Emperor’s Cup 3rd Round Results

Here is a quick rundown of the results from last night’s games in the Emperor’s Cup. The starting XI formations will be posted shortly. Of our local teams, Vissel Kobe and Tokushima Vortis progressed to the next round, while Kyoto Sanga bowed out to J1 opponents.

Vissel Kobe

Vissel Kobe 1-0 JEF United

Watanabe’s first half goal as enough to see the home team through against the J2 team.

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Tokushima Vortis

Albirex Niigata 1-2 Vortis

Ishii and Yu Hasegawa goals helped the J2 team overcome struggling Albirex.

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Kyoto Sanga

Kawasaki Frontale 3-0 Sanga

Yoshito Okubo and co. were too much for Sanga, but the J2 team kept the game close until last into the second half.

Tamada helps Cerezo ease past Giravanz

Cerezo Osaka

Cerezo 1-0 Giravanz Kitakyushu

The return of Keiji Tamada from injury, was enough to help Cerezo claim all three points against valiant Giravanz.

Cerezo looking for their first win in three games, eventually claimed the three points their play deserved when Yusuke Tanaka headed home Tamada’s free kick in the second half. It was good see Tanaka get his first goal for the teams, after spening most of last week’s game against Avispa struggling to contain Japan U-22s Takeshi Kanamori and Masashi Kamekawa. He rose at the far post to nod home sub Tamada’s testing free kick on the hour. The introductions of Keiji for the disappointing Magno Cruz, at half time, turned the game, with his trusty left foot have ing already created unease in the Kitakyushu defense a couple of time before Cerezo finally got their goal.

The visitors had had the better of the opening 45 minutes, and home team were thankful to Tanno for a good save midway through the half to deny Giravanz. The win leaves Cerezo four points off the automatic promotion slot with six games to go. They will be hoping that Jubilo continue to throw away points in the closing stages, but must also rely on third-placed Fukuoka to slip up.