Hiroki Sakai and Ataru Esaka power Urawa to comeback win over Tokyo
Despite falling behind less than a minute into the match, Ricardo Rodriguez's side rebounded for its first win over Tokyo since 2018 and into contention for an Asian Champions League spot.
Hajime Moriyasu looks to Europe-based players for Olympic soccer success
Half of Japan's 18-man squad for the Tokyo Games are based overseas, adding experience to a team hoping to win its first-ever gold medal when the postponed event kicks off next month.
Hiroki Sakai says goodbye to Marseille fans ahead of J. League return
Japan right back Hiroki Sakai bid farewell to French club Marseille on Monday, all but confirming his reported transfer back to the J. League with Urawa Reds. "At the end of the season, I decided to leave Europe and put an end to my Marseille ...
Restrictions on Japan's soccer media lead to frayed relations with players
In the days since Japan's 3-1 defeat to Qatar in the 2019 Asian Cup final, Japan's soccer media has had plenty of time to unload its takes, whether first, second or simply hot. But another narrative has emerged on Twitter, with players weighing in on ...
Hiroki Sakai scores, concedes penalty in Japan's draw with Venezuela
Hiroki Sakai struck his first senior international goal before conceding a penalty Friday night as Japan drew 1-1 with Venezuela but stayed unbeaten under head coach Hajime Moriyasu. Having arrived at Oita Bank Dome less than 45 minutes before kickoff after their bus was stuck ...
Japan players on Friday acknowledged criticism of the tactics that saw them settle for a 1-0 loss against Poland the previous day, but said they were simply doing what was needed to secure the Samurai Blue's first World Cup knockout-stage berth since 2010. The squad ...
Marseille defender Hiroki Sakai will be out at least three weeks with a knee injury, the French first-division club said Monday. The Japan international hurt the medial collateral ligament in his left knee Saturday in Marseille's 5-1 home victory over Lille in Ligue 1. The recovery ...
Japan defender Hiroki Sakai netted a goal on his birthday Thursday as Marseille beat Leipzig 5-2 to book a spot in the final four of the Europa League. Sakai, who turned 28, scored Marseille's final goal during injury time of the second leg of the ...
Hiroki Sakai ruled out of Japan's friendlies against Mali and Ukraine
Marseille defender Hiroki Sakai will be absent from the Japan national squad for the two friendlies in Belgium this month due to a right hip injury, the Japan Football Association said Wednesday. Sakai will not be traveling with the team during the March 19-27 tour, ...
Shu Kurata opened his international account with a late header to propel Japan past New Zealand 2-1 in a friendly on Friday. With three minutes left on the clock, substitute Kurata dove into a ball headed back to him by Hiroki Sakai after a left-wing ...
Marseille gives defender Hiroki Sakai one-year contract extension
French first-division side Marseille said Friday it has extended the contract of Japan international defender Hiroki Sakai by one season. The 27-year-old Sakai joined the club from German first-division side Hannover in June 2016, and has started in 11 games with the French team. The contract ...
Japan defender Hiroki Sakai will join French Ligue 1 outfit Marseille after his contract expired with Bundesliga club Hannover, the French side announced Thursday. The 26-year-old played for Hannover, which will be relegated to the German league's second division, since transferring from the J. League's ...
