The second round of the ‘96th Emperor's Cup All Japan Football Championship’ will be held on Saturday 3 and Wednesday 7 September. The teams from the J.League Division1 (J1) will participate in this round with more exciting games between amateur and professional players.  

Kashiwa Reysol (J1), who won the 92nd Cup in 2012, will meet Nara Club (Nara). Kashiwa is currently stretching their winning streak in the 2nd stage of the Meiji Yasuda J1 League, beating Kawasaki Frontale by five goals on Matchday 10, showcasing their attacking strength, including Diego Oliveira’s hat trick.

Nara Club, on the other hand, posted an upset win or ‘giant-killing’ over Vegalta Sendai (J1) in the 2nd Round of the 94th Emperor Cup (2014). The team with highly experienced players, OKAYAMA Kazunari and former national team player YAMADA Takuya, as well as young players, including TOMOKI Taniguchi and TAGUCHI Koki, are aiming to win the game.

Kashima Antlers (J1), who have won the Cup four times in the past, will play against Kataller Toyama (Toyama) led by coach MIURA Yasutoshi. Although Kashima are keen on celebrating their 25th anniversary with the title, they will have to face some difficulties early in the tournament. The starters in the defensive line will not be able to play—SHOJI Gen is injured, while UEDA Naomichi is away with the national team. Adjusting their defence is the prime task for the first match. We cannot take our eyes off whether Toyama’s attackers, KAYANUMA Yusei and KOKEGUCHI Takuya, can go close to the goal.

Also, in the second round will see the matches between J1 club teams and university teams—Shonan Bellmare (J1) vs Yamanashi Gakuin University Orions (Yamanashi), Albirex Niigata (J1) vs Kwansei Gakuin University (seeded team), and Jubilo Iwata (J1) vs Kanagawa University.

Although Iwata had been struggling in the J.League Division1 in July and August with only one win, they earned a victory against Avispa Fukuoka on Matchday 10. With momentum on their side, the team beat Gifu SECOND (Gifu) 7-0 in the first round of the Emperor's Cup. Kanagawa University, on the other hand, kept a clean sheet and built some confidence in their 1-0 win over FC Machida Zelvia (J2). We cannot wait to see whether Iwata can maintain their pride as a J1 team or Kanagawa University can steal a victory from a J1 team just as they did with a J2 club.

There will also be games between J2 teams—Cerezo Osaka will meet Kyoto Sanga F.C., Kamatamare Sanuki will play against Ehime FC, and Shimizu S-Pulse will face off Mito HollyHock.

Roasso Kumamoto (J2), who beat FC.TOSU (Saga) in the first round, will also play a home game against Tokyo Verdy (J2). How the forwards, HIRASHIGE Ryuichi and MAKI Seiichiro, perform against their former club, Tokyo Verdy, will be interesting to watch. Furthermore, it will be exciting to see whether Roasso can win the match and please the local supporters in Kumamoto again.

The 96th Emperor's Cup All Japan Football Championship

2016-8-27-2017-1-1

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