Monday, July 27, 2009

R30 vs Cereso Osaka

FC Gifu 2-1 Cereso Osaka (ht 1-1)

4 wins on the trot.
10 games unbeaten at home.
First goals against Cereso.
First win over Cereso.
First J goal for Shougo Shimada.
Move to 11th on the table.

Need I say more??

(Actually I did, but the site crashed and it didn't save it so I can't be bothered writing it all out again!)

Anyway, big game against Verdy away this weekend. I'm taking the trip up!

Thursday, July 23, 2009

R29 vs Thespa Kusatsu

Thespa Kusatsu 0 - 1 FC Gifu (ht 0-0)

Gifu recorded their first 3-game winning streak in J2 last night when they defeated Kusatsu in Maebashi. The result saw them maintain 12th place in the competition but a win against Cereso Osaka at home this sunday could see them jump up as high as 9th in the table, if Kusatsu, Sapporo and Toyama all lose.
The game wasn't pretty but Gifu's defense held well and they put on a gutsy display. There sole goal came in the 69th minute when Someya kicked in a ball from the left side, which rebounded off a Kusatsu defender and into the goal. It was a lucky goal, but well deserved.
This weekends game will be huge. Gifu has never beaten Cereso, yet alone scored a goal against them, but they're on a three game winning streak, and haven't lost at home in 10 games, so it will be interesting to see what unfolds in Nagaragawa on sunday.

Sunday, July 19, 2009

R28 vs Yokohama FC

FC Gifu 2 - 0 Yokohama FC (ht 0-0)

On the face of it a 2-0 win over Yokohama seems like it was a natural result.. but what happened on the field was quite different.
As the rain poured down on Nagaragawa this evened out the teams and it was Yokohama who almost scored in the first minute of play. This carried on throughout the first half as the rain came down, even into the second half. It looked like only a matter of time before Gifu would be down a point. But towards the end of the half Gifu were awarded a penalty when FW Satou was pulled down in the box. A very harsh penalty for Yokohama, and they were unlucky not to stop the PK after Satou's PK attempt slowly bobbled its way into the net. Five minutes later FW Oshitani struck a great ball into the back of the net and the game was sealed. (Oshitani and DF
Suzaki are both playing in Gifu on-loan from Jubilo Iwata). Yokohama outshot Gifu 15-10 and will be gutted that they came home empty handed. The problem epitimises their season though... no real gamebreaker, no goalscorer.
So Gifu, unbeaten after 9 games at home and up to 12th on the table. This wednesday's home game is against Thespa Kusatsu (away) who are only four points ahead on the table. Then it's back to Nagaragawa for the big game against Cerezo Osaka. Gifu's record against them is abismal: 0-1 (a), 0-5(h), 0-6(h), 0-1(a). They going to have to try hard to maintain their home unbeaten streak for this one...

For this game I met up with Cesare (aka Nanbanjingumi) and his mate Dominik, who came for the Kyoto-Nagoya game the night before. Was great to meet up with fellow fans from around the country... and great that we could show them a Gifu win! Even if the weather was horrible.
Cheers guys, hopefully see ya in Kyoto/Osaka!

Sunday, July 12, 2009

R27 vs Ehime FC

FC Gifu 2 - 1 Ehime FC (ht 0-0)

Finally, that strange orange monkey is off our back! Gifu came from behind to score their first ever win over Ehime, as well as scoring their first ever points against Ehime, and at the same time improving their unbeaten streak at home to 8 games. The only downside of the night was the meagre attendance of only 2500 that turned up on a humid Gifu night.
Both teams came out attacking but to no avail as the score was locked nil-all at the break. In the second half though Ehime FC struck in the 61st minute through Uchimura. At that stage it looked like the Ehime bogey wouldn't be lifted tonight, but 12 minutes later Gifu struck the equaliser when Takagi Kazumasa latched onto a loose ball. After that a bit of Ehime madness saw Aono (75th min) and Furukawa (89th min) both collect red cards for over-aggressive defending. With an advantage of two men, Gifu cut it fine but pulled out a great come from behind victory when Someya fired in a ball which the Ehime goalkeeper had deflected.
Gutsy play all round. Things haven't felt this good for a long time. May it all continue for the weeks to come!

Wednesday, July 8, 2009

R26 vs Sagan Tosu

Sagan Tosu 1 - 1 FC Gifu (ht 1-0)

FC Gifu put on a brave effort to come back from being a goal down after just five minutes to come back and draw the game with ten minutes remaining. Gifu were hopelessly outclassed in the first half, being overrun by a rampant Tosu who were on a five game winning streak, thanks mainly to their acquisition of super forward Mike Hafner. But in the second half Gifu started to dominate and when Takagi Kazumasa popped in his goal in the 79th minute it was all on for a desperate last ten minutes for both teams although neither could put in the deciding goal.
In the first half Gifu only put in 2 shots to Tosu's 7, but by the end of the game shots at goal were level at 11 each.
This sunday Gifu plays Ehime FC, who they have never beaten. Hopefully this time the POM Juice will be ours!

Monday, July 6, 2009

R25 vs Kataller Toyama

FC Gifu 0 - 0 Kataller Toyama (ht 0-0)

Gifu are now unbeaten at home for seven games in a row after their nil-all draw with Toyama in the weekend. A decent crowd of 4600 turned up to create a good atmosphere for the teams but while the game the game failed to be the spectacle it promised and yet again Gifu came out with only one point for their efforts. This draw means that Gifu has still yet to beat Toyama.
Gifu's defense seems to have patched itself up after last weeks 5-2 defeat to Kumamoto, and while the midfield created chances for the forwards, it was a case of not being able to find the back of the net again.
This wednesday Gifu take on a rejuvenated Tosu in Saga. I'd like to think that we could win this but the way they're playing at the moment, a draw would probably be a more reachable result.