JEF United Chiba striker Maki impresses in front of Coach Zico

Japan striker Seiichiro Maki scored the first of two second-half goals as JEF United Chiba put another dent in Urawa Reds’ title bid with a 2-0 victory in the J-League first-division on Wednesday. Maki struck 16 minutes from time at a packed Fukuda Denshi Arena.

World Cup hopeful Maki delivered an energetic performance in front of watching Japan coach Zico and thought he had given JEF the lead only to see his 16th-minute effort ruled out for offside.

Maki went close in the 34th minute but Urawa Reds keeper Norihiro Yamagishi, in for the injured Ryota Tsuzuki, pulled off an excellent save to deny the lanky striker.

JEF deservedly took the lead when Maki rammed a low shot in off the post after a neat layoff from Yuto Sato.

The Japan striker who is in the squad to play both Bulgaria and Scotland in the Kirin cup will be hoping he does enough to get a seat on the plane to Germany.