2012 J.League Division 2

J.League Division 2
Season2012
ChampionsVentforet Kofu
1st J2 title
1st D2 title
PromotedVentforet Kofu
Shonan Bellmare
Oita Trinita
RelegatedMachida Zelvia
Matches462
Goals1,073 (2.32 per match)
Top goalscorerDavi (29 goals)
Highest attendance23,617
Trinita vs Ventforet
Lowest attendance1,333
Thespa vs Roasso
Average attendance5,805
← 2011
2013 →

The 2012 J.League Division 2 season was the 41st season of the second-tier club football in Japan and the 14th season since the establishment of J2 League. The season started on March 4 and finished on November 11, followed by the promotion playoffs among the 3rd to 6th placed clubs (see the article).

Ventforet Kofu became champions and returned to J1 immediately after one season at J2. Shonan Bellmare finished second and also won the automatic promotion along with Kofu, returning to the J1 after two years of absence. Oita Trinita finished sixth, but won the promotion playoffs by defeating 3rd-placed Kyoto Sanga at the semifinal and 5th-placed JEF United Chiba at the final thus returning to the J1 after three years of absence.

For the first time ever, relegation to the third-tier JFL was implemented, and Machida Zelvia became the unlucky first team to suffer that fate by finishing in bottom place only one season after entering the professional divisions.

Clubs

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Locations of the 2012 J.League 2 teams

The expected participant clubs are as follows:

Club nameHome town(s)Note(s)
Avispa FukuokaFukuokaRelegated from J1 League in 2011
Shonan BellmareSouthcentral cities/town in Kanagawa
Ehime FCAll cities/towns in Ehime
Fagiano OkayamaAll cities/towns in Okayama
Gainare TottoriAll cities/towns in Tottori
FC GifuAll cities/towns in Gifu
Giravanz KitakyushuKitakyushu, Fukuoka
Mito HollyHockMito, Ibaraki
JEF United ChibaChiba & Ichihara, Chiba
Kataller ToyamaAll cities/towns in Toyama
Montedio YamagataAll cities/towns in YamagataRelegated from J1 League in 2011
Roasso KumamotoKumamoto
Kyoto SangaSouthwestern cities/towns in Kyoto
Thespa KusatsuAll cities/towns in Gunma
Tochigi SCUtsunomiya, Tochigi
Oita TrinitaAll cities/towns in Ōita
Ventforet KofuAll cities/towns in YamanashiRelegated from J1 League in 2011
Tokyo VerdyAll cities/towns in Tokyo
Tokushima VortisAll cities/towns in Tokushima
Matsumoto YamagaMatsumoto, NaganoPromoted from JFL in 2011
Yokohama FCYokohama, Kanagawa
Machida ZelviaMachida, TokyoPromoted from JFL in 2011

Foreign players

ClubPlayer 1Player 2Player 3AFC playerType-C contractNon-visa foreignFormer players
Avispa FukuokaBrazil OsmarBrazil SamirSouth Korea Kim Min-jeSouth Korea Oh Chang-hyunNorth Korea Son Jeong-ryun
Shonan BellmareBrazil Alex MartinsBrazil QuirinoSouth Korea Han Kook-youngSouth Korea Lee Min-sooSouth Korea Kim Yeong-giBrazil Fabinho Cambalhota
Brazil Raphael Macena
Ehime FCBrazil AlairCroatia Ante Tomić
Fagiano OkayamaBrazil Anderson GonzagaBrazil TiagoSouth Korea Kim Min-kyunSouth Korea Go Daimu
Gainare TottoriCosta Rica Kenny CunninghamCosta Rica Roy SmithSouth Korea Kim Sun-min
FC GifuBrazil AbudaBrazil DaniloSouth Korea Kim Jung-hyunNorth Korea Ri Han-jaeBrazil Bruno
South Korea Kim Dong-gwon
Giravanz KitakyushuBrazil Leonardo MoreiraSouth Korea Jim Jong-pil
Mito HollyHockSouth Korea Hwang Ju-yunSouth Korea Kim Yong-gi
JEF United ChibaBrazil Ricardo LoboNorway Tor Hogne AarøyAustralia Mark Milligan
Brazil Reginaldo
Kataller ToyamaSouth Korea Seo Yong-duk
Machida ZelviaScotland Colin MarshallSerbia Dragan DimićSouth Korea Lee Woo-jin
Montedio YamagataBrazil Branquinho
Roasso KumamotoBrazil Fábio PenaSouth Korea Choi Kun-sik
Kyoto SangaBurkina Faso Wilfried SanouSerbia Miloš BajalicaSouth Korea Jung Woo-youngSouth Korea Hwang Te-song
Thespa KusatsuBrazil Alex RafaelNorth Korea Kim Song-yongBrazil Lincoln
Brazil Heberty
Tochigi SCBrazil PaulinhoBrazil SabiaSouth Korea Cha Young-hwanSouth Korea Yoo Dae-hyunBrazil Jairo Balotelli
Oita TrinitaSouth Korea Choi Jung-hanSouth Korea Kim Chang-hunSouth Korea Lee Dong-myungSouth Korea Kim Jung-hyun
Ventforet KofuBrazil DaviBrazil DouglasBrazil FernandinhoSouth Korea Choi Sung-keunBrazil Renato SáBrazil Gabriel Pimba
Tokyo VerdyBrazil Alex HenriqueBrazil JymmySouth Korea Bae Dae-wonBrazil NicollasBrazil Josimar
Tokushima VortisBrazil AlexBrazil Diogo OliveiraBrazil DouglasSouth Korea Oh Seung-hoonSouth Korea Kim Jong-minBrazil Elizeu
Matsumoto YamagaBrazil Allisson RicardoBrazil Thiago SilvaSouth Korea Choi Yong-wooSouth Korea Yoon Sung-yeulBrazil Eydison
South Korea Lee Jong-min
Yokohama FCBrazil Igor CastroBrazil KaioSouth Korea Bae Seung-jinSouth Korea Park Tae-hongSouth Korea Na Sung-sooBrazil Roberto

Promotions and relegations

Promotions to Division 1

Rather than 3 spots for automatic promotions to J.League Division 1 (J1) until the previous season, there are only 2 spots for automatic promotions from this season, and the 3rd promoting club will be determined by a play-off called Play-off for Promotion to J1[1] (J1昇格プレーオフ) held by 4 clubs (3rd – 6th placed clubs in the standings in the league matches). The regulation is:[1][2]

First Round
Two fixtures will be held, the "3rd placed club versus the 6th placed club" and the "4th placed club versus the 5th placed club". Each tie will be played as one-off match at the home stadium, which was determined by the standings in the league matches (i.e., 3rd and 4th placed clubs' stadiums).
Final Round
The fixture will be held between the two winners of the first-round fixtures. The tie will be played as one-off match at a neutral venue, which was determined to be the Tokyo National Stadium on 23 July.[3]
Tiebreakers
If the score is tied after 90 minutes, neither extra time nor penalty shoot-out will be held, the winner is determined by the standings in the league matches.
Exceptional Cases
In case one or more clubs of 3rd–6th places cannot meet promotion criteria, remaining clubs will participate in the play-off: the spots cannot be replaced by 7th-placed or lower clubs' case only three of the four clubs meet the promotion criteria, the highest ranked club among them will receive a bye to the final round.
  • In case only two of the four clubs meet the promotion criteria, only the final round will be held.
  • In case only one of the four clubs meets the promotion criteria, it will automatically promote.
  • In case none of the four clubs meets the promotion criteria, the number of promoting club will be decreased.

On 28 September, it was announced that the following clubs did not meet the criteria, mainly in regard to the stadium's size, which are required to J1 clubs to maintain, thus will not be promoted to J1, or participating promotion playoffs even if finishing in the appropriate standing at the end of the regular season:

Relegations to JFL

In 2008, J.League and Japan Football Association planned that at most 3 clubs in J2 are to relegate to Japan Football League (JFL) every season after the number of J2 clubs reached 22.[4]

In January 2012, since the number of J2 clubs reached 22 from this season, J.League determined the regulation of the relegations from J2 to JFL that at most 2 clubs in J2 will relegate to JFL every season. The regulation is:[5]

  • 1st placed JFL club will replace a J2 club if it meets promotion criteria.
  • 2nd placed JFL club will replace a J2 club if it meets promotion criteria and wins a home-and-away play-off against the J2 club.
  • 3rd placed or lower JFL clubs cannot promote to J2 even if 1st or 2nd placed JFL clubs do not meet promotion criteria: the number of relegating clubs from J2 will be decreased.
    • Thus, in the play-off, the second last (i.e. 21st placed) J2 club will meet the 2nd placed JFL club if 1st placed JFL club promotes to J2; otherwise the last (i.e. 22nd placed) J2 club will meet.

League table

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsPromotion or relegation
1Ventforet Kofu (C, P)42241446335+2886Promotion to 2013 J.League Division 1
2Shonan Bellmare (P)42201576643+2375
3Kyoto Sanga42235146145+1674Qualification for promotion playoffs
4Yokohama FC42227136245+1773
5JEF United Chiba42219126133+2872
6Oita Trinita (O, P)42218135940+1971
7Tokyo Verdy42206166546+1966
8Fagiano Okayama421714114134+765
9Giravanz Kitakyushu42197165347+664
10Montedio Yamagata421613135149+261
11Tochigi SC42179165049+160
12Matsumoto Yamaga421514134643+359
13Mito HollyHock421511164749−256
14Roasso Kumamoto421510174048−855
15Tokushima Vortis421312174549−451
16Ehime FC421214164746+150
17Thespa Kusatsu421211193145−1447
18Avispa Fukuoka42914195368−1541
19Kataller Toyama42911223859−2138
20Gainare Tottori42115263378−4538
21FC Gifu42714212755−2835
22Machida Zelvia (R)42711243467−3332Relegation to 2013 Japan Football League[a]
Updated to match(es) played on 11 November 2012. Source: J.League Division 2
Rules for classification: 1st points; 2nd goal differential; 3rd goals scored; 4th head-to-head results; 5th disciplinary points; 6th draw. If two clubs are tied for first place, both clubs will be declared champions.
(C) Champions; (O) Play-off winners; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated
Notes:
  1. ^ The promotion and relegation between J2 and JFL will take place only if more than one promotion-eligible (i.e. having a J.League Associate Membership) JFL team finished above second place and playoff will be played only if a eligible JFL team finished in second place(See the corresponding section for further details). As only 2012 Japan Football League Champion V-Varen Nagasaki has the Associate Membership among the top 2 teams. Machida Zelvia was relegated immediately but no relegation/playoff was taken place for FC Gifu which finished 21st.

Results

Home \ AwayAVIBELEHIFAGGAIGIFGIRHOLJEFKATMONROSSANSPATOCTRIVENVERVORYAMYFCZEL
Avispa Fukuoka1–31–01–14–00–01–01–10–03–21–12–10–20–31–11–12–31–31–32–21–11–1
Shonan Bellmare3–10–02–01–02–11–01–21–11–00–01–2[a]2–12–02–11–11–11–10–01–03–22–0
Ehime FC4–22–11–00–00–02–21–12–20–11–20–02–13–11–11–20–03–11–23–00–12–0
Fagiano Okayama2–13–11–12–00–11–10–30–11–12–12–01–22–12–10–01–12–00–01–00–12–1
Gainare Tottori2–11–21–40–21–01–22–12–11–02–10–12–12–00–21–00–00–20–30–12–50–3
FC Gifu0–33–21–11–22–21–00–10–02–20–00–20–10–01–00–20–31–00–00–10–21–0
Giravanz Kitakyushu4–23–22–00–01–02–11–01–21–00–12–02–00–11–10–22–31–51–20–11–21–1
Mito HollyHock4–21–10–20–02–01–13–10–11–02–22–03–11–03–12–11–30–22–10–02–11–1
JEF United Chiba2–11–11–00–03–10–10–33–01–12–04–03–22–00–01–20–12–23–02–03–00–1
Kataller Toyama0–10–21–01–12–11–02–33–12–01–10–21–11–21–22–31–11–40–11–20–01–1
Montedio Yamagata3–11–22–20–25–12–11–00–00–21–00–21–21–02–13–22–11–11–01–10–13–1
Roasso Kumamoto3–13–30–10–02–13–02–22–11–03–02–10–11–13–02–10–00–20–30–30–12–1
Kyoto Sanga3–21–22–11–13–13–11–04–12–00–12–22–00–11–01–20–01–02–10–12–12–1
Thespa Kusatsu1–01–31–01–01–21–10–20–00–20–13–10–01–01–20–21–20–10–00–01–11–1
Tochigi SC2–0[b]1–11–00–10–11–11–21–02–10–01–02–01–20–00–31–23–21–13–23–41–0
Oita Trinita1–01–41–01–03–02–20–11–00–21–13–00–02–02–30–11–22–10–02–01–22–1
Ventforet Kofu1–12–22–11–01–10–01–21–00–24–10–02–00–32–02–11–03–13–22–12–11–1
Tokyo Verdy1–11–23–00–11–04–10–22–02–11–00–22–00–12–04–13–11–32–02–00–11–1
Tokushima Vortis0–40–03–01–23–03–01–11–20–33–02–21–12–4[a]0–00–10–40–22–11–01–21–0
Matsumoto Yamaga2–21–11–13–07–11–0[a]1–02–11–00–31–20–00–00–20–20–01–13–21–10–23–0
Yokohama FC1–11–00–00–13–13–21–22–10–13–01–22–02–13–01–30–10–20–01–01–12–4
Machida Zelvia0–10–32–42–20–01–00–10–01–63–20–01–01–20–20–31–30–11–21–00–10–4
Updated to match(es) played on 11 November 2012. Source: J. League Division 2
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.
Notes:
  1. ^ a b c 3 matches for the 36th round, Kyoto at Tokushima, Kumamoto at Shonan, and Gifu at Matsumoto, originally scheduled on 30 September, were postponed due to approaching Typhoon Jelawat, to 1 October for Kumamoto at Shonan, 18 October for Gifu at Matsumoto[6] and 25 October for Kyoto at Tokushima.[7]
  2. ^ The 13th round game on 6 May between Tochigi S.C. and Avispa Fukuoka was abandoned at 69th minute because of heavy thunderstorm. The score at the moment was 1–0 for Tochigi (Cha Young-Hwan 48'). The remaining 24 minutes were played on 17 May[8] resulting in another goal for Tochigi (Hirose 73') to secure 2–0 victory.

Top scorers

RankScorerClubGoals
1Brazil DaviVentforet Kofu
32
2Japan Takuma AbeTokyo Verdy
18
Japan Kengo KawamataFagiano Okayama
18
4Japan Yoshihito FujitaJEF United Chiba
15
5Japan Koki AritaEhime FC
14
Japan Jin HanatoGiravanz Kitakyushu
14
Japan Kazushi MitsuhiraOita Trinita
14
Japan Yasuhito MorishimaOita Trinita
14
Japan Atsutaka NakamuraKyoto Sanga
14
Japan Kosuke TaketomiRoasso Kumamoto
14
11Japan Takayuki FunayamaMatsumoto Yamaga
12
Japan Hisashi JogoAvispa Fukuoka
12
Japan Tetsuya ŌkuboYokohama FC
12

Updated to games played on 11 November 2012
Source: J. League

Attendances

PosTeamTotalHighLowAverageChange
1Ventforet Kofu218,53916,6436,16110,407−14.0%†
2Oita Trinita204,13423,6176,4599,721+10.7%†
3Matsumoto Yamaga200,14313,0984,4719,531+27.7%‡
4JEF United Chiba194,89314,4876,2359,281−4.1%†
5Fagiano Okayama167,69112,6183,9467,985+10.0%†
6Montedio Yamagata154,45911,2755,0367,355−21.1%†
7Kyoto Sanga152,73212,2962,9017,273+15.6%†
8Shonan Bellmare143,88710,9183,6026,852−1.3%†
9Yokohama FC126,8109,6872,6396,039+4.7%†
10Roasso Kumamoto122,95610,5303,1275,855−15.5%†
11Avispa Fukuoka117,30910,9023,0925,586−46.4%†
12Tokyo Verdy112,15813,0932,8755,341−6.5%†
13FC Gifu89,67611,1191,7914,270+3.6%†
14Tokushima Vortis83,8087,5261,9333,991−23.4%†
15Mito HollyHock83,4316,9202,2413,973+18.6%†
16Tochigi SC80,8595,1561,9013,850−22.0%†
17Ehime FC76,2016,6121,9503,629+4.4%†
18Machida Zelvia76,1697,1391,8603,627+3.2%‡
19Giravanz Kitakyushu70,2747,6372,1123,346−17.4%†
20Thespa Kusatsu70,1596,8911,3333,341+4.0%†
21Kataller Toyama69,8076,5491,6923,324+1.5%†
22Gainare Tottori65,7866,6291,3633,133−15.1%†
League total2,681,88123,6171,3335,805−9.6%†

Updated to games played on 11 November 2012
Source: J. League Division 2
Notes:
† Team played previous season in J1.
‡ Team played previous season in JFL.

Promotion Playoffs to Division 1

2012 J.League Road To J1 Play-Offs (2012 J1昇格プレーオフ)
The schedule was as follows. The format would be changed if one or more of the involved clubs could not meet the promotion criteria to Division 1.[9]

If the score tied by 90 minutes, the winner would be determined by the league standings.

SemifinalsFinal
      
3Kyoto Sanga0
6Oita Trinita4
6Oita Trinita1
5JEF United Chiba0
4Yokohama FC0
5JEF United Chiba4

Semifinals

Kyoto Sanga0–4Oita Trinita
Morishima 17', 31', 66', 90'
Attendance: 10,760
Referee: Hajime Matsuo
Yokohama FC0–4JEF United Chiba
Fujita 35', 58'
Yonekura 53'
Sato 88'
Attendance: 10,594
Referee: Nobosugu Murakami

Final

Oita Trinita1–0JEF United Chiba
Hayashi 86'
Attendance: 27,433

Oita Trinita promoted to J.League Division 1.

References

  1. ^ a b "２０１２Ｊリーグ Ｊ１昇格プレーオフ　大会方式および試合方式について" [The format of the play-off for promotion to J1]. J.League. 19 December 2011. Archived from the original on 2012-01-06. Retrieved 25 December 2011.
  2. ^ Ｊ１昇格プレーオフ（仮称）２０１２シーズンより導入および大会方式の決定について [Play-off for promotion to J1 introduced from 2012: competition format] (in Japanese). J.League. 18 August 2011. Archived from the original on 2011-09-16. Retrieved 6 December 2011.
  3. ^ "２０１２Ｊリーグ Ｊ１昇格プレーオフ決勝およびＪ２／ＪＦＬ入れ替え戦第１戦の日程変更のお知らせ" [2012 J.League: date changes of J1 promotion playoff final and J2-JFL promotion/relegation series 1st leg]. J.League official website. 23 July 2012. Archived from the original on 2012-07-26. Retrieved 1 August 2012.
  4. ^ Ｊ２リーグの将来像を決定 [Future of J2 League] (in Japanese). J.League. 22 July 2008. Archived from the original on 2012-10-28. Retrieved 6 December 2011.
  5. ^ "２０１２シーズンよりＪ２・ＪＦＬ入れ替え制度導入および「Ｊ２・ＪＦＬ入れ替え戦（仮称）」大会方式について" [Promotions/Relegations between J2 and JFL, promotion/relegation match from 2012]. J.League. 17 January 2012. Archived from the original on 2012-01-21. Retrieved 17 January 2012.
  6. ^ J. League (2 October 2012). "2012Jリーグ　ディビジョン2　第36節　松本山雅FC vs FC岐阜　代替開催日決定のお知らせ" [Notice of rescheduled date for Matsumoto Yamaga FC vs FC Gifu, a 36th round match of 2012 J. League Division 2] (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 5 October 2012. Retrieved 4 October 2012.
  7. ^ J. League (2 October 2012). "2012Jリーグ　ディビジョン2　第36節　徳島ヴォルティス vs 京都サンガF.C.　代替開催日決定のお知らせ" [Notice of rescheduled date for Tokushima Vortis vs Kyoto Sanga F.C., a 36th round match of 2012 J. League Division 2] (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 7 October 2012. Retrieved 4 October 2012.
  8. ^ J. League (11 May 2012). "2012Jリーグ　ディビジョン2　第13節　栃木SC　vs　アビスパ福岡　再開試合　詳細決定" [About the decision on 2012 Division 2 13th round game between Tochigi S.C. and Avispa Fukuoka] (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 2012-05-18. Retrieved 15 May 2012.
  9. ^ ２０１２Ｊリーグ Ｊ１昇格プレーオフ大会概要 [2012 J.League: The outline of the J1-Promotion Playoff] (in Japanese). J.League. 1 February 2012. Archived from the original on 12 February 2012. Retrieved 24 February 2012.
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