Josh In Doubt For Asian Cup Tie

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ASIAROOS WRAP: Socceroo Joshua Kennedy could be a doubt for next weekend's Asian Cup qualifier in Oman after missing Nagoya's 1-0 J.League win over Vissel Kobe on Sunday with a back injury.

The extent of the complaint is yet to be confirmed by Nagoya, although with the club sitting midtable and out of contention for the AFC Champions League places and safe from relegation, it may have been a precautionary measure.

Nagoya claimed the victory courtesy of Igor Burzanovic's 14th minute strike after he pounced on a defensive error by Vissel. The result leaves Nagoya sitting ninth with 3 games to play in the J.League season.

Elsewhere in Japan, Eddy Bosnar's JEF United Chiba were finally officially relegated from the J.League after a 3-2 loss against title-chasing Kawasaki Frontale on Sunday.

United needed a victory to maintain any slim hope of survival but coming up against the Japanese league leaders wasn't ideal.

Bosnar played a full game for Chiba, but they never looked liked winning the game although Kawasaki needed a late goal from Brazilian striker Renatinho, who claimed a hat-trick, to secure the three points.

Those points are crucial for Kawasaki who maintain their position on top of the table one point ahead of reigning champions Kashima Antlers, who defeated Montedio Yamagata 2-0 on Sunday.

For Bosnar's United, though, there would be no repeat of last season's heroics and the loss marked a sad day for the club, although they insist they will be back.

United's ex-Japanese international striker Seiichiro Maki said, "We can do that (return to the J.League), working hard together as a team."

Although JEF boss Atsuhiko Ejiri added a sobering truth, "We must re-build the team."

Across the Sea of Japan, in Korea's FA Cup final, Sasa Ognenovski's Seongnam Ilhwa devastatingly lost 4-2 on the dreaded penalties to Suwon Bluewings after the match had ended 1-1 after 120 minutes.

Suwon's superstar goalkeeper Lee Woon-Jae was the hero after he saved two spot-kicks in the shootout, enabling the 2008 K-League champions to lift some silverware in 2009 after missing the league playoffs.

The victory means Suwon now qualify for next year's AFC Champions League, while Ognenovski and Seongnam will have to reach the continental competition via the K-League playoffs which sees them face Jade North's Incheon United first up.
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