Art School

Halifax has NSCAD, Yamagata has Tohoku University of Art and Design.

This season J1 is employing an apertura/clausura format, and today is the last game of Stage One. It's a bit strange that the powers that be have made this change, after they abandoned a similar format in 2004. Also unusual is the fact that while J1 and the fourth-tier JFL are using the apertura/clausura system, J2 and J3 are not.

Going into today's action Urawa Red Diamonds have already won Stage One. They will play the winner of Stage Two and the leaders of the overall table in a championship playoff in the autumn.

Montedio Yamagata [1 - 3] Gamba Osaka.

We've followed a few Japanese clubs here in past seasons. How are they doing this year? Consadole Sapporo are near the top of J2, and Mito HollyHock are near the bottom. Grulla Morioka are near the bottom of J3.

Women's World Cup. Tuesday it was Japan [2 - 1] Netherlands. Today it's England [2 - 1] Canada, and Australia [0 - 1] Japan.

Wednesday Aberdeen defeated Brechin City 2 - 8 in a friendly at Glebe Park, raising the question, "Can they win the Treble?"

Today UCD AFC visit Cobh Ramblers. [1 - 1.]