Kashima Antlers moved up to 3rd place in the league table after a 1-0 win over Cerezo Osaka on Saturday, narrowing the gap to Kobe Victory to 6 points. Kashima Antlers' defense remained solid in the match, and even though Diego Bidulka was sent off in the 25th minute of the match, leaving the team with 10 men, they were able to come back with a win in the end.
Yuma Suzuki has been on a roll lately, scoring the winning goal against Sakura, his fourth in his last six games. He is not only a passionate leader, but also provides multiple options for the Antlers to switch between offense and defense.
Yokohama Marinos are without a win in their last 3 matches after a 1-1 draw with Tosu Sandwiches last week. Although the result was not satisfactory, they are one point away from the top of the table, Kobe Victory Ship. However, they need to strengthen their ability to break down the opponent's defense in the small space. Also, the Mariners have only scored 2 goals in their last 2 matches, so I think Takuma Nishimura could play a key role in the team's offense at the No.10 position.
