The 2018 J.League YBC Levain Cup resumed on Wednesday night with the second round of Group Stage action.

Struggling at home against Albirex Niigata, FC Tokyo found a saviour in 16-year-old Takefusa Kubo who scored his first top team goal just six minutes after stepping onto the pitch as a substitute. 

The 1-0 win saw Tokyo rise to second place in Group A after leaders Yokohama F. Marinos held Vegalta Sendai to a 0-0 draw.

Ventforet Kofu kept their lead in Group B thanks to a 30th-minute goal by Kota Mori, which was enough for a 1-0 win over Shimizu S-Pulse. Jubilo Iwata managed a 1-0 win at Consadole Sapporo thanks to Takuya Matsuura’s effort.

In Group C, Sanfrecce Hiroshima edged Nagoya Grampus 2-1 courtesy of goals from Daiki Watari and Teerasil Dangda, with Shumpei Fukahori giving the visitors hope when he halved the deficit in the 77th minute. 

Elsewhere in the group, Gamba Osaka dominated rivals Urawa Reds in a 4-1 victory, ending their competitive winless streak at 17 matches.

V-Varen Nagasaki recorded their first-ever Levain Cup win after defeating Shonan Bellmare 2-1 in Group D, with Ryo Niizato and Keita Nakamura scoring for the hosts. 

The other match in the group featured goals by Kazuma Watanabe and Shuhei Otsuki as Vissel Kobe notched a 2-0 win at Sagan Tosu.

The third round of the Group Stage will take place on Wednesday, April 4.