Pick-up Match

Vissel Kobe (J1)   7-1 (3-0, 4-1)   Suzuka Unlimited FC (Mie)

The 96th Emperor's Cup All Japan Football Championship had the remaining four matches of the second round on Wednesday 7 September at Kobe Universiade Memorial Stadium in Hyogo as Vissel Kobe (J1) took a challenge by Suzuka Unlimited FC (Mie).

Although Suzuka qualified for the opportunity against a J1 team with an extra-time win over Tokai Gakuen University in the first round, the match on the day was dominated from the start by well-motivated Kobe, according to IWANAMI Takuya saying “The Emperor's Cup is a very important tournament for the AFC Champions League. Our coach said this is the first step for it.”

Kobe created a chance early on. After them winning the ball in their end and breaking down the left flank, midfielder ISHIZU Daisuke sent a low cross in. It did not meet a Kobe player and rolled to the right, but midfielder PEDRO JUNIOR robbed the ball from Suzuka goalkeeper OKADA Akihisa who first responded to the ball.

Pedro Junior's effort through dribbling and shooting threatened the net thought as unguarded, but it was denied by Suzuka defender NOGUCHI Ryota's superb coverage. Kobe still maintained their momentum, and Ishizu did not fail to open the scoring when receiving the ball in the box in the 6th minute. Forward WATANABE Kazuma added one more off a through ball from Ishizu in the 10th minute.

After spending tough stretches, Suzuka picked up a rhythm in stages as well and conjured a goal-scoring opportunity through a counterattack. In the 15th minute, forward KAKIMOTO Kenta launched a blast from the right side of the box, but his shot went off to the side of the net. Suzuka menaced the J.League side again in the 34th minute when midfielder OZAWA Tsukasa provided a dangerous pass. Despite creating chances, Suzuka struggled to score and, conversely, allowed Kobe's Pedro Junior to net the third goal of the match in the 43rd minute before the first half finished 3-0.

In the second half, Suzuka took control of the match with passing moves using the width of the pitch. In the 47th minute, midfielder IZUMI Sotaro fired a shot from the left, but it went straight at Suzuka goalkeeper TOKUSHIGE Kenta. Suzuka continued to create an opening in the 55th minute, when Kakimoto volleyed a cross from defender HARA Hiroki, who ran up the right flank.

On the other hand, Kobe went on an offensive surge after the enduring time period and early back-foot in the second half. Starting with a 64th-minute goal from midfielder NAKASAKA Yuya, Kobe added three more goals in the five-minute stretch, followed by Pedro Junior in the 66th minute and FUJITA Naoyuki in the 68th minute, to make the score 6-0. Suzuka, who were desperate to change the situation, found consolation in Kakimoto's goal in the 76th minute when he headed home defender FUJITA Hiromichi's cross, who attacked the left flank.

But in the 87th minute, Kobe's substitute forward MASUYAMA Asahi scored his team's seventh goal through breakthrough with passing moves down the middle before the match came to an end. After the 7-1 rout, Kobe will face the J2 side Montedio Yamagata in the third round on Thursday 22 September.

Detailed Match Information (Japanese version only)

Coaches' and Players' Comments

NELSINHO, Coach (Vissel Kobe)
We were able to get off to a start as planned. Until the 20th or 25th minute, our positioning was good on not only defence but offence, and my players effectively ran in space behind defenders. But after taking the two-goal lead, our defence became loose as they grabbed the ball at a low position and failed to play collectively. That's disappointing. You shouldn't show any gap to the opponents and never be off guard against any opponents. Our players deserved this win as a whole, but I require skills at a higher level from my players.

IWANAMI Takuya (Vissel Kobe)
As we were told at halftime, it was a match that had to have a bigger scoring margin today. I'm not satisfied with the results. We had more work to get done as a team. We had easy mistakes on defence as well, and our moves were not collective. As a result that each player did what he wanted to do, we gave up the ball and allowed the opponents to play on counterattacks. We gave away a goal that we shouldn't have given away, and we've got to reflect on that before going out for the next match. On the other hand, it's a positive side that young players got playing time after a long interval.

OZAWA Koichi, Coach (Suzuka Unlimited FC)
We had a winning attitude to win against Kobe but played without sorting out where to find a chance of winning before the match. We had a chance and could've scored a goal, but I found there were a lot of things to improve like we couldn't score when to score. After giving up six goals, we were able to put the defensive line high. But we should've kept it even one or two metres higher and coped with Kobe's attacks. I think my players haven't put things together about this match. Anyway, I want them to take advantage of learnings from today's match for the future league matches.

KAKIMOTO Kenta (Suzuka Unlimited FC)
It was a complete defeat. We went out to win the match, so all I can say is I'm disappointed. We had chances more than I expected but couldn't score in the first half. That hurt us a lot. In the second half, I said to my partner striker before the match, "Let's get one goal each, us being two strikers," because I was determined that striker should get results. We played collectively on offence pretty well as we practise. But the result is everything. I hope this disappointment drives me to the next goal to help the team promote to the JFL.

Other Matches

Omiya Ardija (J1)   1-0　Gainare Tottori (Tottori) ［NACK5 STADIUM OMIYA］
Avispa Fukuoka (J1)  2-2 (PSO:2-4)　Renofa Yamaguchi FC (J2)［LEVEL5 Stadium］
Yokohama F・Marinos (J1)   2-0   Fukushima United FC (Fukushima)［NHK Spring Mitsuzawa Football Stadium］

The 96th Emperor's Cup All Japan Football Championship

2016-8-27-2017-1-1

More information
Ticket Information (Japanese version only)