Heading into the J.League's slate of weekend matches on Saturday and Sunday, August 24 and 25, Sanfrecce Hiroshima led the 20-team circuit with 48 goals in the 2024 season.
Scoring the most goals is, of course, often a key ingredient in the recipe for success on the pitch.
But what about Sanfrecce's defense?
Manager Michael Skibbe's squad has allowed the second-fewest goals (26) this season, sharing that distinction with Avispa Fukuoka.
Therefore, it shouldn't be surprising that three-time J.League champion Hiroshima (2012, 2013 and '15) is in the title hunt this season.
Sanfrecce are riding a five-match winning streak heading into their Sunday showdown with Kashiwa Reysol at Edion Peace Wing Hiroshima, which opened in 2024. Kickoff is 6:30 PM.
And German boss Skibbe's side is in second place with 49 points (13 wins, 10 draws, four defeats). Eleven matches remain on its schedule.
Promoted FC Machida Zelvia, playing their first season in the J.League first division, aka J1, have 53 points (16 wins, five draws, six defeats). Over their past five matches, Zelvia had mixed results (in succession): win, loss, draw, loss, win.
Also in the hunt for the title are the Kashima Antlers (48 points), Gamba Osaka (47) and Vissel Kobe (46).
A Quick Look at Sanfrecce Hiroshima's Win Streak
Sanfrecce, meanwhile, are playing steady, quality soccer of late, outsourcing opponents 10-2 during their five-match win streak. It started with a 1-0 triumph over Avispa on July 14, then a 4-1 decision over Sagan Tosu on July 21.
On August 7, Sanfrecce edged Tokyo Verdy 1-0, followed by a 2-0 win against Cerezo Osaka four days later, with German-born newcomer Tolgay Arslan, a veteran midfielder, scoring twice (78th and 85th minutes).
The Hiroshima franchise kept its win streak alive by topping Nagoya Grampus 2-1 on August 17, getting goals from defender Hayato Araki (48th minute) and Mutsuki Kato (55th).
Kasper Junker scored for Grampus in the 88th minute to spoil the shutout bid at Toyota Stadium.
In their first encounter this season, Sanfrecce defeated Zelvia 2-1 at Machida Gion Stadium on April 3.
The rivals' much-anticipated rematch is set for September 28 in Hiroshima.
Top Goalscorers for Sanfrecce Hiroshima
Standout forward Yuki Ohashi, 28, left Sanfrecce in late July to join English Football League Championship squad Blackburn Rovers. He had 11 goals and three assists in 22 matches this season. Now he has two goals in his first two matches for the English second-tier club.
With Ohashi's departure, Sanfrecce Hiroshima are relying on other players to ignite the offense. This includes defender Naoto Arai and Cypriot forward Pieros Sotiriou, who are second and third on the team's goalscoring chart with six and five.
Midfielder Shunki Higashi is a vital catalyst for the offense with six assists to date in J.League matches. That puts him one shy of the league lead.
Sanfrecce Hiroshima Display Consistent Play Under Skibbe
Skibbe was named the J.League Manager of the Year in 2022, his first season in charge. Sanfrecce finished third in 2022, were the championship runners-up in the Emperor's Cup, and they won the YBC Levain Cup (also known as the J.League Cup) that year.
In 2023, Skibbe guided Hiroshima to another third-place finish in J1.
In evaluating his team's performance against Cerezo Osaka on August 11, Skibbe gave a detailed assessment to reporters. And the remarks below appear to capture the essence of his overall views on the team's 2024 season.
"I think it was a good game in a tense J.League match, and when you play against Cerezo Osaka, home or away, it is a really tense and close game," Skibbe told reporters. "In the end, I think we created more clear-cut chances than they did, and we were able to score two goals and win the game.
"I am very satisfied with the team's performance today."
On offense and on defense, Sanfrecce's win over Cerezo highlighted the team's strengths.
"We were able to defend compactly throughout the game, and I am satisfied with our attacking performance," Skibbe commented. "I think the second half in particular was excellent."
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Nadeshiko Japan Manager Ikeda's Contract Not Renewed
After nearly three full years in charge, Japan women's national team manager Futoshi Ikeda was not offered a contract extension.
The Japan Football Association announced Ikeda's departure on Wednesday, August 21.
As it turns out, Ikeda guided Nadeshiko Japan for the final time at the Paris Olympics. Japan lost 1-0 to the United States in the quarterfinals on August 3 at Parc des Princes in Paris.
Ikeda, 53, had taken over as national team manager in October 2021.
Japan also advanced to the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup quarterfinals, but fell 2-1 to Sweden in Auckland.
Ikeda, who succeeded Asako Takakura as manager, expressed disappointment and optimism about his tenure and departure.
"I wanted Nadeshiko Japan to rise even further and be there with the players myself to witness the scenes lying ahead," Ikeda said in a news release on the JFA website.
He added, "I believe we managed to increase our output as a team and develop through competing in international tournaments, the World Cup and the Olympics."
Baseball
Kyoto International Triumphs in Summer Koshien Final
The 106th National High School Baseball Championship final at Koshien Stadium on Friday, August 23 was scoreless after nine innings.
In the top of the 10th, Kyoto International High School broke the stalemate with a pair of runs via a bases-loaded walk and a sacrifice fly. Manager Noritsugu Komaki's team capitalized on having automatic runners at first base and second base to begin extra innings. The automatic runners in extra innings were used for the first time in tournament history.
Tokyo's Kanto Daiichi High School scored a run in the bottom of 10th. But it wasn't enough to extend the game.
Kyoto International triumphed 2-1 to become the first school from the city to win the Summer Koshien title since Kyoto Heian in 1956.
Komaki said his players' fighting spirit throughout the tournament was a key to victory.
"I was impressed by these boys," Komaki was quoted as saying by Kyoto News. "We had no choice but to face up to the situation [in the bottom of the 10th] and regroup. [And] we escaped the jam with strong determination."
The winning manager added, "I just wanted to play baseball with these boys as long as possible. To be honest, I couldn't imagine that we would make it all the way. Our offense is not so good, so we stayed patient and defended well."
2024 marks the 100th anniversary of Koshien Stadium's opening. Retrospective reports on the history of the tournament have enriched people's knowledge of the national pastime.
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Darvish Placed on Injured List After Reinstatement
San Diego Padres starting pitcher Yu Darvish, who was placed on the restricted list on July 6 due to an undisclosed family matter, is now working out with the team again.
The Padres announced on Friday, August 23 that Darvish is now on the 15-day injured list. That means he's elibibile to train and make preparations to return. MLB players who are on the restricted list are barred from participating in baseball activities.
On Friday, Darvish had a 27-pitch bullpen session before the Padres' game against the visiting New York Mets.
Darvish said he was pleased to be back at the ballpark after a long absence.
"It was a difficult decision to leave, obviously," Darvish said through an interpreter, according to MLB.com. "Things can get complicated sometimes. But, again, it's really good to be back."
The veteran pitcher added, "All in all, it's a great day."
Boxing
Ariake Arena to Host 7 Title Fights in October
Two action-packed days of pro boxing are set for October 13 and 14 at Ariake Arena in Tokyo, it was announced on Thursday August 22.
The first day of fights will include WBA bantamweight champion Takuma Inoue (20-1, five knockouts) against challenger Seiya Tsutsumi (11-0-2, eight KOs). Shokichi Iwata (13-1, 10 KOs) and Spain's Jairo Noriega (14-0, three KOs) are penciled in to fight for the vacant WBO light flyweight title.
Also on the October 13 schedule are Kenshiro Teraji (23-1, 14 KOs) vs Nicaragua's Cristofer Rosales (37-6, 22 KOs) in a bout for the vacant WBC flyweight championship belt. And WBA flyweight champ Seigo Yuri Akui (20-2-1, 11 KOs) is set for a 12-round title defense against Thai opponent Thananchai Charunphak (25-1, 15 KOs).
On October 14, the headliner is WBC bantamweight champion Junto Nakatani (28-0, 21 KOs) vs Thai challenger Petch Sor Chitpattana (76-1, 53 KOs).
WBO super flyweight champion Kosei Tanaka (20-1, 11 KOs) is gearing up to make his first title defense against South Africa's Phumelele Cafu (10-0-3, eight KOs) on the same day.
Also on October 14, American Anthony Olascuaga (7-1, five KOs), the WBO flyweight champion, meets Puerto Rico's Jonathan Gonzalez (28-3-1, 14 KOs) in the ring.
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Golf
Matsuyama Pulls Out of BMW Championship Due to Back Pain
Hideki Matsuyama had a strong first round at the BMW Championship on Thursday, August 22, carding a 5-under 67. That put him one stroke behind leader Keegan Bradley of the United States.
Before the start of Friday's second round in Castle Pines, Colorado, Matsuyama withdrew from the FedEx Cup tournament due to lower back pain.
According to PGA.com, Matsuyama pulled out of five tournaments in the previous three years due to back ailments. This was the first time he'd done so in 2024.
"I am disappointed to have to withdraw from the BMW Championship after experiencing lower back discomfort while warming up this morning, which made it impossible to play today.," Matsuyama said in a statement. "Thank you to BMW and the Western Golf Association for a great experience here at Castle Pines."
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Briefly…
After suiting up for the Trenton Thunder during the 2024 MLB Draft League season, Japanese slugger Rintaro Sasaki competed for the Greenville Flyboys of the Appalachian League. The Appalachian League season, a summer college baseball league, wrapped up on July 31.
Sasaki, who enrolled at Stanford University in April, played in nine games for Greenville. He batted .391 with three homers, a double and a triple with eight RBIs. Consider it a valuable summer experience in getting acclimated to baseball in North America.
An Athlete's Voice
On achieving a goal: "I'm very happy to win the gold medal, and I feel again that I've worked very hard to get here."
The impact of the Olympics: "Just as the past Tokyo Olympics inspired me to aim for the Olympics, I would like to be the one to give people dreams this time."
―Paris 2024 women's street skateboarding gold medalist Coco Yoshizawa reflects on her Olympic experience at the Japan National Press Club on August 19, TV Asahi reported.
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Author: Ed Odeven
Find Ed on JAPAN Forward's dedicated website, SportsLook. Follow his [Japan Sports Notebook] on Sundays, [Odds and Evens] during the week, and X (formerly Twitter) ＠ed_odeven.
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