A brilliant goal by Cerezo Osaka captain Yoichiro Kakitani helped his side defeat Thespa Kusatsu Gunma by a 1-0 result in the third round of the 2016 MEIJI YASUDA J2 League.

Facing away from the goal after receiving a cross from teammate Ricardo Santos, the former Basel attacker settled the ball with his right foot before deftly flicking it behind him into the goal with his left heel.

Roasso Kumamoto are the only other J2 side to start the season with three wins after Samurai Blue midfielder Hiroshi Kiyotake’s younger brother Koki scored the lone goal in a 1-0 win over Tokyo Verdy.

In a battle between both promoted sides from last year’s MEIJI YASUDA J3 League, visitors Machida Zelvia earned a 2-0 win over Renofa Yamaguchi thanks to goals from Yuki Nakashima and Takafumi Suzuki.