This is the first time in three tournaments since Sanfrecce Hiroshima was runner-up in the final four. They defeated Nagoya Grampus 4-2 away. Midfielder Tanaka Satoshi (23) scored two goals in the first half, and midfielder Nakajima Yotaro (19) added a penalty kick in the 42nd minute. Defender Nakano Junto (25) scored a goal in the third minute of the second half.
Hiroshima took the lead from the beginning. In the 5th minute of the first half, Tanaka Satoshi scored a mid-range shot with his left foot from just before the penalty area to take the lead. In the 19th minute, he broke through with a through pass and kicked it with his right foot, which was the opposite of his dominant foot. In the 42nd minute of the first half, 19-year-old Nakajima calmly defeated the penalty kick he had acquired with his right foot.
In the third minute of the second half, Nakano jumped in from the opposite side to add a point when midfielder Arai Naoto crossed from the left. So far, they didn't let Nagoya hit a single shot and made it 4-0.
However, from there, Nagoya showed his determination. In the 9th minute of the second half, forward Nagai Kensuke, who came in as a substitute, jumped into the penalty area with a fast pace, and returned a goal. In the 37th minute, forward Yamagishi Yuya scored a goal from the counter, giving him a two-point lead, but the counterattack was just about that.
In an interview with two goals, Tanaka Satoshi, who scored two goals, was pleased in an interview after the match, saying, “The first goal was to hit a shot, and the second goal was a pass that was no better than that.”
Hiroshima is two points behind the leader in J1 and advances to the quarterfinals in the Levain Cup, leaving the possibility of a domestic triple crown. Tanaka Satoshi, who made his debut in the East Asia E-1 Championship in July, said he was strong, saying, “I plan to win the league, Emperor's Cup, and Levain as well.”
