NEWS

Kashima Antlers, Urawa Reds and Nagoya Grampus all struggled to beat lower-ranked opponents, while Tokyo Verdy crashed out in the fourth round of the Emperor’s Cup over the weekend.

Cup holders Kashima needed a penalty shootout to beat Kokushikan University 3-0 at home following a 2-2 draw after extra-time.
Former Japan goalkeeper Hitoshi Sogahata stopped the first three spot kicks from the college side, while Kashima’s kickers – Marquinhos, Takuya Nozawa and Danilo – all converted their shots in the shootout.
Earlier, Kashima saw the college side go ahead in the 40th minute thanks to forward Masaru Takahashi’s superb 30-meter piledriver. The hosts cancelled that out when Brazilian midfielder Danilo connected with a Masaki Chugo free-kick in the 44th minute.
But Kokushikan went ahead again in the 60th minute through Amano.
The full-strength Kashima team pushed hard and forward Marquinhos was brought down by Kokushikan goalkeeper Kenji Yamada when the Brazilian cut into the box. Marquinhos, the current leading goalscorer in the J. League, made no mistake with the spot kick in the 75th minute.
Kashima manager Oswaldo Oliveria commented, “I told our players to play with the same spirit as in our league games, but some of the players didn’t approach the game in that manner.”
In Saitama, Urawa edged Division Two club Ehime FC 1-0 in extra time thanks to Robson Ponte’s 95th-minute penalty at Urawa’s Komaba Stadium.
Reds looked sluggish and lacked good finishing touches despite creating chances through midfielder Hajime Hosogai and defender Marcus Tulio Tanaka, and the hosts had to wait until the sixth minute of extra-time to get on the score-sheet.
Reds won a penalty in the 95th minute after Tulio was pushed down in the box. Brazilian midfielder Ponte wrong-footed Ehime goalkeeper Yusuke Kawakita to score the game’s only goal.
But Reds went down to 10 men in the 102nd minute when Hosogai was red-carded for violent conduct.
Ehime threatened with a mid-range shot from midfielder Shigeru Yokotani in the 110th minute, while Shuichi Akai hit the bar three minutes from time.
“It was a typical cup game,” said Reds manager Gert Engels. “It would have been a different game if we had scored earlier. We scored thanks to Tulio’s tenacious performance.”
Nagoya held off Division Two side FC Gifu 1-0 thanks to defender Maya Yoshida’s stoppage-time goal.
Division Two champions Sanfrecce Hiroshima downed 10-man Division One side Tokyo Verdy 1-0 thanks to Issei Takayanagi’s last-minute goal. Verdy’s Brazilian forward Diego was sent off in the 45th minute for violent conduct against Hiroshima defender Ilian Stojanov.
Jubilo’s Masashi Nakayama scored in the 70th minute at the age of 41 years, one month and 10 days to become the oldest player to score in the Emperor’s Cup since the start of the J. League as Iwata beat JFL side Tochigi SC 3-1 at home.
Elsewhere, Keisuke Kurihara scored a hat trick to highlight Vissel Kobe’s 8-0 win over Matsumoto Yamaga FC of Nagano Prefecture, while Hiroyuki Taniguchi, Vitor Junior and Renatinho helped Kawasaki Frontale beat Montedio Yamagata 3-1.
In other games, FC Tokyo edged Vegalta Sendai 2-1 on Sota Hirayama’s stoppage-time goal; Kyoto Sanga beat Mito Hollyhock 3-0; Yokohama F. Marinos downed Consadole Sapporo 1-0; Omiya Ardija beat Cerezo Osaka 1-0; Kashiwa Reysol defeated Kusatsu 1-0; and Albirex Niigata downed Yokohama FC 2-0.
Nabisco Cup winners Oita Trinita and AFC Champions League finalists Gamba Osaka will play their game on Wednesday night and November 16, respectively.