Brazilian players add touch of samba to J-League

Kashiwa Reysol might be the J-League champions and the host country’s representatives at the Club World Cup, but a trio of Brazilians has been key to the Japanese side’s recent success. Attacking midfielder Leandro Domingues, who powered Kashiwa’s fairytale run to Japan’s championship title, was named J-League Player of the Year after netting a prolific 15 goals at an average of a goal in every other game.“This is one of the happiest moments of my life,” said the 28-year-old after he was crowned the league’s best player at a glittering ceremony on Monday.Also honoured that night was Kashiwa’s Brazilian boss Nelsinho Baptista, 61, who was anointed Manager of the Year. Jorge Wagner, another of the boys from Brazil, was named in the J-League team of the year.“I pray that Kashiwa won’t rest on their laurels but will become a team which always stays in title contention,” added set-piece specialist Domingues, who has been with the newly crowned Japanese champions for two seasons.He previously totted up 23 goals for Cruzeiro Esporte Clube in 2007 and 45 for Esporte Clube Vitoria in 2008 and 2009, both in his homeland, before tracking the well-worn path of Brazilians heading to Japan for more money.Tactician Nelsinho was hailed a miracle worker for taking Kashiwa to the J2 title last year and then winning a thrilling three-horse race to the J-League trophy on the final day of the season on Saturday.The back-to-back titles are unprecedented in Japanese football.Nelsinho said Kashiwa would not change the Brazilian-style attack-minded play that won them those titles, along with a spot in the intercontinental Club World Cup as champions of the host country. His audacious substitutions and ever-changing line-up — including 27 different combinations in 34 J-League games this year — have been dubbed “Nelsinho magic” by an admiring Japanese press.