Soccer-Nakayama's hat trick streak ends
TOKYO, May 3 (Reuters) - International striker Masashi
Nakayama's remarkable streak of hat tricks ended at four games
when his Jubilo Iwata side lost 2-1 on Saturday to Shimizu
S-Pulse.
Nakayama had the sole goal in the loss as a rain-soaked
field slowed down play. With the goal, Nakayama took his tally
to 17 in the last five games and remains one of the most potent
strikers in professional soccer.
The loss also dropped Iwata out of a share of the J.League
lead.
Brazilian striker Fabinho headed home the game winner for
Shimizu.
The old men of Japanese soccer, Verdy Kawasaki, took over
the top spot in the J.League standings with a 3-1 victory over
Consadole Sapporo. Kawasaki has the oldest starting line-up in
the J.League with an average age of just over 30-years-old.
Play-maker Ruy Ramos, 41, set up two goals for Kawasaki and
Tsuyoshi Kitazawa had Kawasaki's other score with a long-range
blast that struck home.
Kashima Antlers were able to keep pace in the J.League
standings with a 1-0 victory over Bellmare Hiratsuka. Yasuo
Manaka headed in the winning goal in the final minutes of play
for Kashima.
Masayuki Okano and Kenji Oshiba scored as Urawa Red Diamonds
passed Hiratsuka in the J.League standings with a 2-0 victory
over Gamba Osaka.
The typically anaemic Yokohama Flugels offence had an
uncharacteristic strong game in beating Cerezo Osaka 4-1.
Yoshiharu Ueno broke a 1-1 tie midway through the second
half as Yokohama Marinos beat Kyoto Purple Sanga 2-1.
Yoshiteru Yamashita scored two late goals to give Avispa
Fukuoka its first victory of the season with a 3-1 win over
Vissel Kobe. Fukuoka still managed to keep it bottom rank in the
standings despite the victory.
Hiroshima Sanfrecce beat JEF United Ichihara 3-1 and Nagoya
Grampus Eight squeezed by Kashiwa Reysol 3-2 after an extra-time
goal from striker Tetsuya Okayama.
((Tokyo newsroom +813 3432-8018
email: tokyo.newsroom+reuters.com))
REUTERS
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