NEW YORK — Finally tested, even trailing, at the U.S. Open, Serena Williams turned things around just in time.Two points from defeat, Williams suddenly regained her composure and her strokes, coming back to win the last four games and beat Victoria Azarenka 6-2, 2-6, 7-5 on Sunday night for her fourth championship at Flushing Meadows and 15th Grand Slam title overall."I honestly can't believe I won. I really was preparing my runnerup speech, because I thought, 'Man, she's playing so great,' " Williams said during the trophy presentation after the 2-hour, 18-minute match, adding: "I'm really shocked."Might be the only one.After all, what really was stunning was that the top-ranked Azarenka made things as interesting as they were, given that she came into the day 1-9 against Williams.Add in that Williams hadn't dropped a set in the tournament, losing only 19 games through six matches before Sunday. All part of a tremendous run she is putting together in reaction to her loss at the French Open in late May, the American's only first-round exit in 49 career major tournaments. Since then, she is 26-1, winning Wimbledon and the London Olympics.There hadn't been a three-set women's final in New York since 1995, and Williams came through with a late charge to become the first woman to win Wimbledon and the U.S. Open in the same season since a decade ago, when — yes, that's right — she did it."She never gives up," said Azarenka, who managed only 13 winners, 31 fewer than Williams. "She's definitely the toughest player, mentally, there is and she's got the power."While Azarenka, a 23-year-old from Belarus, doesn't have the name recognition or bona fides of Williams, she did win the Australian Open in January, and was 32-2 (a .941 winning percentage) on hard courts in 2012. She also hadn't dropped a three-setter all season until Sunday, going 12-0 in matches that went the distance, including victories over defending U.S. Open champion Sam Stosur in the quarterfinals and 2006 champion Maria Sharapova in the semifinals.As Sunday's third set commenced, Williams' mother, Oracene Price, told her from the stands, "Settle down."Didn't happen right away."Well, she's a human being, you know, who has two feet, two legs, two hands," Azarenka said. "It's understandable."When Williams double-faulted, slapped a bad backhand into the net and pushed a forehand long, Azarenka broke at love for a 4-3 edge, then followed that up by holding for 5-3.One game from the title.Azarenka was two points away at 30-all with the fourth-seeded Williams serving in the next game, but couldn't convert. And when Azarenka served for the victory at 5-4, she showed the jitters that probably are understandable given that this was only her second career Grand Slam final."Feels like there is no room for a mistake," is the way Azarenka described trying to deal with Williams' game. "There is no room for a wrong decision."Azarenka slumped in her changeover chair, a white towel covering her head, as Williams kept saying, "Oh, my God! Oh, my God! Oh, my God!" while scurrying over to share the joy with her mother and big sister."Being so close, it hurts deeply," Azarenka said. "To know you don't have it. You're close; you didn't get it."In the men's final, scheduled Monday, defending champion Novak Djokovic will face Olympic gold medalist Andy Murray. It's the fifth consecutive year the tournament will conclude on Monday instead of the scheduled Sunday because of bad weather.Djokovic beat David Ferrer of Spain 2-6, 6-1, 6-4, 6-2 in a semifinal that was halted in the first set because of impending rain Saturday and wrapped up Sunday.
Showing posts with label defeat. Show all posts
Showing posts with label defeat. Show all posts
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
Monday, September 3, 2012
Nishikori's U.S. Open tilt ends with third-round defeat to Cilic
NEW YORK — Kei Nishikori crashed out of the U.S. Open on Saturday with a 6-3, 6-4, 6-7 (3-7), 6-3 third-round defeat to Croatia's Marin Cilic.
End of the line: Kei Nishikori hits a shot against Marin Cilic during their match at the U.S. Open on Saturday in New York. Cilic won 6-3, 6-4, 6-7 (3-7), 6-3. AFP-JIJINishikori, the 17th seed, was attempting to reach the last 16 for the second time in the event. The 22-year-old, however, couldn't cope with the big-serving Cilic, who fired 12 aces. Nishikori, who hadn't dropped a set in his first two matches, both against qualifiers, needed a tiebreak to take the third set, but couldn't slow the Croat's progress."Neither my serve nor my returns were very good, and I couldn't get any kind of rhythm going," Nishikori said. "I couldn't get my forehand returns in and couldn't approach the net with confidence."My opponent was simply playing at a higher level than I was."Meanwhile, fourth-seeded Serena Williams got into high gear after splitting the first eight games against 42nd-ranked Ekaterina Makarova of Russia and breezed to a 6-4, 6-0 victory, reeling off the last eight games in a row."Definitely was motivated. Knowing that I lost; could definitely happen again. Did not want that to happen," said Williams, who lost to Makarova at the Australian Open in January."I really hate watching matches that I lose, unless I'm punishing myself," added the 14-time Grand Slam champion. "I didn't punish myself."She hasn't been losing much lately.Since the only first-round Grand Slam exit of her career, against 111th-ranked Virginie Razzano at the French Open on May 29, Williams is 22-1 in singles, including the title at Wimbledon and gold medal at the London Olympics.That sort of excellence sure saves money for clothes: Williams said she threw out all of the dresses she brought to Paris to wear during matches there.No such problems so far in New York, where Williams has dropped only 12 games entering her fourth-round match against 82nd-round Andrea Hlavackova of Czech Republic. Hlavackova, the 2011 French Open doubles champion, bawled on court after her 5-7, 6-4, 6-4 win over 14th-seeded Maria Kirilenko, whose boyfriend, Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin, was in New York to cheer for her.The woman Williams beat in the Wimbledon final, second-seeded Agnieszka Radwanska, dealt with the 32-degree heat and former No. 1 Jelena Jankovic with equal aplomb during a 6-3, 7-5 victory."I was melting there," Radwanska said. "I survived the match."She wasn't the only one who felt that way.Olympic champion Andy Murray, still seeking his first Grand Slam title after four losses in finals, eked out a 7-6 (7-5), 7-6 (7-5), 4-6, 7-6 (7-4) victory over No. 30 Feliciano Lopez, who led in each of the three tiebreakers before faltering."Could have gone either way," Murray acknowledged. "It was very hot and humid in the middle part of the match. I was struggling a bit with that."The man he beat for the gold at the Summer Games, and lost to in the Wimbledon title match, Roger Federer, is also Murray's potential semifinal opponent in New York. Federer, as is often the case, barely was bothered Saturday while dismissing No. 25 Fernando Verdasco 6-3, 6-4, 6-4.Five of Federer's record 17 Grand Slam titles came at Flushing Meadows, and he's sure looking capable of adding to those numbers."He didn't give me many chances with his serve," observed Verdasco, who held only one break point and failed to convert it.Federer also was pretty good at the net, winning 26 of the 27 points when he moved forward. He next will take on No. 23 Mardy Fish, who needed to set aside 75 unforced errors over more than 3 hours to beat No. 16 Gilles Simon 6-1, 5-7, 7-6 (7-5), 6-3 in a match that ended after 1 a.m. Sunday.
End of the line: Kei Nishikori hits a shot against Marin Cilic during their match at the U.S. Open on Saturday in New York. Cilic won 6-3, 6-4, 6-7 (3-7), 6-3. AFP-JIJINishikori, the 17th seed, was attempting to reach the last 16 for the second time in the event. The 22-year-old, however, couldn't cope with the big-serving Cilic, who fired 12 aces. Nishikori, who hadn't dropped a set in his first two matches, both against qualifiers, needed a tiebreak to take the third set, but couldn't slow the Croat's progress."Neither my serve nor my returns were very good, and I couldn't get any kind of rhythm going," Nishikori said. "I couldn't get my forehand returns in and couldn't approach the net with confidence."My opponent was simply playing at a higher level than I was."Meanwhile, fourth-seeded Serena Williams got into high gear after splitting the first eight games against 42nd-ranked Ekaterina Makarova of Russia and breezed to a 6-4, 6-0 victory, reeling off the last eight games in a row."Definitely was motivated. Knowing that I lost; could definitely happen again. Did not want that to happen," said Williams, who lost to Makarova at the Australian Open in January."I really hate watching matches that I lose, unless I'm punishing myself," added the 14-time Grand Slam champion. "I didn't punish myself."She hasn't been losing much lately.Since the only first-round Grand Slam exit of her career, against 111th-ranked Virginie Razzano at the French Open on May 29, Williams is 22-1 in singles, including the title at Wimbledon and gold medal at the London Olympics.That sort of excellence sure saves money for clothes: Williams said she threw out all of the dresses she brought to Paris to wear during matches there.No such problems so far in New York, where Williams has dropped only 12 games entering her fourth-round match against 82nd-round Andrea Hlavackova of Czech Republic. Hlavackova, the 2011 French Open doubles champion, bawled on court after her 5-7, 6-4, 6-4 win over 14th-seeded Maria Kirilenko, whose boyfriend, Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin, was in New York to cheer for her.The woman Williams beat in the Wimbledon final, second-seeded Agnieszka Radwanska, dealt with the 32-degree heat and former No. 1 Jelena Jankovic with equal aplomb during a 6-3, 7-5 victory."I was melting there," Radwanska said. "I survived the match."She wasn't the only one who felt that way.Olympic champion Andy Murray, still seeking his first Grand Slam title after four losses in finals, eked out a 7-6 (7-5), 7-6 (7-5), 4-6, 7-6 (7-4) victory over No. 30 Feliciano Lopez, who led in each of the three tiebreakers before faltering."Could have gone either way," Murray acknowledged. "It was very hot and humid in the middle part of the match. I was struggling a bit with that."The man he beat for the gold at the Summer Games, and lost to in the Wimbledon title match, Roger Federer, is also Murray's potential semifinal opponent in New York. Federer, as is often the case, barely was bothered Saturday while dismissing No. 25 Fernando Verdasco 6-3, 6-4, 6-4.Five of Federer's record 17 Grand Slam titles came at Flushing Meadows, and he's sure looking capable of adding to those numbers."He didn't give me many chances with his serve," observed Verdasco, who held only one break point and failed to convert it.Federer also was pretty good at the net, winning 26 of the 27 points when he moved forward. He next will take on No. 23 Mardy Fish, who needed to set aside 75 unforced errors over more than 3 hours to beat No. 16 Gilles Simon 6-1, 5-7, 7-6 (7-5), 6-3 in a match that ended after 1 a.m. Sunday.Thursday, May 31, 2012
Yoshida returns focus to Olympic three-peat after rare defeat
Unexpected: Russia's Valeria Zholobova celebrates after ending Saori Yoshida's 58-match winning streak on Sunday in the 55-kg final at the World Cup meet in Tokyo. AFP-JIJIIncredibly long winning streaks come as natural to Saori Yoshida as enjoying ice cream cones on hot summer days for the rest of us.
For the record, freestyle wrestler Yoshida's 58-match winning streak came to an end on Sunday at the World Cup meet in Tokyo. Russia's Valeria Zholobova, just 19 years old, was the better grappler in their match. For anyone else, 58 straight wins would seem like an out-of-this-world accomplishment. For Yoshida, however, the bar is set so high, that a loss, any loss, is a jaw-dropping, stop-the-presses shocker."Going to London will mean nothing if I don't three-peat, so I have to fix the problems which need addressing," Yoshida was quoted as saying by Kyodo News after Sunday's defeat at Yoyogi National Gymnasium.She is, after all, a two-time gold medalist, and one of Japan's biggest medal hopefuls for the 2012 Summer Olympics.Nobody likes to lose, but who says this is a bad time for Yodida to taste defeat? In fact, it probably came at the best possible time. It may even lessen the pressure of having to keep the streak alive in order to attain gold; at least those were my initial thoughts on Sunday after watching a replay of the Yoshida-Zholobova match on TV.The 29-year-old Mie Prefecture native probably didn't need any additional motivation to be fired up for her third Olympics, but this will surely push her to be more focused on her techniques and conditioning in the weeks before the competition commences in London.And no one can excuse her of fearing the spotlight, as evidenced by her decade of dominance in national (10 consecutive titles) and international (victories at nine straight world championship since 2002) competitions.You can argue that Yoshida doesn't face the wealth of talent that athletes must contend with in other sports, but that doesn't cheapen her accomplishment. The sport may not appear to have as many elite-level competitors as, say, figure skating or tennis, but there are skilled practitioners throughout the world who have what it takes for greatness.In addition, she has been so good for so long that any loss is a major headline. Which takes us back to January 2008, when Yoshida's 119-match winning streak ended against American Marcie Van Dusen in Taiyuan, China.It wasn't the end of the world, of course."It is a big shock to lose my first match at an international meet," she told reporters after the match. "I realize I have to train even harder."That loss, too, arguably came at the right time. Yoshida diligently prepared for the Beijing Games and, as stated above, collected another gold medal.Don't expect Sunday's setback to decrease Yoshida's workload or preparations for London. Instead, expect tackling, as noted by AFP-Jiji in its story after Yoshida's Sunday defeat, to be the key area of emphasis she works on with her coach, Kazuhito Sakae."After losing, I really struggled for six months to get back on my feet, and today I couldn't help but feel anxious," Yoshida was quoted as saying after winning the gold in 2008. "I went for two straight titles, but compared to Athens there was so much more built up inside me this time. I aim to three-peat in London in 2012."As they say in Hollywood and beyond, the plot thickens.Friday, May 18, 2012
Giants defeat Buffaloes
Hayato Sakamoto and the Yomiuri Giants might be finally hitting their stride. Which might be bad news for the Pacific League.
Locked in: Giants left-hander Toshiya Sugiuchi struck out eight batters in six innings on Thursday at Tokyo Dome. Yomiuri defeated the Orix Buffaloes 4-2. KYODOSakamoto hit a game-tying homer in the sixth inning, Ryuchi Kajimae drove in the go-ahead run during the same frame, and Toshiya Sugiuchi won his first interleague start against the PL as the Giants edged the Orix Buffaloes 4-2 in front of a crowd of 45,997 on Thursday at Tokyo Dome."Sugiuchi-san was pitching well and we wanted to make sure he would not be the loser tonight," Sakamoto said.Sakamoto's game-tying shot to left to lead off the sixth was his third home run of the season and first at Tokyo Dome this year."It always feels good to hit a home run in front of the home crowd," Sakamoto said. "I'm sorry it took so long to hit the first one here this season."Yomiuri managed to load the bases later in the inning and Kajimae hit a sacrifice fly to center that was deep enough to bring the tiebreaking run home from third."I went up just thinking to put us ahead, knowing I did not need to get a hit," Kajimae said.The Giants won for the third consecutive game and extended their current unbeaten streak to eight.Sugiuchi came away a winner in his first interleague start for a Central League team, after spending 10 years in the PL.The former PL MVP, who helped the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks win interleague titles in 2008, '09 and '11, allowed a pair of runs and struck out eight over six innings. He improved to a team-best 5-1 and won his fourth straight decision."His change-up was good, and he was throwing his fastball really well," said Orix third baseman Aarom Baldiris. "He's a good pitcher."Tetsuya Yamaguchi worked two innings of scoreless relief and Kentaro Nishimura retired the side in the ninth for his eighth save."Our team really has a good bullpen now with Yamaguchi, (Scott) Mathieson, and Nishimura, and I feel confident I can count on any of them to close out games and secure a victory," said Yomiuri manager Tatsunori Hara.The slumping Buffaloes dropped their fifth straight game. Adding insult to injury, center fielder Tomotaka Sakaguchi was hurt making a diving catch during the first inning. Sakaguchi was taken off the field on a stretcher and did not return.Shinya Nakayama got the start for Orix and left with a decision for the first time in three outings. Unfortunately it turned out to be his first loss since April 7. Nakayama (1-2) allowed three runs on eight hits in 5 1/3 innings.The Buffaloes got on the board in the opening frame after Hisayoshi Chono misplayed Lee Dae Ho's fly ball to center, resulting in an RBI triple.Chono doubled to lead off the bottom half of the first and moved to third on a bunt by Takayuki Terauchi. Sakamoto then hit a fly ball to shallow center, but Sakaguchi was injured making the catch, giving Chono just enough time to tag up and score the tying run.Baldiris put the Buffaloes ahead with an RBI double in the top of the sixth, but the Giants battled back in the bottom half on Sakamoto's homer and Kajimae's sacrifice fly.Yomiuri tacked on an insurance run in the eighth on Yoshiyuki Kamei's RBI groundout.Lions blank BayStarsYokohama KYODOTakayuki Kishi tossed his first shutout in two years as the Seibu Lions beat the Yokohama BayStars 3-0 Thursday to win their fourth straight.Kishi limited the BayStars to four hits and struck out nine while walking two in a 109-pitch outing en route to his fourth win of the season. A throwing error by Yokohama catcher Toshiki Kurobane let in the first run. Esteban German's run-scoring single followed an RBI triple from Shogo Akiyama to complete the scoring.Marines 3, Dragons 3 (10)At Nagoya Dome, Chiba Lotte's Saburo Omura drove in three runs and twice evened the game as the Marines came from behind to tie Chunichi.Omura's two-run homer tied it 2-2 in the fourth. After Kazuhiro Wada gave the Dragons a one-run lead in the fifth, Omura delivered a ninth-inning sacrifice fly off lefty closer Hitoki Iwase.Hawks 9, Swallows 1At Tokyo's Jingu Stadium, slugging third baseman Nobuhiro Matsuda celebrated his 29th birthday with a three-run home run as Fukuoka Softbank, interleague champion in three of the past four seasons, got off the mark with a win over Yakult.Hitoshi Tamura and Wily Mo Pena also homered for the Hawks, who dropped their interleague opener the night before. The Swallows' Lastings Milledge homered for the second straight game.Fighters 4, Tigers 1At Koshien Stadium, Brian Wolfe (3-3) worked 5 2/3 scoreless innings, allowing three hits and four walks and Terrmel Sledge delivered a two-run, sixth-inning triple as Hokkaido Nippon Ham swept Hanshin.The Fighters broke the game open in the sixth after Craig Brazell's throwing error let in a run and allowed Sledge to bat with two outs.Carp 4, Eagles 1At Hiroshima's Mazda Stadium, Hiroshima's offense came untracked with some help from Tohoku Rakuten starter Kelvin Jimenez (2-4), who walked five batters and was ejected in the second for hitting Shota Dobayashi in the head.Carp starter Yuki Saito (1-1), on the other hand, allowed a run in 5 2/3 innings to get the win.
Locked in: Giants left-hander Toshiya Sugiuchi struck out eight batters in six innings on Thursday at Tokyo Dome. Yomiuri defeated the Orix Buffaloes 4-2. KYODOSakamoto hit a game-tying homer in the sixth inning, Ryuchi Kajimae drove in the go-ahead run during the same frame, and Toshiya Sugiuchi won his first interleague start against the PL as the Giants edged the Orix Buffaloes 4-2 in front of a crowd of 45,997 on Thursday at Tokyo Dome."Sugiuchi-san was pitching well and we wanted to make sure he would not be the loser tonight," Sakamoto said.Sakamoto's game-tying shot to left to lead off the sixth was his third home run of the season and first at Tokyo Dome this year."It always feels good to hit a home run in front of the home crowd," Sakamoto said. "I'm sorry it took so long to hit the first one here this season."Yomiuri managed to load the bases later in the inning and Kajimae hit a sacrifice fly to center that was deep enough to bring the tiebreaking run home from third."I went up just thinking to put us ahead, knowing I did not need to get a hit," Kajimae said.The Giants won for the third consecutive game and extended their current unbeaten streak to eight.Sugiuchi came away a winner in his first interleague start for a Central League team, after spending 10 years in the PL.The former PL MVP, who helped the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks win interleague titles in 2008, '09 and '11, allowed a pair of runs and struck out eight over six innings. He improved to a team-best 5-1 and won his fourth straight decision."His change-up was good, and he was throwing his fastball really well," said Orix third baseman Aarom Baldiris. "He's a good pitcher."Tetsuya Yamaguchi worked two innings of scoreless relief and Kentaro Nishimura retired the side in the ninth for his eighth save."Our team really has a good bullpen now with Yamaguchi, (Scott) Mathieson, and Nishimura, and I feel confident I can count on any of them to close out games and secure a victory," said Yomiuri manager Tatsunori Hara.The slumping Buffaloes dropped their fifth straight game. Adding insult to injury, center fielder Tomotaka Sakaguchi was hurt making a diving catch during the first inning. Sakaguchi was taken off the field on a stretcher and did not return.Shinya Nakayama got the start for Orix and left with a decision for the first time in three outings. Unfortunately it turned out to be his first loss since April 7. Nakayama (1-2) allowed three runs on eight hits in 5 1/3 innings.The Buffaloes got on the board in the opening frame after Hisayoshi Chono misplayed Lee Dae Ho's fly ball to center, resulting in an RBI triple.Chono doubled to lead off the bottom half of the first and moved to third on a bunt by Takayuki Terauchi. Sakamoto then hit a fly ball to shallow center, but Sakaguchi was injured making the catch, giving Chono just enough time to tag up and score the tying run.Baldiris put the Buffaloes ahead with an RBI double in the top of the sixth, but the Giants battled back in the bottom half on Sakamoto's homer and Kajimae's sacrifice fly.Yomiuri tacked on an insurance run in the eighth on Yoshiyuki Kamei's RBI groundout.Lions blank BayStarsYokohama KYODOTakayuki Kishi tossed his first shutout in two years as the Seibu Lions beat the Yokohama BayStars 3-0 Thursday to win their fourth straight.Kishi limited the BayStars to four hits and struck out nine while walking two in a 109-pitch outing en route to his fourth win of the season. A throwing error by Yokohama catcher Toshiki Kurobane let in the first run. Esteban German's run-scoring single followed an RBI triple from Shogo Akiyama to complete the scoring.Marines 3, Dragons 3 (10)At Nagoya Dome, Chiba Lotte's Saburo Omura drove in three runs and twice evened the game as the Marines came from behind to tie Chunichi.Omura's two-run homer tied it 2-2 in the fourth. After Kazuhiro Wada gave the Dragons a one-run lead in the fifth, Omura delivered a ninth-inning sacrifice fly off lefty closer Hitoki Iwase.Hawks 9, Swallows 1At Tokyo's Jingu Stadium, slugging third baseman Nobuhiro Matsuda celebrated his 29th birthday with a three-run home run as Fukuoka Softbank, interleague champion in three of the past four seasons, got off the mark with a win over Yakult.Hitoshi Tamura and Wily Mo Pena also homered for the Hawks, who dropped their interleague opener the night before. The Swallows' Lastings Milledge homered for the second straight game.Fighters 4, Tigers 1At Koshien Stadium, Brian Wolfe (3-3) worked 5 2/3 scoreless innings, allowing three hits and four walks and Terrmel Sledge delivered a two-run, sixth-inning triple as Hokkaido Nippon Ham swept Hanshin.The Fighters broke the game open in the sixth after Craig Brazell's throwing error let in a run and allowed Sledge to bat with two outs.Carp 4, Eagles 1At Hiroshima's Mazda Stadium, Hiroshima's offense came untracked with some help from Tohoku Rakuten starter Kelvin Jimenez (2-4), who walked five batters and was ejected in the second for hitting Shota Dobayashi in the head.Carp starter Yuki Saito (1-1), on the other hand, allowed a run in 5 2/3 innings to get the win.FC Tokyo suffers first defeat in Asian Champions League
ULSAN, South Korea — FC Tokyo went down 1-0 away to South Korea's Ulsan Hyundai in the Asian Champions League on Wednesday, a first defeat of the competition costing the Emperor's Cup holders a home tie against J. League champions Kashiwa Reysol in the round of 16.
Out of gas: FC Tokyo's Hiroki Kawano moves the ball as an Ulsan player defends during their match on Wednesday. KYODOBoth teams had already qualified for the next stage but Tokyo only needed a draw to secure top spot in Group F and home advantage against Reysol, who finished second in Group H after a gutsy 2-0 win at Jeonbuk Motors on Tuesday.Instead Kang Min Soo's goal late in the first half means Ulsan finish top and will meet Kashiwa and Tokyo now face a tough assignment away to Chinese champions Guangzhou Evergrande in the single-leg next round on May 30.The J. League will have three teams in the round of 16, with Nagoya having also advanced on Tuesday thanks to a 3-0 victory over Central Coast Mariners. Already eliminated Gamba Osaka were beaten 2-0 at home by Australia's Adelaide United on Wednesday in Group E. Adelaide will play Nagoya on May 29.Tokyo took the game to Ulsan from the kickoff and Kazuma Watanabe missed a great chance to give the Gasmen the lead in the 13th minute when he screwed wide after Hideto Takahashi's effort had come back off the post.Tatsuya Yazawa then brought an acrobatic save out of Ulsan keeper Young Kwang Kim on 26 minutes and Hyun Soo Jang sent a free header wide from the corner that followed, but it was the South Koreans that broke the deadlock from a set piece eight minutes before the interval.Hitoshi Shiota parried Tae Hwi Kwak's header after he got on the end of Seung Yong Kim's free kick, and Maranhao headed against the bar before the rebound fell to Kang, who drove home the rebound from the edge of the six-yard box.Young did well to save a swerving shot from Yazawa on the hour mark as Tokyo pressed for an equalizer and he was again on hand to block Ariajasuru Hasegawa's shot in the 77th minute and a low effort from substitute Lucas deep into time added on.YOKOHAMA — Yokohama F. Marinos rattled off their fifth straight win, roaring back from a goal down in the last seven minutes to defeat holders Kashima Antlers 3-2 in the Nabisco Cup on Wednesday.Shingo Hyodo, Manabu Saito and Masashi Oguro scored for Marinos, who produced their first victory of the league cup while dealing Group B leaders Kashima their first defeat of the competition.Yasushi Endo and Juninho netted for Jorginho's Antlers.Kashima's loss allowed Shimizu S-Pulse to pull level on points with nine. Ardija and Consadole Sapporo fought to a 1-1 draw at Omiya in the group's remaining game.Marinos have been a team of streaks this year under Yasuhiro Higuchi, failing to win their first 10 games in all competitions before stringing together four straight victories, all in the league.Higuchi rested almost half the team — including Shunsuke Nakamura — who thumped Sanfrecce Hiroshima 3-1 at the weekend but still mustered enough to open the scoring.In the 36th minute, Saito was unleashed by Yuji Ono for a one-on-one with goalkeeper Hitoshi Sogahata, who gave away a penalty for tripping up the Japan Olympic team striker.Hyodo converted with ease for his first goal of the competition as the hosts headed into the tunnel with the advantage.Endo came on at halftime and the substitution paid off for Antlers two minutes to the hour, when the midfielder wove through three defenders before slotting home the equalizer.Kashima made it 2-1 in the 68th minute thanks to Juninho, who pounced on a beauty of a through ball from former Japanese international Masashi Motoyama.But the drama started to unfold in the 83rd minute when Sogahata committed a schoolboy error, fumbling a Nakamura cross into the path of Saito who restored parity with his second strike of the Nabisco Cup.Marinos capped the comeback four minutes to time through Oguro, who, from well outside the box, blasted into the bottom right corner to give his team the three points.In Group A, Sagan Tosu defeated leaders Jubilo Iwata 3-2 at home behind a brace by Yusuke Inuzuka and Urawa Reds thrashed Kawasaki Frontale 3-0 away as Tomoya Ugajin struck twice in the second half.Cerezo Osaka unearthed a 2-1 win over Sanfrecce Hiorshima deep in stoppage time as South Korea's Olympic team midfielder Kim Bo Kyung netted in the 95th minute.Jubilo are still in the lead with nine points, three points ahead of Cerezo, Sagan and Reds.
Out of gas: FC Tokyo's Hiroki Kawano moves the ball as an Ulsan player defends during their match on Wednesday. KYODOBoth teams had already qualified for the next stage but Tokyo only needed a draw to secure top spot in Group F and home advantage against Reysol, who finished second in Group H after a gutsy 2-0 win at Jeonbuk Motors on Tuesday.Instead Kang Min Soo's goal late in the first half means Ulsan finish top and will meet Kashiwa and Tokyo now face a tough assignment away to Chinese champions Guangzhou Evergrande in the single-leg next round on May 30.The J. League will have three teams in the round of 16, with Nagoya having also advanced on Tuesday thanks to a 3-0 victory over Central Coast Mariners. Already eliminated Gamba Osaka were beaten 2-0 at home by Australia's Adelaide United on Wednesday in Group E. Adelaide will play Nagoya on May 29.Tokyo took the game to Ulsan from the kickoff and Kazuma Watanabe missed a great chance to give the Gasmen the lead in the 13th minute when he screwed wide after Hideto Takahashi's effort had come back off the post.Tatsuya Yazawa then brought an acrobatic save out of Ulsan keeper Young Kwang Kim on 26 minutes and Hyun Soo Jang sent a free header wide from the corner that followed, but it was the South Koreans that broke the deadlock from a set piece eight minutes before the interval.Hitoshi Shiota parried Tae Hwi Kwak's header after he got on the end of Seung Yong Kim's free kick, and Maranhao headed against the bar before the rebound fell to Kang, who drove home the rebound from the edge of the six-yard box.Young did well to save a swerving shot from Yazawa on the hour mark as Tokyo pressed for an equalizer and he was again on hand to block Ariajasuru Hasegawa's shot in the 77th minute and a low effort from substitute Lucas deep into time added on.YOKOHAMA — Yokohama F. Marinos rattled off their fifth straight win, roaring back from a goal down in the last seven minutes to defeat holders Kashima Antlers 3-2 in the Nabisco Cup on Wednesday.Shingo Hyodo, Manabu Saito and Masashi Oguro scored for Marinos, who produced their first victory of the league cup while dealing Group B leaders Kashima their first defeat of the competition.Yasushi Endo and Juninho netted for Jorginho's Antlers.Kashima's loss allowed Shimizu S-Pulse to pull level on points with nine. Ardija and Consadole Sapporo fought to a 1-1 draw at Omiya in the group's remaining game.Marinos have been a team of streaks this year under Yasuhiro Higuchi, failing to win their first 10 games in all competitions before stringing together four straight victories, all in the league.Higuchi rested almost half the team — including Shunsuke Nakamura — who thumped Sanfrecce Hiroshima 3-1 at the weekend but still mustered enough to open the scoring.In the 36th minute, Saito was unleashed by Yuji Ono for a one-on-one with goalkeeper Hitoshi Sogahata, who gave away a penalty for tripping up the Japan Olympic team striker.Hyodo converted with ease for his first goal of the competition as the hosts headed into the tunnel with the advantage.Endo came on at halftime and the substitution paid off for Antlers two minutes to the hour, when the midfielder wove through three defenders before slotting home the equalizer.Kashima made it 2-1 in the 68th minute thanks to Juninho, who pounced on a beauty of a through ball from former Japanese international Masashi Motoyama.But the drama started to unfold in the 83rd minute when Sogahata committed a schoolboy error, fumbling a Nakamura cross into the path of Saito who restored parity with his second strike of the Nabisco Cup.Marinos capped the comeback four minutes to time through Oguro, who, from well outside the box, blasted into the bottom right corner to give his team the three points.In Group A, Sagan Tosu defeated leaders Jubilo Iwata 3-2 at home behind a brace by Yusuke Inuzuka and Urawa Reds thrashed Kawasaki Frontale 3-0 away as Tomoya Ugajin struck twice in the second half.Cerezo Osaka unearthed a 2-1 win over Sanfrecce Hiorshima deep in stoppage time as South Korea's Olympic team midfielder Kim Bo Kyung netted in the 95th minute.Jubilo are still in the lead with nine points, three points ahead of Cerezo, Sagan and Reds.Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Hakuho handed first defeat in New Year Basho
One false move and it was all over for Mongolian yokozuna Hakuho in a shock defeat to countryman Kakuryu at the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament on Tuesday.Estonian ozeki Baruto emerged as the improbable sole leader after Hakuho suffered his first loss, improving his record to a perfect 10-0 with a dismantling of Toyonoshima at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan.Hakuho was brought crashing back down to earth in the day's final after Kakuryu got his hand on the yokozuna's mawashi and spun him like a top before heaving his opponent over for his first "kinboshi," win against a yokozuna.Kakuryu, who improved to 7-3, won his first bout in 21 meetings against the lone yokozuna. Things got off to an ominous start for Hakuho when the yokozuna, who is seeking his third straight title, stood up once to delay the clash.Hakuho, who fell out of the lead for the first time as yokozuna on the 10th day, on Wednesday faces ozeki Kisenosato, who ended his 63-bout winning streak at the 2010 Kyushu Basho.Baruto got his huge right arm on the back of Toyonoshima's mawashi out of the crouch and slammed the sekiwake (3-7) with an earth-shattering overarm throw to remain spotless.Ozeki debutant Kisenosato claimed bragging rights in a rumble with rival ozeki Kotoshogiku on Tuesday, remaining one behind Baruto in a tie with Hakuho. Harumafuji and fellow ozeki Kotooshu sit in a group of four two off the pace at 8-2.
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Kotoshogiku rebounds from opening-day defeat
Kotoshogiku rebounded from an opening day loss, ozeki debutant Kisenosato steamrolled another would-be opponent, and Mongolian yokozuna Hakuho ruled with an iron fist on the second day of the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament on Monday.
Brothers in arms: Harumafuji (right) throws Toyonoshima at the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament on Monday. KYODOKotoshogiku, who suffered a shock defeat to Takekaze on Sunday, got a firm grip on Wakakoyu's (0-2) mawashi and bumped his opponent over the straw bales with his trademark "gaburiyori" belly forceout at Ryogoku Kokugikan to give the Sadagotake ozeki his first win of 2012."Yesterday I lost but today my body and mental state were in balance. I know what I did wrong the other day, so I was able to correct my mistake and make a fresh start," said Kotoshogiku."I have a responsibility as ozeki (to be in the title race). I can't be left behind by the other ozeki who are trying their best. I am working hard as usual, but the most important thing is winning and not just my sumo technique."Kisenosato (2-0), promoted to sumo's No. 2 rank after last year's Kyushu basho, was the quickest at the face-off against Aminishiki (0-2) and tossed the top-ranked maegashira down with a thrusting technique."It probably would've been better for me to finish him off quickly," said Kisenosato, who got his left hand inside at the tachiai. "I kept an eye on him for a second before executing a throw but I was more relaxed than yesterday."In the day's final bout, Hakuho sent Takekaze (1-1) retreating with a series of rapid-fire shoves before circling his opponent to send him sprawling with his right hand for his second straight win."I had just the right amount of offense and defense in that bout," said Hakuho.Hakuho is gunning for his 22nd career title, which would put him in a tie with former yokozuna Takanohana.
Brothers in arms: Harumafuji (right) throws Toyonoshima at the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament on Monday. KYODOKotoshogiku, who suffered a shock defeat to Takekaze on Sunday, got a firm grip on Wakakoyu's (0-2) mawashi and bumped his opponent over the straw bales with his trademark "gaburiyori" belly forceout at Ryogoku Kokugikan to give the Sadagotake ozeki his first win of 2012."Yesterday I lost but today my body and mental state were in balance. I know what I did wrong the other day, so I was able to correct my mistake and make a fresh start," said Kotoshogiku."I have a responsibility as ozeki (to be in the title race). I can't be left behind by the other ozeki who are trying their best. I am working hard as usual, but the most important thing is winning and not just my sumo technique."Kisenosato (2-0), promoted to sumo's No. 2 rank after last year's Kyushu basho, was the quickest at the face-off against Aminishiki (0-2) and tossed the top-ranked maegashira down with a thrusting technique."It probably would've been better for me to finish him off quickly," said Kisenosato, who got his left hand inside at the tachiai. "I kept an eye on him for a second before executing a throw but I was more relaxed than yesterday."In the day's final bout, Hakuho sent Takekaze (1-1) retreating with a series of rapid-fire shoves before circling his opponent to send him sprawling with his right hand for his second straight win."I had just the right amount of offense and defense in that bout," said Hakuho.Hakuho is gunning for his 22nd career title, which would put him in a tie with former yokozuna Takanohana.
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