J-League Round 1

The 2010 J-League season is underway and current J.League champions Kashima Antlers kicked off the season with winning ways after a 2-0 win over Urawa Reds.

The Antlers got their title defence off to a winning start as goals from Shinzo Koroki and Marquinhos ensured victory over Urawa Reds before a packed 35,000 crowd at Kashima Soccer Stadium on the opening day of the new season.

Japanese striker Koroki’s 4th minute strike initially opened up the match. Marquinhos then doubled the score and secured victory for Kashima in the 86th minute after heading substitute Yasushi Endo’s cross from the left. Young Australian defender Matt Spiranovic was out injured and did not feature.

In Osaka, returning Socceroo Josh Kennedy was the star as he provided an assist and netted the winning goal as Nagoya Grampus defeated Gamba Osaka 2-1.

Nagoya drew first blood in the 14th minute only for Gamba to draw level seven minutes courtesy of a superb strike from Takahiro Futugawa. However, Nagoya midfielder Mu Kanazaki cut into the box from the right before Kennedy reacted to a loose ball to fire home the winner in the 68th minute.

Elsewhere, Australian-born Shimizu defender Eddy Bosnar was in action as a stoppage-time equaliser from Genki Omae saw Shimizu S-Pulse salvage a 1-1 draw at Sanfrecce Hiroshima.

Brazilian midfielder Renatinho and forward Masaru Kurotsu both struck early in the first-half as Kawasaki Frontale beat Albirex Niigata 2-1 at home.

FC Tokyo edged Yokohama F. Marinos 1-0 thanks to an injury-time effort from forward Sota Hirayama.

Finally, in J2, Mark Milligan was an 89th minute substitute for JEF United Chiba who had to settle for a draw in the dying minutes of the match. Atsushi Ichimura scored the 95th minute equaliser as Roasso Kumamoto and JEF United Chiba shared the points at Kumamoto Athletics Stadium.