A follow up to the Nakamura+10 vs DelPiero+10 commercial that I introduced before >>here.

Now the two teams play an actual game. No translation necessary.

>>Click here to see the commercial Click Enter, and then the middle link on the right, that say Movie (under the link that has "Recruitment")

There will be a rematch, and Japan is looking for members!

Cerezo Osaka 3-1 Albirex Niigata
CO: Furuhashi 20 min, Ze Carlos 30 min, 82 min
AN: Edmilson 52 min
>>Ze Carlos goal clip
>>Edmilson goal clip

First let me explain the comic strip on the left. A talented fan of J mascots (and personally a supporter of Albirex) presented the strip on his blog >>here at Marchan's Illustration and Albi Supporter Diary. The illustrator depicted Cerezo's pre-Round 5 situation in "Gambare Robbie (the name of the Cerezo mascot -- well actually his full name is "Nobre Valiente Ace Robhito de Cerezo"; though I think I spelled most of that wrong)". 1) Last season they were this close to winning the league title, but currently 4 games 4 losses and 0 points, in last place. 2) He has nightmares of the past 4 games, as depicted by scary-looking versions of the mascots of the teams they have so far played... my favorite is the Marinos duck holding a shotgun. 3) He wakes in a sweat, to shout, "We were unlucky in having had tough fixtures against strong teams so far!" (which to be honest is true, compared to some of the other teams). 4) What's that in the distance? Who's our next opponent? 5) I--It's.. Albi-kun (the Albirex mascot).. "Doh". 5) With eyes alight, Robbie's fighting spirit is back: "W-we just might be able to with this one!" (Obviously not a dys on Albi since the illustrator is a fan, but probably an accurate reflection of some of the hope Cerezo fans clung to as they headed into Round 5.)

And Cerezo did finally get their first win. After the game, manager Kobayashi (who's neck could have been on the line had his men been unable to perform with conviction in Round 5 and 6, it was rumored) breathed a sigh of relief -- and who wouldn't, after aballsy (can I use that word?) change that he made to his right side. Up til now, Kobayashi had been switching the players around on the right side, from Bingo to Yamada to Kawamura. But this time round, he put 21 year old Sakamoto (who only played 7 league games last season) in the right wingback position. It was a risk, but perhaps at the end of his rope a leap of faith was in order. Sakamoto created