Urawa Reds Team Profile

Urawa Reds are Japan's most popular club.

They play at the 63,000 capacity Saitama Stadium and the 20,000 capacity Komaba Stadium, and drew an average attendance of 46,667 fans between the two grounds in the J-League this season.

Urawa have won the J-League once in 2006, the Emperor's Cup twice in 2005 and 2006 and the League Cup in 2004. They are the reigning AFC Champions League champions.

Key players

Ryota Tsuzuki - Goalkeeper: The ex-Gamba Osaka shot-stopper had a superb 2007, conceding the fewest number of goals in the J-League and helping propel Urawa to the Asian crown. He has done so playing behind an injury-riddled defence, with Urawa often playing two former midfielders in their back four.

Marcus Tulio Tanaka - Central Defence: The Brazilian-raised Japan international is one of the most aggressive players in the J-League and a tower of strength at the back. His tendency to raid forward at every opportunity occasionally leaves Urawa exposed in defence, but means that Tulio is often counted on when Urawa need to throw players into attack.

Keita Suzuki - Defensive Midfield: The gritty Keita Suzuki is the heart and soul of this Urawa team and indispensable to coach Holger Osieck's game plans. Suzuki is a classic "number six," acting as a screen in front of the back four and setting the tempo when Urawa are streaming forward.

Washington - Striker: The fiery ex-Brazil international has been Urawa's top scorer for two seasons now. Often criticised for not being a team player, the former Fenerbahce striker can nevertheless be relied upon to score goals when they are needed.

Weaknesses

Yuki Abe - Defence: Whether in central defence or on the left side of a back four, Yuki Abe has had a forgettable season since his $US3 million switch from league rivals JEF United. Abe's errors have put consistent pressure on the Urawa defence, and the former defensive midfielder has never looked settled since being pushed into the back four by coach Osieck.

Current form

Urawa's current form is dreadful. They picked up just three points from a possible fifteen in their last five J-League matches to see bitter rivals Kashima Antlers snatch the J-League title on the final day of the season. They were also knocked out of the Emperor's Cup as defending champions by J2 side Ehime FC on November 28. The Reds are down on confidence, and they'll need their army of fans to act as their twelfth man in this showdown with Sepahan.

Injuries

The Reds have had a dreadful run of injuries over the back end of the season. Robson Ponte has been ruled out for six months with serious knee ligament damage, prompting coach Holger Osieck to demand that former Feyenoord midfielder Shinji Ono step up in Ponte's absence.

Also under an injury cloud is captain Nobuhisa Yamada, whose participation in this match is doubtful. Tatsuya Tanaka is rated a 50/50 chance of playing - Washington may be Urawa's top goal scorer, but the explosive Tanaka is arguably Urawa's most dangerous striker. Takahito Soma is another player to have missed a considerable part of the season through injury, while midfielder Tadaaki Hirakawa was missing for part of the title run-in, but both players look set to play some part against Sepahan tonight.