J1 - The Last 5

The final five games of the 2013 J1 Season for the Top Six & Bottom Five

Top Six

1. Yokohama 56 points (GD +20); 2 Home 3 Away Remaining

Oita A, Nagoya H, Iwata A, Niigata H, Kawasaki A

              - Finished with 14 points (W 4 D 2 L 2) from a possible 24 against other teams in the top five; five unbeaten; next four all against bottom half teams; it’s in their hands.

2. Urawa 54 (+17); 3 Home 2 Away

Kashiwa H, Sendai A, Kawasaki H, Tosu A, Cerezo H

              - Finishing with a wet sail? Four unbeaten; three to come at home; have to keep their nerve and can’t afford any slip-ups considering Yokohama’s friendly run-in.

3. Hiroshima 53 (+19); 2 Home 3 Away

Sendai H, Kashiwa A, Cerezo A, Shonan H, Kashima A

              - Out of their hands after loss to Yokohama snapped three game winning streak. Three tricky away trips left, will probably need to win them all.

4. Cerezo 50 (+19); 2 Home 3 Away

Tosu A, FC Tokyo A, Hiroshima H, Kashima H, Urawa A

              - Ten unbeaten in the league, but they may end up cursing the five straight draws between Matchdays 22 & 26. They probably can’t win the league but their last three could have a big say in who does.

5. Kashima 50 (+6); 3 Home 2 Away

Kawasaki H, Shonan A, Tosu H, Cerezo A, Hiroshima H

              - Three game winning run halted by Urawa; Davi suspended for next game. Will probably need to win all five but last two very difficult on paper.

6. Kawasaki 48 (+11); 2 Home 3 Away

Kashima A, Shimizu H, Urawa A, Oita A, Yokohama H

              - Best hope is third, but they’d love the title race to come down to the last day and spoil Yokohama’s party at Todoroki.

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Bottom Five

14. Tosu 33 (-16); 3 Home 2 Away

Cerezo H, Iwata H, Kashima A, Urawa H, Kofu A

              - Safety not yet assured but Shonan not showing enough to suggest they can overtake them. Probably a good thing, as three left against top five teams all with plenty to play for.

15. Kofu 30 (-12); 3 Home 2 Away

FC Tokyo H, Omiya A, Oita H, Nagoya A, Tosu H

              - Probably only need two more wins to ensure survival, three winnable home games equals ample opportunity. No games left against top six sides, expect to see Ventforet in J1 in 2014.

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16. Shonan 25 (-23); 2 Home 3 Away

Niigata A, Kashima H, FC Tokyo A, Hiroshima A, Omiya H

              - Three game unbeaten run halted by Cerezo; next game is absolute must win to keep hope alive. Vast improvement from 2010 but probably not going to be enough.

17. Iwata 20 (-12); 3 Home 2 Away

Shimizu H, Tosu A, Yokohama H, Omiya A, Oita H

              - One win in last 14; relegation will be confirmed if they lose to Shimizu and Kofu beat FC Tokyo in Matchday 30.

Relegated - 18. Oita 13 (-30); 3 Home 2 Away

Yokohama H, Niigata H, Kofu A, Kawasaki H, Iwata A

              - Just their second win of the season on Saturday; need two points from final five to pass 2012 Sapporo and avoid the worst finish in single stage era history, could see them drawing at least two of the final four.