Nausea

I was refused permission from the Mrs to attend the Wednesday match and it was just as well; a nice afternoon in the park with the baby, playing in the sandbox and on the swings was certainly better for my long term health than watching Cerezo take it on the chin from another mid-table upstart. Peter filled me in from the match with his cel and from what I heard made me glad I wasn't there to watch the wheels nearly come off completely. Oita hit the post in the first minute and while the Pink Wolves (yes, that is what we call them!) did get an early goal on a five man rush it was our opponents who dominated play throughout, eventually earning an equalizer in the 81st minute. Then, by all accounts, they should have beaten us outright (and ended Cerezo's epic 13 game unbeaten streak) when a long shot beat Yoshida, went off of the post (again) and came out for an easy Oita tap in. A very late flag went up from a nervous linesman, the kind of call that makes you wonder who is pulling the strings. Japanese coruption is corporate and football is no exception. Watching on replays I shrugged but I knew it tainted our fine efforts. And had we lost we would have been in good company.

Everyone else coughed up points including 1st place Gamba who lost again, this time to 14th place Omiya Ardija. This meant the two Osaka teams were now even on 57 points with two matches left, Gamba only retaining first on goal differential. ARGGHHHHHHH!!! And the three rivals below us could still catch us if they put together 2 victories in the last 2 weeks. Cerezo are away to Yokohama Marinos, a usual contender who are out of it this year, think the Liverpool of Japan. Gamba play at home to JEF United, 5th place with 53 points and winner over them in the Nabisco Cup. The full color spread in the next days Japanese sports paper painted Cerezo in heroic colors, with no mention of the disallowed goal and possible corrupt call. The North Koreans couldn't have done better. And on the 3rd page a giant picture of Gamba players being confronted by their own away supporters. They caption said "ready to explode". So if Gamba were to lose at home on Saturday and cough up the championship it looks like we can get our first real riots here in Osaka. Lovely. At least someone cares.

And this morning Georgie Best passes away in Blighty. C'est la vie.