SURUGA bank Championship 2016 IBARAKI is to be held on Wednesday 10 August at Kashima Soccer Stadium in Ibaraki. Kashima Antlers (Japan), the winner of 2015 J.League YAMAZAKI NABISCO CUP, will play against Independiente Santa Fe (Colombia), the COPA SUDAMERICANA 2015 champions. 

Kashima, who will play a home game, beat Club Universidad de Chile (Chile) on penalties 7-6 after drawing the match 2-2 to win the championship 2012 for the first time. The team became back-to-back champions in 2013 by defeating FC São Paulo FC (Brazil) 3-2. As Kashima tends to perform well in the SURUGA bank Championship, the coach ISHII Masatada noted with confidence: ‘we can play at our home ground. We have an advantage at the start of this championship in terms of conditions.’

Kashima’s strength is that all the players, including the ones on the bench, can find critical moments. They know the key to earning victories, such as switching between attack and defence, staying competitive near the ball, and judging whether or not to launch rapid attacks. The team stayed unbeaten after the 12 Sec. of the 1st Stage in the Meiji Yasuda J1. League, winning six consecutive games to become the champions. The team have players from different generations – a goalkeeper SOGAHATA Hitoshi and the midfielder OGASAWARA Mitsuo as experienced players, the midfielder SHIBASAKI Gaku and the forward DOI Shoma in the middle of their careers, and the forward SUZUKI Yuma as a young one, and each of them play their role in their respective positions.

However, Kashima lost their three most recent consecutive games in the 2nd Stage of the Meiji Yasuda J1. League, which has slightly slowed their momentum. The midfielder ENDO Yasushi could not play due to injury, while the defender UEDA Naomichi had to leave for the Olympics. They are eager to find their rhythm in the League by winning this championship, which will be held with a three-day break after the 7th Sec. of the 2nd Stage. 

Independiente Santa Fe is a particularly illustrious team, who grabbed the inaugural title of the domestic league in 1948. The team won their eighth championship in 2014. They enjoy great popularity in the country, just like their rival from the same city Bogotá, Millonarios FC.

The team won close games one after another to become the champions in the COPA SUDAMERICANA 2015. The experienced goalkeeper ROBINSON ZAPATA and the vice-captain YULIAN ANCHICO led the team with a solid defence, which meant they conceded multiple goals in only one of the 12 games after the first round. In terms of attack, there is a notable combination between Argentines, OMAR PEREZ and JONATAN GOMEZ. They focus on defence, but move forward quickly whenever necessary, which displays the characteristic South American speed and strength.

It is the first time that a team from Colombia will participate in the SURUGA bank Championship. We cannot wait to see how they perform, and whether Kashima can maintain their pride as the home team.

SURUGA bank Championship 2016 IBARAKI
J.LEAGUE YAMAZAKI NABISCO CUP / COPA SUDAMERICANA Championship Final

Kashima Antlers (Japan/Winner of 2015 J.LEAGUE YAMAZAKI NABISCO CUP)
vs  Independiente Santa Fe (Colombia / Winner of COPA SUDAMERICANA 2015)
Wed. 10 August 2016  kick off  19:00/open 16:00 (subject to change)
Ibaraki/Kashima Soccer Stadium

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