football Group 4-2 Kohga School
Kobe FC Senior C 2-3 Hermano Osaka
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Kobe 1-3 FC Kyoto BAMB 1993
Riseisha FC 2-3 Technonet Osaka

1 FC Kyoto BAMB 1993 6 (+4)
2 Technonet Osaka 6 (+3)
3 Hermano Osaka 6 (+2)
4 Kihoku Football Group 3 (-)
5 Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Kobe 3 (-1)
6 Riseisha FC 0 (-2)
7 Kobe FC Senior C 0 (-3)
8 Kohga School 0 (-3)