Baseball | SPORTS SCOPE Apr 16, 2013

Taking cues from soccer could help baseball reach goal

by Jason Coskrey

Judging by popular opinion, many seem to think convincing MLB to commit to sending its top players to the Olympics is the key to getting the sport back into the program in the future, preferably in time for the 2020 Games. Well, that’s not ...

Soccer Mar 1, 2013

Japan to face Bulgaria in friendly

Japan will play Bulgaria in a friendly on May 30 at Toyota Stadium, the Japan Football Association announced on Thursday. The match will serve as a warmup for the Asian champions’ final two qualifiers for the 2014 World Cup at home to Australia on ...

Soccer Feb 28, 2013

Hiroshima falls in ACL opener

Sanfrecce Hiroshima were brought back to earth with a thud on Wednesday as the J. League champions crashed to a 2-0 defeat at home to Uzbekistan’s Bunyodkor in their Group G opener in the Asian Champions League. Back in the ACL for the first ...

J. League Feb 25, 2013

Stojkovic looking for fresh start after painful year for Grampus

by Andrew Mckirdy

Nagoya Grampus manager Dragan Stojkovic insists he never considered quitting after a traumatic 2012 season for the former J. League champions, preferring instead to concentrate on reclaiming the crown over the coming campaign. Grampus went into last season with high expectations having missed out ...

J. League Feb 8, 2013

Firebrand Okubo targeting title at new home Frontale

by Andrew Mckirdy

Yoshito Okubo is looking forward to a new challenge after joining Kawasaki Frontale ahead of the new J. League season, but the fiery forward is not about to tone down his style just because of a change in surroundings. Okubo arrived in Kanagawa last ...

Soccer Feb 7, 2013

Okazaki strikes twice as Japan rolls over Latvia

by Gus Fielding

Shinji Okazaki struck twice as Japan made a winning start to 2013 with a comprehensive 3-0 victory over Latvia on Wednesday.

Soccer Feb 1, 2013

Kagawa picked for Latvia friendly

by Gus Fielding

Japan coach Alberto Zaccheroni welcomed back Shinji Kagawa on Thursday, when he named the Manchester United attacker to his 23-man squad for next week’s World Cup qualifying warmup against Latvia in Kobe, the Blue Samurai’s first game of 2013. CSKA Moscow’s Keisuke Honda was ...

Soccer Feb 1, 2013

Zaccheroni shocked at judo scandal

by Gus Fielding

Japan coach Alberto Zaccheroni has spoken of his shock upon learning that 15 top female judo wrestlers, some of them London Olympians, were slapped, beaten with wooden swords and told to “die” by their head coach Ryuji Sonoda. News of the scandal broke Tuesday ...

J. League Jan 24, 2013

Tokyo goalkeeper Gonda sets bar high for coming season

by Andrew Mckirdy

FC Tokyo goalkeeper Shuichi Gonda is far too modest to accept the plaudits that have come his way after a string of fine performances for club and country last season, but there is certainly nothing humble about his ambitions for the year ahead. Gonda ...

Soccer | PREMIER REPORT Jan 5, 2013

Reds' Suarez experiencing amazing turnaround

by Christopher Davies

It would have been a close call, but at the beginning of the season Luis Suarez may just have pipped John Terry as the least popular player in English football (the other contender, Joey Barton, had been loaned from Queens Park Rangers to Olympique ...

J. League Dec 27, 2012

Nakayama strike thrills crowd at charity match

Retiring striker Masashi Nakayama came on in the second half and scored in a charity match at Sendai’s Yurtec Stadium on Wednesday. Around 13,000 fans showed up to see a team composed of present and former national team players take on a squad made ...

Soccer Dec 13, 2012

Guerrero strikes sends Corinthians past Al-Ahly

by Gus Fielding

Paolo Guerrero scored the winner as Brazilian and South American champions Corinthians edged African representatives Al-Ahly 1-0 on Wednesday to reach the Club World Cup final. The Peruvian striker headed the clincher in the 30th minute in bitterly cold conditions at Toyota Stadium, setting ...