There was an upset in the 2025 J.LEAGUE YBC Levain CUP 3rd Round on Wednesday night, as MEIJI YASUDA J2 LEAGUE side Jubilo Iwata stunned Gamba Osaka 2-1 after extra-time to book their place in next month’s Play-Off Round.
Deniz Hummet gave G-Osaka of the MEIJI YASUDA J1 LEAGUE the lead two minutes before half-time at Yamaha Stadium (Iwata) with a fine looped effort, but Ryoga Sato slammed home an equaliser for Iwata in the 80th minute.
That sent the game into extra-time, and 21-year-old debutant Ryusei Yoshimura converted five minutes into the second period to make himself the hero for Iwata.
Cerezo Osaka also sealed their progression despite conceding first against Kyoto Sanga F.C., recovering superbly to win 4-1.
Murilo Costa put hosts Kyoto in front in the 10th minute but C-Osaka came storming back after the break, equalising through a Kakeru Funaki header three minutes after half-time.
A brace of poacher-like finishes from Thiago Andrade in the 61st and 73rd minutes swung the contest in C-Osaka’s favour, and his fellow Brazilian Rafael Ratao added the gloss with a fierce drive nine minutes from time.
The margin of victory was finer for Shonan Bellmare, but they were also celebrating a place in the next round after edging FC TOKYO 1-0.
Taiyo Hiraoka struck the only goal of the game in the 82nd minute at Lemon Gas Stadium Hiratsuka, keeping his cool to finish after being teed up by some terrific wing-play from Tomoya Fujii.
The battle between Yokohama FC and FC Machida Zelvia was also closely-contested, and after a 1-1 draw Yokohama FC needed a penalty shoot-out to be declared the victors.
Keijiro Ogawa’s 84th minute finish pulled Yokohama FC level after Shota Fujio had bundled FC Machida in front after 12 minutes, and Yokohama FC then kept their cool from 12 yards, scoring all three of their spot-kicks as FC Machida missed three of their four attempts.
Elsewhere, Avispa Fukuoka beat second division Kataller Toyama 2-1 - Yoshiki Takahashi’s strike not enough for Toyama after Ichika Maeda and Hiroki Akino had put Fukuoka 2-0 ahead - goals from Nobuteru Nakagawa and Hayato Nakama earned Kashiwa Reysol a 2-0 win at Renofa Yamaguchi FC, and Tokyo Verdy downed Albirex Niigata by the same scoreline after Yudai Kimura and Shuhei Kawasaki both got on the scoresheet.
