Emperor's Cup 3rd Round Recap: TOYO University, Sagamihara, and Yamagata all spring surprises to book Round of 16 places

Emperor's Cup 3rd Round Recap: TOYO University, Sagamihara, and Yamagata all spring surprises to book Round of 16 places

There were more sensational upsets in the Emperor's Cup JFA 105th Japan Football Championship 3rd Round on Wednesday, as another trio of 2025 MEIJI YASUDA J1 LEAGUE sides were eliminated by lower-league opposition.

Albirex Niigata were the biggest casualty, falling to a 2-1 defeat at home to TOYO University.

TOYO took the lead in the second minute of first half stoppage time after Riki Murakami tucked in from close range, and although Kento Hashimoto equalised for Niigata with a crisp finish four minutes after the restart, Mahiro Yunomae made himself the hero for TOYO when he capitalised on an under-hit back-pass in the 57th minute.

Things were far tighter at Uvance Todoroki Stadium by Fujitsu, where Kawasaki Frontale and 2025 MEIJI YASUDA J3 LEAGUE side S.C. Sagamihara couldn’t be separated over 120 minutes, playing out a 0-0 draw.

Sagamihara better held their nerve from 12 yards though, emerging as 3-1 winners from the resultant penalty shoot-out.

The tie between Gamba Osaka and Montedio Yamagata of the 2025 MEIJI YASUDA J2 LEAGUE also required penalties to determine the victor, after the sides drew a rollercoaster battle 4-4.

A pair of Ryoma Kida strikes in the 20th and 30th minutes put Yamagata 2-0 up at the break, but G-Osaka roared back in the second half and moved ahead thanks to a Keisuke Kurokawa goal and a brace from Issam Jebali.

Junya Takahashi equalised for Yamagata in the 78th minute, sending the game to extra-time, and Kaina Yoshio thought he had settled things when he made it 4-3 to the second division side with four minutes remaining, only for Shinnosuke Nakatani to level for G-Osaka in the 122nd minute.

Yamagata refused to let that late blow shake their confidence in the shoot-out though, and they came out on top 4-3 from the spot.

There was late drama in Kofu as well, where MEIJI YASUDA J2 LEAGUE side and 2022 Emperor's Cup winners Ventforet Kofu almost knocked out reigning champions Vissel Kobe.

It looked as though Yamato Naito’s 58th-minute strike would be enough to seal Kofu’s progression to the Round of 16, but Takuya Iwanami equalised in the seventh minute of stoppage time before Erik pounced to make it 2-1 and keep Kobe’s title defence alive in the fourth minute of extra time.

Other standout results came by way of Sanfrecce Hiroshima’s 5-2 win over Fujieda MYFC, Kyoto Sanga F.C. edging Yokohama FC on penalties after a 3-3 draw, and MEIJI YASUDA J1 LEAGUE side Avispa Fukuoka needing penalties to defeat local rivals Giravanz Kitakyushu of the MEIJI YASUDA J3 LEAGUE after a scoreless draw.

Click here to see all the results from Wednesday's games.

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