JEF United Chiba were celebrating their first top flight win in 17 years on Saturday, emerging as 2-1 victors from the Chiba Derby against Kashiwa Reysol as REGIONAL ROUND Match Week 5 in the MEIJI YASUDA J1 100 YEAR VISION LEAGUE got underway.
After a tight first half at Fukuda Denshi Arena, Chiba broke the deadlock three minutes into the second period when Takumi Tsukui controlled just outside the penalty area and rifled into the far corner.
Daichi Ishikawa doubled the hosts’ lead 13 minutes later, calmly tapping home a rebound after Kashiwa goalkeeper Ryosuke Kojima had saved his first attempt.
Kashiwa committed men forward as they sought to find a way back into the contest, and although Tojiro Kubo did pull a goal back in the 88th minute, it was too little too late and Chiba could celebrate a long-awaited three points.
Kashima Antlers also took all the spoils from their game against Tokyo Verdy, winning 2-0 thanks to a first-half brace from Yuma Suzuki.
Suzuki headed in Gaku Shibasaki’s corner after 26 minutes to give Kashima control of proceedings, and then converted a penalty in the fifth minute of first-half stoppage time to ensure his side extended their winning run to four games.
Meanwhile, Motoki Nagakura needed just 33 seconds to set FC TOKYO on the way to a 3-0 victory over Yokohama F･Marinos.
Nagakura slotted in after being found by Kein Sato in the first minute at MUFG Stadium, before Ryunosuke Sato made it 2-0 a quarter of an hour later - carving his way into the box from the left flank and lashing a fierce drive beyond Yokohama F･M goalkeeper Ryoya Kimura.
Marcelo Ryan wrapped up the comfortable win for FC TOKYO in the first minute of the second period, hitting the post but then tucking in the rebound 49 seconds after the restart.
Elsewhere, Nagoya Grampus cruised to a 5-1 win over Avispa Fukuoka, and Urawa Reds sealed a 2-0 victory at home to Mito Hollyhock.
Yuya Yamagishi was on the scoresheet twice for Nagoya against his former club, while Sho Inagaki, Yudai Kimura, and Soichiro Mori also registered for the visitors. Teppei Oka scored Fukuoka’s late consolation at BEST DENKI STADIUM.
Urawa’s win was kickstarted by the in-form Renji Hidano, who scored his third goal of the season with a crisp strike four minutes before half-time.
Nineteen-year-old Toshikazu Teruuchi then made it 2-0 with his first J.LEAGUE goal in the third minute of second-half additional time, sweeping in an instinctive strike from just inside the area.
The day’s other game finished scoreless between Cerezo Osaka and Shimizu S-Pulse, with C-Osaka emerging as 4-2 victors after a penalty shoot-out at YODOKO SAKURA STADIUM.
FC TOKYO vs Yokohama F•Marinos - Game Highlights | MW5
Cerezo Osaka vs Shimizu S-Pulse - Game Highlights | MW5
Urawa Reds vs Mito Hollyhock - Game Highlights | MW5
JEF United Chiba vs Kashiwa Reysol - Game Highlights | MW5
Kashima Antlers vs Tokyo Verdy - Game Highlights | MW5
Avispa Fukuoka vs Nagoya Grampus - Game Highlights | MW5
