Kobe defend J-League football crown in 3-way title race
Vissel Kobe defended the J-League first-division championship on Sunday after beating Shonan Bellmare 3-0 at home, securing three points to stay atop in the three-way title race and seal the league and Emperor’s Cup double.
Sanfrecce Hiroshima began the game a point behind the holders but lost 3-1 at Gamba Osaka, while third-placed J1 debutants Machida Zelvia succumbed 3-1 at Kashima Antlers, having needed to win and both teams ahead of them to lose.
Taisei Miyashiro netted the 26th-minute opener, Yoshinori Muto doubled the lead in the 43rd minute and Takahiro Ogihara put the icing on the cake with a 70th-minute strike in front of a crowd of 27,444 at Noevir Stadium, where Kobe were never really tested by 15th-place finishers Shonan.
Taisei Miyashiro (2nd from R) celebrates with teammates Yoshinori Muto (3rd from R) and Yuya Osako (far R) after opening the scoring for Vissel Kobe in the first half of their J-League first-division game against Shonan Bellmare at Noevir Stadium Kobe on Dec. 8, 2024. (Kyodo)
Kobe dominated from the start, as Muto steered Yuya Osako’s low cross from the right just wide in the sixth minute, and the former Newcastle man was denied another chance four minutes later after the ball bounced into his path for a one-on-one with keeper Naoto Kamifukumoto.
Miyashiro fired home in the 17th minute only to be ruled out for offside in the buildup. He didn’t have to wait long for the opener, however, as Muto’s header off Gotoku Sakai’s cross from the right was tipped onto the post by Kamifukumoto and bounced back into the middle, leaving Miyashiro with the easiest of tap-ins.
Shonan had to wait until the 35th minute for their first shot, a 30-meter drive from defender Junnosuke Suzuki denied by the fingertip of Kobe keeper Daiya Maekawa.
Yoshinori Muto celebrates scoring Vissel Kobe’s second goal in the first half of their J-League first-division game against Shonan Bellmare at Noevir Stadium Kobe on Dec. 8, 2024. (Kyodo)
Muto soon after rolled home the second after Osako nodded down Maekawa’s long ball into the path of early substitute Daiju Sasaki, who evaded his marker to square the ball.
Osako displayed great control before sending his shot narrowly over in the 53rd minute, while Shonan showed grit in patches but lacked quality in the final third, before Ogihara rifled home from the edge of the box to spark an early celebration with supporters.
Vissel Kobe players celebrate successfully defending their J-League first-division title after a 3-0 win over Shonan Bellmare at Noevir Stadium Kobe on Dec. 8, 2024. (Kyodo)
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