The Yokohama F. Marinos, last year's first-stage champions in the J. League, are struggling -- and struggling badly.
This season, the Marinos have won none, drawn one and lost four, putting them firmly at the bottom of the table for the first time since the J. League began.
In the league, Yokohama lost 1-0 to Vissel Kobe in extra time in the season opener on March 10 and allowed Gamba Osaka to rally for a 3-2 victory on March 17. Yokohama earned its only point of the season from a 1-1 draw with Nagoya Grampus Eight on March 31. But the team returned to its losing ways in a 1-0 defeat by the 10-man Urawa Reds on April 7 and a 2-0 shutout by JEF United Ichihara on April 14.