The 2025 J.LEAGUE YBC Levain CUP Prime Round got underway with four terrific quarter-final first legs on Wednesday, with Kashiwa Reysol securing a commanding 4-1 lead over Yokohama F･Marinos, Shonan Bellmare edging a five-goal thriller 3-2 against Sanfrecce Hiroshima, Yokohama FC putting themselves in the driving seat with a 2-0 triumph over Vissel Kobe, and Kawasaki Frontale striking a late equaliser to draw 1-1 with Urawa Reds.
Kashiwa moved ahead in the 18th minute at Nissan Stadium, when Diego steered in with his left foot, and Yusuke Segawa doubled the visitors’ lead with a penalty eight minutes into the second half.
Yuki Kakita’s calm finish made it 3-0 after 70 minutes, and although Asahi Uenaka pulled one back for Yokohama F･M with a header with eight minutes remaining Kakita struck again deep into injury time to restore Kashiwa’s three-goal advantage, looping home an outstanding effort in the 98th minute.
It was Hiroshima that opened the scoring at Lemon Gas Stadium Hiratsuka, Mutsuki Kato with a header in the 15th minute, but goals from Akito Suzuki and Hiroaki Okuno four minutes either side of half-time spun the tie in Shonan’s favour - Suzuki tapping in from close range in the 41st minute, and then Okuno converting a rebound in the 49th.
Kosuke Kinoshita thought he had rescued a draw for Hiroshima with a crisp strike with four minutes left on the clock, but Rio Nitta ensured it was first blood Shonan in the second minute of additional time when his shot from the edge of the area deflected in.
Meanwhile, two goals in eight second-half minutes were enough to give Yokohama FC a first-leg advantage over Kobe.
Joao Paulo struck first for the hosts at NHK Spring Mitsuzawa Football Stadium, heading in a loose ball in the 50th minute, and Hinata Ogura put the result beyond doubt eight minutes later when he passed calmly into the net from just inside the penalty area.
In the day’s final game at Saitama Stadium 2002, Urawa looked as though they would be taking a slender one-goal lead into Sunday’s second leg thanks to Shoya Nakajima’s cute finish in the 22nd minute, but Tatsuya Ito made sure the tie remains evenly balanced after he slammed home for Kawasaki-F in the fifth minute of injury time.
The second legs will all take place on Sunday 7th September, when Hiroshima host Shonan at EDION PEACE WING HIROSHIMA, Yokohama F･M head to SANKYO FRONTIER Kashiwa Stadium hoping to pull off a remarkable comeback, Kawasaki and Urawa’s nail-biter will be settled at Uvance Todoroki Stadium by Fujitsu, and Kobe look to turn their contest against Yokohama FC around at NOEVIR Stadium Kobe.
