Episode 275 - J1 Matchday 12

This week's episode features a full review of J1 Matchday 12, with Dan Orlowitz leading off, and Stuart Woodward and Lionel Piguet also guesting, both for the first time in 2019.

And we had to rip up the script in Part 1, because even though Dan went to two different games over the weekend, we simply had to begin with events at Saitama Stadium last Friday night, after one of the most egregious refereeing decisions in J.League history cost Shonan a goal at 2-0 down away at Urawa, but Bellmare showed remarkable spirit to fight back and win 3-2 with the last kick of the game. The moment itself, the aftermath and if Reds should have done 'the right thing', and a wider chat about DAZN's impact on the way the league is presented and discussed is all in there (to 27:40). We then move on to chat about the two games Dan attended, FC Tokyo winning again and going six points clear after Nagoya played out a 1-1 draw at Kawasaki, while third placed Oita also drew 1-1, at home against new cellar-dwellers Shimizu (to 44:55).

Then in Part 2 Stuart chats about Yokohama clicking back into gear with a convincing 4-1 home win over Kobe, a quality performance after their disappointing display away at Cerezo Osaka last week. Stuart also shares his thoughts on Kobe, and briefly updates us on how ex-Marinos midfielder Kosuke Nakamachi is getting on over in Zambia (to 1:11:57).

And finally in Part 3, Lionel is a happy man after Gamba ended a run of seven games without a win with a 1-0 triumph over Cerezo in the Osaka Derby. We also chat about the next crop of youngsters rolling off the Gamba production line, before Lionel shares his thoughts on Kobe spiraling out of control, and we finish with the other three games from Matchday 12.

Follow my guests on twitter:

Dan - @aishiterutokyo

Stuart - @stuartcw

Lionel - @lionelpiguet

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