(Reuters) – J1 League champions Yokohama F Marinos won the Japanese Super Cup for the first time on Saturday as Kevin Muscat’s side handed Emperor’s Cup holders Ventforet Kofu 2-1 defeat at National Stadium in Tokyo.
Takuma Nishimura scored 16 minutes into the second half to earn Marinos victory in the season curtain raiser after Brazilian forward Elber had seen his opener for Yokohama cancelled out by Peter Utaka just before halftime.
Elber had put Marinos in front on the halfhour mark when he stroked home from close range after a lay-off from compatriot Anderson Lopes.
However Utaka, who will celebrate his 39th birthday on Sunday, levelled with a 44th-minute goal that was awarded following a lengthy check by the Video Assistant Referee after the striker’s effort had initially been ruled out for offside.
Kofu’s victory in the Emperor’s Cup last year came as a surprise given their struggles in the lower reaches of Japan’s second division. They threatened to pull off another shock against the reigning J1 champions.
But Nishimura put Yokohama back in front in the 61st minute when he reacted quickest to side-foot the ball in after seeing Anderson Lopes’ low strike touched onto the base of the post by Kofu goalkeeper Kohei Kawata.
Marinos comfortably held out to claim the trophy for the first time in six attempts. They begin the defence of their J1 League title on Friday when they take on last season’s runners-up Kawasaki Frontale.
(Reporting by Michael Church in Hong Kong; Editing by Editing by William Mallard)
