Pairings and venues for the third round, all games will be played on Wednesday at 7pm Japanese time. Kashiwa Reysol - Shonan Bellmare (Hitachi Stadium, Kashiwa) Nagano Parceiro - Yokogawa Musashino (Atsubetsu Park Stadium, Sapporo) Jubilo Iwata - Kyoto Sanga FC (Yamaha Stadium, Iwata) Sagawa Shiga - JEF United Ichihara Chiba (Home's Stadium, Kobe) Vegalta Sendai - Roasso Kumamoto (Yurtec Stadium, Sendai) Omiya Ardija - Avispa Fukuoka (Kumagaya Stadium, Kumagaya) Yokohama F. Marinos - Yokohama FC (Nissan Stadium, Yokohama) Cerezo Osaka - Montedio Yamagata (Kincho Stadium, Osaka) Fagiano Okayama - Nagoya Grampus (Toyama Athletic Stadium, Toyama) Kamatamare Sanuki - Urawa Red Diamonds (Saga Stadium, Saga) FC Imabari - Machida Zelvia (Big Arch Stadium, Hiroshima) Shimizu S-Pulse - Tokyo Verdy (Outsorcing! Stadium, Shizuoka) Gamba Osaka - Mito HollyHock (Banpaku Stadium, Suita) Albirex Niigata - Fukushima United (Big Swan Stadium, Niigata) Kashima Antlers - Gainare Tottori (Kashima Stadium, Kashima) Kawasaki Frontale - Tokushima Vortis (Todoroki Stadium, Kawasaki)
The games to be broadcast are: Kamatamare Sanuki - Urawa Red Diamonds (Saga Stadium, Saga) - LIVE (7pm 10th Oct) and Albirex Niigata - Fukushima United (Big Swan Stadium, Niigata) - DELAY (1am 11th oct) The highlights/Digest Show is at 6pm on Friday 12th Oct and repeated at 2:20am that night. Awesome choice of games to broadcast, NHK/JFA. Well, I'm glad that Fukushima Unite get some attention, at least.
My only conclusion is that Urawa and Niigata have the highest interst/attendance. Niigata being at home though makes that conclusion a little off...
The last Yokohama Derby in August 2008 got 60,000 to Nissan Stadium. Being a weekday I imagine there won't be quite as many, but still. Not surprised, if it wasn't Urawa, it probably would have been Gamba, or FCT... oh, wait...
On NHK BS-1... so no international stream available, I assume. Niigata vs. Fukushima is actually a decent match to air. Fukushima won away to Ventforet Kofu last round, a J2 team that was in 5th and now in 1st. Niigata is third-bottom in the J1, so arguably they're not too different in ability from Kofu. Arguably a good chance for an upset here. Sanuki, on the other hand, are likely to get thrashed by Urawa. FC Imabari vs. Machida Zelvia would probably have been a good choice for a potential upset, given that Machida are last in J2, and Imabari knocked out the last-place J1 club last round.
Question: what were the biggest upsets in the history of the Emperor's Cup? Surely FC Imabari of the regional leagues knocking out Sanfrecce Hiroshima (then second in the J1) last round has to be one of the bigger surprises.
Well back in the days before the professional leagues University teams would go on and win the competition. But it is a long time since that has happened
According to Marinos fans an incident in training led to a face to face standoff involving Dutra, Marquihnos and Nakamachi. Also Marinos fans hung banners reminding the players of the importance of Wednesdays fixture. info from a fellow Marinos fan!
There was a high probability from the draw that this fixture would eventuate, they must have considered it. The only thing to consider is the impact of broadcast upon the attendance of a mid-week match. Disappointing, and I'm glad fans of other teams feel the same (it's not just Yokohama fans complaining!)
For tomorrows games Albirex Niigata - Fukushima United Cerezo Osaka - Montedio Yamagata Fagiano Okayama - Nagoya Grampus Gamba Osaka - Mitto Hollyhock Machida Zelvia - FC Imabari Jubilo Iwata - Kyoto Sanga Kamatamare Sanuki - Urawa Red Diamonds Kashima Antlers - Gainare Tottori Kashiwa Reysol - Shonan Bellmare Kawasaki Frontale - Toksuhima Vortis Nagano Perceiro - Yokogawa Mushashino Omiya Ardija - Avispa Fukuoka Sagawa Shiga - JEF United Shimizu S-Pulse - Tokyo Verdy Vegalta Sendai - Rossao Kumamoto Yokohama F. Marinos-Yokohama FC basically all the games have a clear favourite however... the ones in "green" could be upsets imo imo especially Kyoto Sanga, Imabari and Yokohama FC
Okay then: what have been the biggest Emperor's Cup upsets since the J.League was founded? Is Imabari defeating Hiroshima Japan's version of Sutton United defeating Coventry City?
Yes of course. Imabari is not a professional football team. Sanfrecce is and is one of the best J1 teams this year as well... But upsets like this happen in Emperor's Cup practically every year. Ocasionally you even see some High School team making fun of some pro one and that's what I love about Emperor's Cup. It's like promoting football of all generations and all levels. It gives a chance to that especially young talented footballers to have a go against the best ones in the country.
Last year, Omiya going down to Fukuoka Uni? Reds went down to an amateur team one time I thought as well. Yokogawa Musashino knocking out FCT this year. Sagawa Express Tokyo SC beating Grampus 4-0 in 2001?
In the second round of 2009, Reds were beaten by Matsumoto Yamaga who then played in Hokushinetsu league. The same year, Meiji University made it to the fourth round, beating on their way Shonan Bellmare (J2) and Montedio Yamagata (J1), both on their respective home grounds.
Nobody can take the fact that Matsumoto beat Reds while playing in the regionals away from them, but is it just me that suddenly doesnt feel its such a big feat. compared to the Imabari whin against Hiroshima because Matsumoto does fairly well in the J2 today?
Maybe I am still being stupidly optimistic but I think Avispa have a chance against Omiya. Not that we have played well for about 4 months, but we seem to be something of a bogey team to Omiya. Got 6 points against them in the League last year, after knocking them out of the Cup the year before. Added to being knocked out by Fukuoka University last year Omiya might not love the prospect of tonight's game.
Idk I think Zdenko will take this game very seriously. Sure Avispa has a chance like any team up there. But I am expecting Omiya to win to be honest