The Japan Football Association on Wednesday announced a change to its national team competition calendar for November, canceling an international friendly slated for Nov. 13/14 in Tokyo due to a busy J. League schedule.
The JFA initially planned to play two games in November at home as a part of the Japan national team's preparation for the World Cup.
Although Japan will still host Italy on Nov. 7 at Saitama Stadium, one of the 10 Japanese venues for the World Cup, the JFA decided to cancel the game believed to be against Portugal arranged for Nov. 13 or 14 at Tokyo's National Stadium.
Grampus advances
NAGOYA (Kyodo) A second-half free kick from Brazilian striker Ueslei was enough to give Nagoya Grampus Eight a 1-0 home win over Sanfrecce Hiroshima in their Nabisco Cup quarterfinal on Wednesday.
In the only second-leg game of the evening, Ueslei fired home in the 63rd minute to give Tetsuro Miura's side a 4-2 aggregate victory and a place in the semifinals to be held on Sept. 26 and Oct. 10. Typhoon Pabuk, which has caused heavy rain to prevail over various parts of the country for long periods, forced the postponement of Wednesday's other quarterfinal matches.