2013 J.League Division 2

The 2013 J.League Division 2 season is the 42nd season of the second-tier club football in Japan and the 15th season since the establishment of J2 League. The regular season began on 3 March and ended on 24 November, followed by the promotion play-offs among four clubs ranked between 3rd and 6th at the end of regular season. Gamba Osaka became champions, and Vissel Kobe became runners-up, both returned to J1 immediately after one season at J2. The other promoted team is third runners-up (fourth placers) Tokushima Vortis, who won the promotion playoff final, defeating Kyoto Sanga FC. With the win, Vortis are making their J1 debut, becoming the first professional Shikoku football club to compete in the top division of their national league.

J.League Division 2
Season2013
ChampionsGamba Osaka
1st J2 title
2nd D2 title
PromotedGamba Osaka
Vissel Kobe
Tokushima Vortis
RelegatedGainare Tottori
Matches played462
Goals scored1,212 (2.62 per match)
Top goalscorerKempes
(22 goals)
Highest attendance24,813
Sapporo vs Kitakyushu
Lowest attendance1,104
Ehime vs Kumamoto
Average attendance6,665
← 2012
2014 →

Clubs

Ventforet Kofu and Shonan Bellmare, champions and runners-up in the previous season, and Oita Trinita, winners of the promotion play-offs for 2012, were promoted to J1, then Consadole Sapporo, Vissel Kobe, and Gamba Osaka were relegated to J2 instead. Sapporo returned to J2 only after one season in the top-flight, and Kobe returned to J2 second time after 2006 season, while Gamba suffers their very first relegation to the second-tier after J.League Division 2 was established in 1999, and the first relegation since their former organization, Matsushita Electric Soccer Club, were relegated after the 1986–87 season of JSL.

V-Varen Nagasaki, champions of the 2012 Japan Football League, are promoted to J2 while F.C. Machida Zelvia, promoted to J2 from the previous season and ranked 22nd, were relegated back to 2013 Japan Football League only after spending one season in J2.

In February, Thespa Kusatsu changed their name to Thespakusatsu Gunma.

Locations of the 2013 J.League 2 teams

The expected participant clubs are as follows:

Club name Home town(s) Note(s)
Avispa Fukuoka Fukuoka
Consadole Sapporo Sapporo, Hokkaidō Relegated from J1 League in 2012
Ehime FC All cities/towns in Ehime
Fagiano Okayama All cities/towns in Okayama
Gainare Tottori All cities/towns in Tottori
Gamba Osaka Suita, Osaka Relegated from J1 League in 2012
FC Gifu All cities/towns in Gifu
Giravanz Kitakyushu Kitakyushu, Fukuoka
Mito HollyHock Mito, Ibaraki
JEF United Chiba Chiba & Ichihara, Chiba
Kataller Toyama All cities/towns in Toyama
Montedio Yamagata All cities/towns in Yamagata
Roasso Kumamoto Kumamoto
Kyoto Sanga Southwestern cities/towns in Kyoto
Thespakusatsu Gunma All cities/towns in Gunma
Tochigi SC Utsunomiya, Tochigi
Tokyo Verdy All cities/towns in Tokyo
Vissel Kobe Kobe, Hyōgo Relegated from J1 League in 2012
Tokushima Vortis All cities/towns in Tokushima
V-Varen Nagasaki All cities/towns in Nagasaki Champions of JFL in 2012
Matsumoto Yamaga Matsumoto, Nagano
Yokohama FC Yokohama, Kanagawa

Foreign players
Club Player 1 Player 2 Player 3 Asian Player Non-Visa Foreign Type-C Contract
Avispa Fukuoka Park Gon Bratislav Punoševac Oh Chang-hyun Kim Min-je Chang Jong-won
Consadole Sapporo Ferro Paulao Cho Sung-jin Lê Công Vinh
Ehime FC Alair Ante Tomić Osmar
Fagiano Okayama Piakai Henkel Kim Min-kyun
Gainare Tottori Dudu Ansger Otto
Gamba Osaka Rocha Paulinho Oh Jae-suk
FC Gifu Desmond Blaže Ilioski Stipe Plazibat Ri Han-jae Kayne Vincent
Giravanz Kitakyushu Ahn Young-gyu Kim Dong-hee Lee Keun-ho Nam Il-woo
Mito HollyHock Kim Yong-gi
JEF United Chiba Kempes Kim Hyun-hun Nam Seung-woo
Kataller Toyama Kim Young-keun Yang Hae-joon Seo Yong-duk
Montedio Yamagata Romero Frank Lee Joo-young Álvaro Peña Kim Byeom-yong
Roasso Kumamoto Douglas Fabio Ro Hyung-gu
Kyoto Sanga Wilfried Sanou Miloš Bajalica Kang Song-ho Oh Seung-hoon Hwang Te-song
Thespakusatsu Gunma Eder Daniel Lovinho Kweon Han-jin Hwang Te-jun Hwang Song-su
Tochigi SC Cristiano Paulinho Sabia Cha Young-hwan
Tokyo Verdy Kim Jong-pil
Tokushima Vortis Alex Douglas Kim Jong-min
Matsumoto Yamaga Rodrigo Cabeça Park Gwang-il Yoon Sung-yeul
Vissel Kobe Mazinho Popó Estiven Lee Kwang-seon Kim Song-gi Gang Yoon-goo
V-Varen Nagasaki Cho Min-woo Oh Chang-hyun
Yokohama FC Bae Hu-min Patrick Vieira Bae Seung-jin Na Sung-soo

League table
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion or relegation
1 Gamba Osaka (C, P) 42 25 12 5 99 46 +53 87 Promotion to 2014 J.League Division 1
2 Vissel Kobe (P) 42 25 8 9 78 41 +37 83
3 Kyoto Sanga 42 20 10 12 68 46 +22 70 Qualification for Promotion Playoffs[lower-alpha 1]
4 Tokushima Vortis (O, P) 42 20 7 15 56 51 +5 67
5 JEF United Chiba 42 18 12 12 68 49 +19 66
6 V-Varen Nagasaki 42 19 9 14 48 40 +8 66
7 Matsumoto Yamaga 42 19 9 14 54 54 0 66
8 Consadole Sapporo 42 20 4 18 60 49 +11 64
9 Tochigi SC 42 17 12 13 61 55 +6 63
10 Montedio Yamagata 42 16 11 15 74 61 +13 59
11 Yokohama FC 42 15 13 14 49 46 +3 58
12 Fagiano Okayama 42 13 17 12 52 48 +4 56
13 Tokyo Verdy 42 14 14 14 52 58 −6 56
14 Avispa Fukuoka 42 15 11 16 47 54 −7 56
15 Mito HollyHock 42 14 13 15 50 58 −8 55 Ineligible for promotion
16 Giravanz Kitakyushu 42 13 10 19 50 60 −10 49
17 Ehime FC 42 12 11 19 43 52 −9 47
18 Kataller Toyama 42 11 11 20 45 59 −14 44
19 Roasso Kumamoto 42 10 13 19 40 70 −30 43
20 Thespakusatsu Gunma 42 9 13 20 43 61 −18 40
21 FC Gifu 42 9 10 23 37 80 −43 37 Ineligible for promotion
22 Gainare Tottori (R) 42 5 16 21 38 74 −36 31 Qualification for Relegation Playoffs[lower-alpha 2]
Updated to match(es) played on 8 December 2013. Source: J.League Division 2
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
(C) Champion; (O) Play-off winner; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated.
Notes:
  1. Only teams that meet J1 criteria can participate in promotion playoffs. If one or more teams fail to meet the criteria, only eligible teams that finished 3rd to 6th will participate and no replacement teams will be added.
  2. Promotion/Relegation Play-offs between J2 and JFL will take place between Kamatamare Sanuki, 2nd-placed club of 2013 Japan Football League with J. League Associate Membership, and 22nd-ranked club of 2013 J2

Results
Home \ Away AVI CON EHI FAG GAI GAM GIF GIR HOL JEF KAT MON ROS SAN SPA TOC VVN VER VIS VOR YAM YFC
Avispa Fukuoka 0–1 2–0 2–0 1–1 2–3 2–1 2–1 1–1 3–4 1–4 2–1 1–1 1–2 1–0 2–0 2–1 2–3 0–0 1–0 0–1 1–5
Consadole Sapporo 3–0 3–0 2–2 3–0 1–3 4–0 0–0 0–1 1–0 1–0 3–1 1–3 0–1 1–3 0–1 1–0 1–1 1–0 2–1 1–2 2–0
Ehime FC 2–2 3–2 0–1 1–0 1–2 0–0 3–0 2–2 0–1 0–0 3–1 1–1 2–0 2–0 3–0 0–2 4–0 2–4 0–2 1–1 0–1
Fagiano Okayama 1–1 3–2 1–1 2–0 2–3 1–2 0–0 1–1 3–0 1–3 4–3 2–3 1–1 2–0 1–3 1–1 2–0 1–0 2–0 2–1 0–0
Gainare Tottori 0–0 0–2 1–1 0–0 1–7 3–4 2–3 3–1 2–2 2–3 0–6 0–0 0–1 1–1 1–1 0–3 1–1 1–2 0–1 1–0 0–0
Gamba Osaka 1–0 3–0 0–1 1–1 1–1 2–0 1–1 5–0 1–1 3–1 3–2 4–0 3–3 5–1 3–0 1–2 0–0 3–2 2–0 1–0 0–0
FC Gifu 0–2 0–3 1–1 0–0 2–1 2–8 3–1 1–4 0–1 2–3 1–1 0–0 0–3 0–0 0–1 2–1 1–2 1–0 0–1 1–2 0–2
Giravanz Kitakyushu 0–2 1–2 1–0 2–1 2–1 0–1 2–0 0–2 1–0 1–2 1–2 7–0 1–1 3–2 0–2 1–2 1–1 2–3 0–2 1–2 1–1
Mito HollyHock 0–0 1–3 0–1 1–0 2–2 0–2 4–1 2–2 2–0 1–0 1–3 1–1 2–1 1–1 4–3 0–0 1–0 0–2 0–0 1–2 2–2
JEF United Chiba 1–1 0–1 2–0 0–0 1–1 3–0 1–1 6–1 2–0 3–2 1–3 6–0 1–2 2–2 1–1 0–2 2–1 2–1 1–2 1–0 1–1
Kataller Toyama 1–2 3–1 1–0 0–0 1–1 0–4 1–2 0–0 2–1 1–2 1–3 1–2 1–0 0–0 1–2 1–1 1–1 0–0 2–1 0–1 0–1
Montedio Yamagata 2–1 0–1 3–0 1–2 2–3 0–1 2–2 0–1 2–1 0–3 3–1 1–0 1–2 1–1 2–1 2–0 0–0 3–2 2–2 4–1 5–1
Roasso Kumamoto 1–1 2–1 0–1 1–1 1–2 2–2 1–1 1–2 3–2 0–3 1–1 1–1 1–3 2–3 1–4 1–0 2–1 1–2 0–1 0–3 0–1
Kyoto Sanga 2–1 2–0 4–1 2–4 3–0 0–2 2–0 1–2 0–1 3–3 3–2 1–1 2–0 2–1 1–2 2–0 0–0 4–1 1–2 0–1 0–1
Thespakusatsu Gunma 0–1 2–0 2–1 2–1 0–0 1–1 0–1 0–0 0–1 0–2 1–1 2–2 1–0 2–3 0–1 1–2 0–1 2–2 4–1 3–0 1–0
Tochigi SC 2–0 4–3 0–1 1–0 1–1 4–2 2–0 3–2 0–1 0–0 1–1 1–1 0–1 2–2 3–0 2–2 4–2 2–2 0–1 0–1 0–0
V-Varen Nagasaki 0–0 0–0 1–1 1–1 3–1 1–3 3–0 1–0 0–2 2–1 1–0 2–1 1–0 0–1 1–0 2–0 2–1 0–2 0–1 0–1 2–0
Tokyo Verdy 0–1 2–1 2–1 1–1 3–0 3–3 3–0 1–0 0–0 1–0 1–2 2–0 1–1 0–5 2–1 3–3 2–1 2–1 1–1 1–3 1–3
Vissel Kobe 4–0 1–0 2–0 3–3 0–1 2–0 4–0 2–1 1–1 2–2 1–0 1–0 3–0 0–0 4–1 2–0 2–0 2–1 3–2 7–0 1–0
Tokushima Vortis 2–1 1–0 3–2 2–0 2–1 1–5 3–1 1–2 3–1 1–2 2–0 2–2 0–3 1–1 4–1 0–1 1–2 2–1 0–1 2–0 0–1
Matsumoto Yamaga 2–1 2–4 1–0 1–0 2–1 2–2 1–2 1–1 2–0 3–2 3–0 2–3 1–2 1–1 1–1 2–2 1–1 0–0 1–2 0–0 0–1
Yokohama FC 0–1 0–2 0–0 0–1 2–1 2–2 2–2 1–2 4–1 1–2 2–1 1–1 0–0 1–0 2–0 3–1 1–2 2–3 1–2 2–2 1–3
Updated to match(es) played on 24 November 2013. Source: J. League Division 2
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Play-offs

Promotion Playoffs to Division 1

Teams that finished 3rd to 6th participate in play-off series for the last J1 promotion berth.

Semifinals Final
      
3 Kyoto Sanga 0
6 V-Varen Nagasaki 0
3 Kyoto Sanga 0
4 Tokushima Vortis 2
4 Tokushima Vortis 1
5 JEF United Chiba 1

Semifinals
Kyoto Sanga0–0V-Varen Nagasaki
Report
Nishikyogoku Athletic Stadium, Ukyō-ku, Kyoto
Attendance: 12,387
Referee: Ryuji Sato
Tokushima Vortis1–1JEF United Chiba
Douglas  37' Report  40' Yamaguchi
Attendance: 9,301

If the score is tied after 90 minutes, no extra time is played and the winner is the team with the best league ranking.

Final
Kyoto Sanga0–2Tokushima Vortis
Report Chiyotanda  39'
Tsuda  43'
National Olympic Stadium, Shinjuku, Tokyo
Attendance: 23,266
Referee: Nobutsugu Murakami

Tokushima Voltis will be promoted to 2014 J.League Division 1

JFL Relegation Playoffs

The last-placed Gainare Tottori faced 2013 Japan Football League runners-up Kamatamare Sanuki in a two-legged playoff series.

Team 1 Agg. Team 2 1st leg 2nd leg
Gainare Tottori 1–2 Kamatamare Sanuki 1–1 0–1
Kamatamare Sanuki1–1Gainare Tottori
Takahashi  47' Report  50' Mori
Kagawa Marugame Stadium, Marugame, Kagawa
Attendance: 5,793
Referee: Yosuke Kubota
Gainare Tottori0–1Kamatamare Sanuki
Report Takahashi  20'
Tottori Bank Bird Stadium, Tottori
Attendance: 6,313
Referee: Koichiro Fukushima

Gainare Tottori will be relegated to 2014 J3 League

Top scorers
Rank Scorer Club Goals
1 Kempes JEF United Chiba
22
2 Takashi Usami Gamba Osaka
19
3 Yoshihiro Uchimura Consadole Sapporo
17
4 Cristiano Tochigi SC
16
Keijiro Ogawa Vissel Kobe
16
Popó Vissel Kobe
16
Sabiá Tochigi SC
16
8 Tomohiro Tsuda Tokushima Vortis
14
9 Ryuichi Hirashige Thespakusatsu Gunma
13
Leandro Gamba Osaka[1]
13

Updated to games played on 24 November 2013
Source: J. League

Awards

Player of the Month
Month Player Club
March Popó Vissel Kobe
April Leandro Gamba Osaka
May Oh Seung-Hoon Kyoto Sanga
June Ryohei Hayashi Montedio Yamagata
July Koji Yamase Kyoto Sanga
August Takashi Usami Gamba Osaka
September Keijiro Ogawa Vissel Kobe
October Kempes JEF United Chiba
November

Attendances
Pos Team Total High Low Average Change
1 Gamba Osaka 257,996 18,041 8,045 12,286 −16.9%†
2 Vissel Kobe 241,841 23,012 4,151 11,516 −21.3%†
3 Matsumoto Yamaga 231,866 17,148 7,153 11,041 +15.8%†
4 Consadole Sapporo 211,568 24,813 4,837 10,075 −16.1%†
5 JEF United Chiba 210,078 15,982 6,511 10,004 +7.8%†
6 Fagiano Okayama 180,056 18,269 6,234 8,574 +7.4%†
7 Kyoto Sanga 165,717 15,380 4,314 7,891 +8.5%†
8 Montedio Yamagata 147,416 17,223 4,433 7,020 −4.6%†
9 Tokyo Verdy 133,201 18,705 2,539 6,343 +18.8%†
10 Roasso Kumamoto 130,769 12,003 3,339 6,227 +6.4%†
11 V-Varen Nagasaki 129,517 18,153 2,093 6,167 +68.7%‡
12 Yokohama FC 127,354 12,490 2,139 6,064 +0.4%†
13 Avispa Fukuoka 120,270 14,526 2,640 5,727 +2.5%†
14 Tochigi SC 103,360 10,687 2,103 4,922 +27.8%†
15 Mito HollyHock 97,237 10,025 2,513 4,630 +16.5%†
16 FC Gifu 95,032 11,719 2,341 4,525 +6.0%†
17 Kataller Toyama 93,960 13,639 2,315 4,474 +34.6%†
18 Tokushima Vortis 91,303 8,897 1,875 4,348 +8.9%†
19 Gainare Tottori 86,033 10,096 1,530 4,097 +30.8%†
20 Ehime FC 82,952 10,381 1,104 3,950 +8.8%†
21 Thespakusatsu Gunma 74,990 7,810 1,472 3,571 +6.9%†
22 Giravanz Kitakyushu 66,665 7,207 1,607 3,175 −5.1%†
League total 3,079,181 23,012 1,104 6,665 +14.8%†

Updated to games played on 24 November 2013
Source: J. League Division 2
Notes:
† Team played previous season in J1.
‡ Team played previous season in JFL.

References
  1. Plays for Gamba until June
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