Japanese Non-league Football News

Huge changes in the Hokushinetsu League Division 2 to report following a series of shock results in the penultimate round of matches. Leaders and promotion favourites Valiente Toyama could have put one foot in Division 1 if they'd been able to defeat a mid-ranking FC Antelope side but instead were thrashed 5-0; second-placed FC Kanazu were unable to take advantage, however, as they too fell to a shock 2-1 loss against lowly LionPower Komatsu. All of which means that it's now TOP Niigata who head the standings, thanks to their 1-0 win against Toyama Shinjo Club. This has in turn left Shinjo in danger of automatic relegation to the prefectural leagues, as bottom-placed Nissei Resin stayed in touch by beating Maruoka Phoenix in the other match. The final round of games in September sees TOP host Valiente in a genuine title decider.



Valiente Toyama in white lose out to a rampant FC Antelope

Sun 23 Jul: FC Antelope 5-0 Valiente Toyama
Sun 23 Jul: LionPower Komatsu 2-1 FC Kanazu
Sun 23 Jul: Nissei Resin 3-1 Maruoka Phoenix
Sun 23 Jul: Toyama Shinjo Club 0-1 TOP Niigata

1 TOP Niigata 22 (+6)
2 Valiente Toyama 21 (+3)
3 FC Kanazu 19 (+5)
4 Maruoka Phoenix 19 (+1)
5 FC Antelope 18 (+2)
6 LionPower Komatsu 16 (-13)
7 Toyama Shinjo Club 15 (-8)
8 Nissei Resin 12 (+4)