REGIONAL ROUND Match Week 4 in the MEIJI YASUDA J1 100 YEAR VISION LEAGUE wrapped up with a pair of penalty shoot-outs on Sunday, as both Fagiano Okayama and Kawasaki Frontale kept their nerve from 12 yards to claim two points apiece.
Okayama secured their first win of the season by edging past Nagoya Grampus after a 1-1 draw, while Kawasaki-F emerged victorious from the spot after coming from two-goals down to force penalties against a spirited Mito Hollyhock.
Nagoya struck first in the 48th minute at JFE Harenokuni Stadium, when Yuya Yamagishi headed in from the edge of the six-yard box after Katsuhiro Nakayama’s teasing cross from the left flank.
Kota Kawano levelled for Okayama with 11 minutes remaining, however, registering his first goal in the top flight with a powerful header at the back post after fellow substitute Yuta Kamiya’s corner.
Kawano then made sure of the win for Okayama in the shoot-out, converting their final kick to make it 5-4 after Haruya Fujii had missed Nagoya’s third attempt.
Meanwhile at Uvance Todoroki Stadium by Fujitsu, a pair of Chihiro Kato strikes at the end of the first half saw Mito go into the break two goals to the good.
First up, Kato slammed home from the middle of the penalty area after being teed up by Arata Watanabe in the 45th minute, and then four minutes later the 27-year-old bundled over the line after Kawasaki-F goalkeeper Svend Brodersen had parried Takumi Mase’s initial attempt.
Mito stood firm for the majority of the second half and it looked as though they would see out a famous win, but with six minutes remaining Kawasaki-F won a penalty and Erison halved the deficit.
Then, in the third minute of stoppage time, Yasuto Wakizaka stole in ahead of Sho Omori and prodded beyond Mito goalkeeper Konosuke Nishikawa to make it 2-2 and send the game to a decider from the spot.
Once there Kawasaki-F had the momentum with them, converting all four of their penalties to seal a 4-2 victory.
Fagiano Okayama vs Nagoya Grampus - Game Highlights | MW4
Kawasaki Frontale vs Mito Hollyhock - Game Highlights | MW4
