SAITAMA -- J. League Division Two cellar dweller Ventforet Kofu stunned Division One hopeful Omiya Ardija 2-1 at Omiya Soccer Stadium on Wednesday night.
It was Kofu's fifth win of the season and its first 90-minute win since June 16 (a 2-0 win over Yokohama FC). But Kofu failed to move off the bottom of the table after Mito Hollyhock beat Yokohama FC 1-0 in extra time at home.
With the defeat, Omiya slid down from second to third while Oita Trinita climbing up to second with a 2-1 win over Sagan Tosu at home. Leader Kyoto Purple Sanga was held to a 0-0 draw at Vegalta Sendai.
Kofu forward Masatoshi Matsuda put his team ahead in the 32nd minute off a fine cross from midfielder Katsuya Ishihara. Ken Fujita then curled in an angled free-kick from the right flank in the 60th minute for the visitors' 2-0 lead. Kofu goalkeeper Hiromasa Azuma reacted well to Omiya's attack and made some good saves, while central defender Tsuyoshi Tanikawa, an import from Shimizu S-Pulse, did a good job in the backline.
Ardija replied in the 82nd minute through defender Seiichiro Okuno. But the home team played too passively, allowing space to its opponents and having little punch up front.
Yahoo! in 2002
American Internet communications giant Yahoo! Inc. is set to become an official sponsor for next year's World Cup finals in Japan and South Korea, soccer sources said Wednesday.
According to the sources, Yahoo! a communications, commerce and media company that offers a network of services worldwide, will become "an official partner," the highest rank among FIFA sponsors, after it reached a basic agreement with FIFA on Wednesday.