Kyoto Sanga 2 – FC Tokyo 4 (Emperors Cup Final, January 1, 2012) Kyoto found the net first when midfielder Hiroki Nakayama picked up a loose ball to cut inside the box and fire home in the 13th minute. Tokyo equalised two minutes later when defender Yasuyuki Konno headed in a cross from Naohiro Ishikawa. A dipping Masato Morishige free kick put Tokyo in front, Lucas smashed in a third goal to knock the stuffing out of Kyoto three minutes before halftime, and Lucas superbly clipped in his second after 66 minutes, effectively killing off the game. Yuya Kubo headed home a late consolation for Kyoto.

Yokohama F.Marinos 2 – Kyoto Sanga 4 (AET) (Emperor Cup, December 29, 2011) Kazuma Watanabe opened for Yokohama with a clinical striker’s finish in the 42nd, but Kyoto turned the match after the break as Kohei Kudo (a solo special) and Junior Dutra (a fine free-kick) turned the match in the visitors’ favour. With seconds left of regulation time, Yuji Nakazawa’s determination drew the Marinos level 2-2. Sanaga won the tie with two late goals in extra time as Yoshinari Komai and Yuya Kubo both scored in the last five minutes.

Tokyo 1 – Cerezo Osaka 0 (Emperor Cup, December 29, 2011) Tatsuya Yazawa scored the only goal of the game, with a terrific strike on 77 minutes to send the second division side into the final.

Yokohama F.Marinos 4 – Matsumoto Yamaga 0 (Emperors Cup, December 17, 2011) Yuji Ono was the star of the show for Yokohama netting a hat-trick, whilst Shunsuke Nakamura chipped in with a late fourth.

Ventforet Kofu 3 – Albirex Niigata 0 (J-League, November 27, 2011) Relegation threatened Kofu received a shot in the arm courtesy of goals from Atsushi Katagiri, Hideomi Yamamoto and Yoshifumi Kashiwa.

Kawasaki Frontale 3 – Yokohama F.Marinos 0 (J-League, November 26, 2011) Juninho scored twice in the second half as Kawasaki Frontale beat Yokohama.

Avispa Fukuoka 1 – Urawa Red Diamonds 2 (J-League, November 26, 2011) Goals from Yosuke Kashiwagi and Richardes sunk relegation-locked Avispa.

Shimizu S-Pulse 1 – Kashiwa Reysol 2 (J-League, November 20, 2011) The hosts went in front two minutes before the interval when Eddy Bosnar blasted home a free-kick, but Kashiwa equalised through Masato Kudo’s header after 63 minutes. And they snatched the points five minutes from time when Leandro Domingues reacted quickly to a rebound to head home the winner. (All goals below the fold) For more read here »

Yokohama F.Marinos 1 – Nagoya Grampus Eight 2 (J-League, November 19, 2011) Yoshizumi Ogawa put Nagoya on the scoresheet with a left-footed shot in the 12th minute but Shunsuke Nakamura equalised from a fabulous quick-thinking free-kick in the 70th minute. Australia striker Josh Kennedy scored a late winner with a header in the 83rd minute.

Albirex Niigata 2 – Gamba Osaka 2 (J-League, November 19, 2011) Gamba kept their title hopes alive by drawing with Albirex Niigata 2-2 for 64 points as Shota Kawanishi helped them with a brace in the 77th and 83rd minutes.

Kashiwa Reysol 4 – Albirex Niigata 0 (J-League, November 3, 2011) Leandro Domingues opened the scoring for league leaders Kashiwa with a 6th minute penalty, before Domingues doubled the lead in the 27th with a right-footed shot from 8-yards out. Jorge Wagner and Junya Tanaka scored after the break to seal the win for Reysol.

Ventforet Kofu 1 – Yokohama F.Marinos 2 (J-League, November 3, 2011) Relegation-threatened Kofu took the lead through Mike Havenaar in the 68th minute following a free-kick, but Yokohama turned the match around in a dramatic final few minutes. Firstly Shohei Ogura equalised for the visitors in the 87th with a header, whilst Kentaro Moriya netted a winner in the 89th minute capitalising on a series of horror mistakes in the home defence.

Albirex Niigata 3 – Avispa Fukuoka 1 (J-League, October 23, 2011) Avispa Fukuoka became the first team to be relegated to the second division next season when they crashed to mid-table Albirex. South Korea striker Cho Young-Cheol scored twice and assisted another to lead Niigata to victory.

Yokohama F.Marinos 1 – Urawa Red Diamonds 2 (J-League, October 22, 2011) Shohei Ogura put the Marinos ahead after just four minutes, but a rebound following a penalty from Haraguchi levelled for Urawa in the 51st. Tsukasa Umesaki proved the match winner just after the hour with a low left-footed drive into the near post.

Yamagata 0 – Gamba Osaka 5 (J-League, October 22, 2011) Goals from Takahiro Futagawa, Lee Keun-Ho, Hiroki Fujiharu, Rafinha and Shota Kawanishi secured the win for Gamba, keeping them just two points behind leaders Kashiwa Reysol.