The J.LEAGUE ALL‑STAR DAZN CUP was held on Saturday, as six teams made up of players from all 60 MEIJI YASUDA J.LEAGUE 100 YEAR VISION LEAGUE J1, J2, and J3 clubs went head-to-head at MUFG Stadium (National Stadium).
Participants were mostly chosen based on supporter votes and each regional group’s Best Eleven, with certain other factors including positional balance also being taken into account, while games were played in a shortened 30-minute format (20 minutes for the third- and fifth-place play-offs).
The day started with a clash between selections from the J2･J3 EAST-A and J2･J3 EAST-B, which was settled 2-0 in favour of J2･J3 EAST-A after goals in the fifth and 18th minutes by Hiroto Yamada of Shonan Bellmare and Akira Silvano Disaro’ of Montedio Yamagata.
Next up, the teams from the J2･J3 WEST-A and J2･J3 WEST-B went head to head, with J2･J3 WEST-B coming out on top after a sumptuous strike from Kagoshima United’s Koju Yoshio in the 23rd minute.
The defeated J2･J3 EAST-B and J2･J3 WEST-A outfits then did battle to decide who would finish fifth, and after two goals in the space of three minutes from Ventforet Kofu striker Kazushi Mitsuhira and Kotaro Fujikawa of AC Nagano Parceiro, the J2･J3 EAST-B side sealed a 2-0 win.
At this point the top flight participants joined proceedings, with J1 EAST first up to take on J2･J3 EAST-A.
Neither side was able to find a way through inside half an hour, so the game went to penalties, with J2･J3 EAST-A emerging as 2-1 victors from the spot after Jun Amano of Yokohama F･Marinos sent his kick against the post.
The J1 WEST selection was also dealt a defeat in its opening match, losing 1-0 to J2･J3 WEST-B after Oita Trinita midfielder Keigo Sakakibara’s left-footed effort in the seventh-minute.
That left the two J1 sides to battle it out for third place, in an entertaining contest that finished 2-2.
Shinnosuke Nakatani and Shinji Kagawa of Gamba Osaka and Cerezo Osaka had put J1 West two goals to the good with 13 minutes played, but Urawa Reds’ Ryoma Watanabe pulled one back in the 15th minute and FC Tokyo forward Rynosuke Sato equalised with seconds remaining to send the game to penalties.
There, Urawa’s Shusaku Nishikawa saved Kagawa’s attempted panenka to secure bragging rights for J1 East.
All that remained was the final between J2･J3 EAST-A and J2･J3 WEST-B to play, and Shoma Doi of Yamagata wrapped up a wonderful day of football for all involved when he slotted home in the third minute to ensure J2･J3 EAST-A were crowned as winners.
