2009.11.22
Kashima Antelers regain J.League top spot

60 |		Kashima Antlers
58 |		Kawasaki Frontale
57 |		Gamba Osaka

Leader Kawasaki Frontale lost the away match against the bottom relagated Oita Trinita and Kashima reclams top. Last two matches for Kashima are third place Gamba Osaka in Kashima and difficult Urawa Reds in Saitama.

As the league is packed again like previous J.League seasons, but the eligible clubs for the championship are now limited to kashima, Kawasaki, and G-Osaka. Sanfrecce Hiroshima is one of the eliminated club of the weekend, coach Mihailo Petrovic said to the press after the draw match against Dragan Stojkovic's Nagoya.

"(We have lost the third place possibility today,) but nobody could predict being on the top or the third in league. At the final five matches, we had top place opportunity. This is the great season. From last year (in J2) to this year, we have been spending great seasons. In my 35 years' professional career, it is the top moment. It is great that we could play such a even match against Nagoya."
"I don't think only of myself as a coach. I work thinking the club's situation. Not by buying five or six players to qualify the Asian champions league, but by growing young players we try to qualify. Nobody can guarantee the teams step up by trading players, but the daily practice can develop the team definitely. To develop with players thurough the hard-working effort is the Sanfrecce Hiroshima."
"The harvest of the year is that we could impress Hiroshima's soccer style to other clubs' fans and we, Sanfrecce, can be respected."