FC Machida Zelvia won their first piece of major silverware on Saturday, as they claimed a 3-1 win over Vissel Kobe in the Emperor's Cup JFA 105th Japan Football Championship Final.
Shota Fujio claimed a brace and Yuki Soma also got his name on the scoresheet for FC Machida, with Taisei Miyashiro’s header just past the hour mark for Kobe ultimately proving to be no more than a consolation.
FC Machida burst out of the traps and took the lead in the sixth minute at Japan National Stadium, as Fujio just about beat Kobe goalkeeper Daiya Maekawa to Yuta Nakayama’s cross from the left and saw his header drop over the line before Katsuya Nagato could get back to clear.
Yosuke Ideguchi came incredibly close to levelling things up in the 22nd minute, but FC Machida goalkeeper Kosei Tani kept his shot out with a terrific save.
The chances continued at both ends of the pitch as Hiroyuki Mae fired off target for FC Machida in the 24th minute and Miyashiro then broke in behind for Kobe four minutes later, only to find Gen Shoji blocking his path to goal.
Maekawa then got down well to make a smart save to his left from a whipped Nakayama free-kick five minutes after that, but he was unable to deny Soma in the 32nd minute.
Mitchell Duke found Soma’s run in behind with a delicious ball from the halfway line, and the Japan forward kept his cool superbly, settling himself before dinking a shot beyond Maekawa and the returning Tetsushi Yamakawa and into the far corner of the net.
Yamakawa then had a half chance to pull a goal back for Kobe in the second minute of first half stoppage time, but blazed over after the ball broke to him outside the area, meaning FC Machida went in 2-0 up at the break.
Things got even better for Go Kuroda’s side 11 minutes into the second half, as Fujio rifled home his second goal of the game.
Kotaro Hayashi did well to keep possession in the middle of the park and then work the ball forwards, and after it broke to Fujio he slammed a fizzing drive beyond Maekawa and into the net from the edge of the D.
Kobe did then manage to pull a goal back in the 62nd minute when Miyashiro glanced a header beyond Tani after Daiju Sasaki’s in-swinging cross from the left flank, but that was the only time they were able to find a way through, leaving FC Machida to celebrate a maiden title.
