2023 J.League Cup final

Football match
2023 J.League Cup final
2023ＪリーグYBCルヴァンカップ　決勝
The match took place at Japan National Stadium
Event2023 J.League Cup
Avispa Fukuoka Urawa Red Diamonds
2 1
Date4 November 2023
VenueNational Stadium, Tokyo
Man of the MatchHiroyuki Mae
RefereeFutoshi Nakamura
Attendance61,683
WeatherSunny
24.1 °C (75.4 °F)
59% humidity
← 2022
2024 →

The 2023 J.League Cup final was an association football match between Avispa Fukuoka and Urawa Red Diamonds on 4 November 2023 at Japan National Stadium. It was the 31st edition J.League Cup, organised by the J.League. Avispa Fukuoka were appearing in their first J.League Cup final, after making it as far as the semi-final in 2022. Urawa Red Diamonds were playing in their seventh J.League Cup final, previously winning the competition in both 2003 and 2016.[1]

Futoshi Nakamura was the referee for the match, which was played in front of 61,683 spectators. Avispa took an early lead after just five minutes, with Hiroyuki Mae turning in Kazuya Konno's cross from the right-hand side. Avispa doubled their lead just before half-time, with Daiki Miya scoring from a low across into the box. In the second half, Avispa earned a penalty but this was saved by Shusaku Nishikawa and kept Urawa in the match. The Reds finally made a breakthrough in the 67th minute through Takahiro Akimoto, but it was to be no more than consolation as Avispa hung on to the lead until the final whistle, claiming their first major title in the club's history.[2]

Teams

Team League Previous finals appearances (bold indicates winners)
Avispa Fukuoka J1 League 0
Urawa Red Diamonds J1 League 6 (2002, 2003, 2004, 2011, 2013, 2016)

Route to the final

The tournament consisted of all 18 J1 League teams as well as the top two relegated teams from the 2022 season, beginning with a home-and-away round-robin group stage consisting of five groups of four teams. Each group winners and the three best-placed runners-up qualified to the quarter-finals.[3]

Avispa Fukuoka Round Urawa Red Diamonds
Opponent Result Group stage Opponent Result
Albirex Niigata 1–0 (H) Matchday 1 Shonan Bellmare 0–0 (A)
Kashiwa Reysol 3–3 (H) Matchday 2 Shimizu S-Pulse 1–1 (H)
Kashima Antlers 1–0 (A) Matchday 3 Kawasaki Frontale 0–0 (A)
Kashima Antlers 2–1 (H) Matchday 4 Shonan Bellmare 1–1 (H)
Albirex Niigata 1–2 (A) Matchday 5 Kawasaki Frontale 2–1 (H)
Kashiwa Reysol 0–1 (A) Matchday 6 Shimizu S-Pulse 1–1 (A)
Group D winners

Pos Team Pld Pts
1 Avispa Fukuoka 6 13
2 Kashima Antlers 6 10
3 Albirex Niigata 6 6
4 Kashiwa Reysol 6 5
Source: League table, Match results
 Final standings Group B winners

Pos Team Pld Pts
1 Urawa Red Diamonds 6 8
2 Shimizu S-Pulse 6 8
3 Kawasaki Frontale 6 8
4 Shonan Bellmare 6 6
Source: League table, Match results
Opponent Agg. 1st leg 2nd leg Knockout stage Opponent Agg. 1st leg 2nd leg
FC Tokyo 2–1 1–0 (A) 2–0 (H) Quarter-finals Gamba Osaka 4–0 0–1 (A) 3–0 (H)
Nagoya Grampus 2–0 1–0 (H) 0–1 (A) Semi-finals Yokohama F. Marinos 2–1 1–0 (A) 2–0 (H)

Pre-match

Venue selection

The final was hosted at National Stadium, the second consecutive year the final was played at the newly constructed stadium.

Analysis

The final was Avispa's first, their previous best being the exit at the semi-final stage of the competition in the previous year. Urawa were also knocked out at the semi-final stage of the 2022 J.League Cup and last won it in 2016. In their only previous encounter in the 2023 season, the two teams played out a 0–0 draw in May.[4] This match was Urawa's second final of the season, after winning the AFC Champions League in April.[5]

Both teams would be relying on their defences, with Urawa only conceding 5 goals in their 10 J.League Cup games and Avispa conceding 7.[6][7]

The last three meetings between the teams had ended in draws, and Avispa had only beaten Urawa once in their history.[8]

Before the match, Urawa manager Maciej Skorża highlighted Fukuoka's counter-attacking ability as a reason the game will be difficult, calling them a "well-organised team".

Fukuoka captain Tatsuki Nara said it would be a special match for the club and that it will be important to not get caught up in the atmosphere.[9]

Match

Avispa Fukuoka lined up in a 3-4-2-1 formation, staying with Takumi Nagaishi in goal as they had done for all of their cup games this season. Top-scorer Yuya Yamagishi started up front, just in front of Kazuya Konno and the Avispa's player with the most minutes played this season, Hiroyuki Mae. Semi-final goalscorer Wellington could only make the bench. Tatsuki Nara captained the side.

Urawa Reds started with their AFC Champions League winning centre-back pairing of Alexander Scholz and Marius Høibråten. Scholz also scored two penalties in the semi-final against Yokohama F. Marinos. They lined up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with newly crowned J.League Cup "New Hero" Jumpei Hayakawa starting just behind top-scorer José Kanté.[10] Atsuki Ito returned to the starting XI, after he missed the semi-final games due to representing the Japan national football team.

First half

Avispa started the game strongly and took the lead after five minutes. Kazuya Konno's cross across the box from the right-hand side found Hiroyuki Mae at the back post to score with a close-range finish. Taking the early lead, Avispa settled into a defensive block and didn't allow Urawa to create any chances, despite the Reds dominating possession. A long-range effort in the 35th minute by Ken Iwao was their first real attempt on goal. Towards the end of the half, Avispa began to create some chances, with Daiki Miya getting two strong headers on target. Right on the stroke of half-time, Avispa doubled their lead through Miya who turned in another Konno low cross – this time from the left – past a helpless Shusaku Nishikawa.

Second half

Avispa again started the half sharply and should have increased their lead further after Douglas Grolli was brought down by Urawa defender Marius Høibråten inside the box. However, Yuya Yamagishi's 58th-minute penalty was a poor effort and it was easily saved by Nishikawa. Urawa could have then had a penalty of their own, after Atsuki Ito was brought down in the box by Yota Maejima, but the referee waved play on. Avispa were content to try and defend tightly for the rest of the match, but after Urawa made some substitutions at the hour mark they began to create more chances. Only six minutes after coming off the bench, Takahiro Akimoto pulled one back for the Reds. Captain Hiroki Sakai launched a deep cross field pass from the right-hand side which Akimoto expertly controlled with his chest whilst holding off Masato Yuzawa and drilled a low, left-footed finish past Nagaishi. After Konno was stretched off in the 72nd minute, Urawa continued to pile pressure onto Avispa, with José Kanté's shot from outside the box drawing a diving save from Nagaishi and Douglas Grolli blocking Bryan Linssen from point-blank range. There were to be eight minutes of added time and Urawa were almost able to equalise through Kanté, who's 95th-minute shot from 20 yards beat the keeper but clipped the left post and went out, as Avsipa hung on to secure a historic win.[11][12]

Details

Avispa Fukuoka2–1Urawa Red Diamonds
 JLeague.co (EN)
JLeague.jp (JA)		 Akimoto 67'
Attendance: 61,683
Referee: Futoshi Nakamura
GK 1 Japan Takumi Nagaishi Yellow card 81'
CB 33 Brazil Douglas Grolli Yellow card 45'
CB 3 Japan Tatsuki Nara (c)
CB 5 Japan Daiki Miya downward-facing red arrow 89'
RM 2 Japan Masato Yuzawa downward-facing red arrow 76'
CM 99 Japan Yosuke Ideguchi
CM 44 Japan Kimiya Moriyama downward-facing red arrow 46'
LM 29 Japan Yota Maejima
AM 8 Japan Kazuya Konno downward-facing red arrow 72'
AM 6 Japan Hiroyuki Mae
CF 11 Japan Yuya Yamagishi downward-facing red arrow 89'
Substitutes:
GK 31 Japan Masaaki Murakami
DF 16 Japan Itsuki Oda upward-facing green arrow 76'
DF 37 Japan Masaya Tashiro upward-facing green arrow 89'
MF 7 Japan Takeshi Kanamori upward-facing green arrow 46'
MF 17 Japan Shun Nakamura Yellow card 83' upward-facing green arrow 72'
FW 18 Brazil Wellington upward-facing green arrow 89'
FW 28 Japan Reiju Tsuruno
Manager:
Japan Shigetoshi Hasebe
2023 J. League Cup final line-ups
GK 1 Japan Shusaku Nishikawa
RB 2 Japan Hiroki Sakai (c)
CB 28 Denmark Alexander Scholz Yellow card 24'
CB 5 Norway Marius Høibråten
LB 26 Japan Takuya Ogiwara Yellow card 90+7'
CM 3 Japan Atsuki Ito downward-facing red arrow 61'
CM 19 Japan Ken Iwao downward-facing red arrow 80'
RW 18 Japan Toshiki Takahashi downward-facing red arrow 46'
AM 35 Japan Jumpei Hayakawa downward-facing red arrow 46'
LM 8 Japan Yoshio Koizumi downward-facing red arrow 61'
CF 11 Guinea José Kanté
Substitutes:
GK 16 Japan Ayumi Niekawa
DF 4 Japan Takuya Iwanami
MF 15 Japan Takahiro Akimoto upward-facing green arrow 61'
MF 21 Japan Tomoaki Okubo upward-facing green arrow 46'
MF 25 Japan Kaito Yasui upward-facing green arrow 46'
MF 27 Thailand Ekanit Panya upward-facing green arrow 80'
FW 9 Netherlands Bryan Linssen upward-facing green arrow 61'
Manager:
Poland Maciej Skorża

Assistant referees:
Isao Nishihashi
Osamu Nomura
Fourth official:
Koichiro Fukushima
Video assistant referee:
Hiroki Kasahara
Assistant video assistant referee:
Yosuke Takebe

Match rules[13]

  • 90 minutes.
  • 30 minutes of extra-time if necessary.
  • Penalty shoot-out if scores still level.
  • Seven named substitutes.
  • Maximum of five substitutions.

Statistics

Statistic[14] Avispa Fukuoka Urawa Red Diamonds
Goals scored 2 1
Total shots 8 8
Corner kicks 5 4
Freekicks 12 13
Yellow cards 3 2
Red cards 0 0

Post-match

By winning the match, Avispa Fukuoka won their first piece of silverware in the club-s history, in their first finals appearance. They became the third consecutive new winners of the tournament, following Nagoya Grampus in 2021 and Sanfrecce Hiroshima in 2022. Shigetoshi Hasebe, the winning coach, said "I think we were on the cusp of becoming a team that wouldn't win a title for many years, but today we won. Because of that, history has changed. I think the club has changed in direction and is aiming for the top". His opposite number, Maciej Skorża called the start of the game for his team "terrible". He said "The fact that we conceded a goal in the first five minutes of the final match means that something went wrong in our mental preparation before the match. After conceding a goal, we tried to keep the ball better and change the momentum, but we became nervous."[15]

Avispa captain Tatsuki Nara said "We weren't good or brilliant. However, everyone put their hearts into it and fought like an Avispa until the very end. I'm happy to have won." Urawa captain Hiroki Sakai said "I feel nothing but frustration."[16]

The monetary reward to Avispa Fukuoka for winning the trophy was ¥150,000,000, with runners-up Urawa Red Diamonds awarded ¥50,000,000.[17]

For his performance and goal in the final, Hiroyuki Mae was awarded the MVP award and received a prize of ¥1,000,000.[18]

References

  1. ^ "Japan - List of League Cup Winners". RSSSF. Retrieved 17 May 2022.
  2. ^ "Avispa Fukuoka reign supreme in J.League YBC Levain Cup triumph". JLeague.co. Japan Professional Football League. 4 November 2023. Retrieved 4 November 2023.
  3. ^ Orlowitz, Dan (10 January 2023). "Major format changes await J. League in coming seasons". The Japan Times. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
  4. ^ "Watch match Avispa Fukuoka vs Urawa Reds | Matchweek 14, MEIJI YASUDA J1 LEAGUE 2023". J.LEAGUE. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
  5. ^ "Urawa manager Skorza: Avispa is a very tough opponent | News". J.LEAGUE. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
  6. ^ "Urawa Reds and Avispa Fukuoka to clash at Japan National Stadium for J.League Cup | News". J.LEAGUE. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
  7. ^ "【公式】福岡vs浦和の試合結果・データ（ＪリーグYBCルヴァンカップ：2023年11月4日）：Ｊリーグ公式サイト（J.LEAGUE.jp）". Ｊリーグ.jp（日本プロサッカーリーグ） (in Japanese). Retrieved 12 November 2023.
  8. ^ "Avispa Fukuoka vs Urawa Reds H2H | Accurate Football Predictions At Matchstat.com". matchstat.com. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
  9. ^ "2023JリーグYBCルヴァンカップ 決勝 前日公式記者会見". URAWA RED DIAMONDS OFFICIAL WEBSITE (in Japanese). 3 November 2023. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
  10. ^ "17歳新星MF早川隼平、ルヴァン杯ニューヒーロー賞を受賞！ | Goal.com 日本". www.goal.com (in Japanese). 31 October 2023. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
  11. ^ "Avispa Fukuoka reign supreme in J.League YBC Levain Cup triumph | News". J.LEAGUE. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
  12. ^ "Fukuoka beat Urawa to win J.League Cup". Japan Today. 5 November 2023. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
  13. ^ "Get to know the rules and regulations for the 2023 J.League YBC Levain Cup Final". JLeague.co. Japan Professional Football League. 2 November 2023. Retrieved 4 November 2023.
  14. ^ "Avispa Fukuoka vs Urawa Reds | Final, J.LEAGUE YBC Levain CUP 2023". JLeague.co. Japan Professional Football League. 4 November 2023. Retrieved 4 November 2023.
  15. ^ "【公式】福岡vs浦和の試合結果・データ（ＪリーグYBCルヴァンカップ：2023年11月4日）：Ｊリーグ公式サイト（J.LEAGUE.jp）". Ｊリーグ.jp（日本プロサッカーリーグ） (in Japanese). Retrieved 12 November 2023.
  16. ^ "ルヴァンカップ アビスパ福岡 浦和レッズに勝ち初優勝 初タイトル | NHK". NHKニュース. 4 November 2023. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
  17. ^ "Avispa Fukuoka Makes History in the 2023 Levain Cup!". Retrieved 12 November 2023.
  18. ^ "福岡が待望の初タイトル！MVPには先制点を決めた前 寛之が獲得【サマリー：ルヴァンカップ 決勝】：Ｊリーグ公式サイト（J.LEAGUE.jp）". Ｊリーグ.jp（日本プロサッカーリーグ） (in Japanese). Retrieved 12 November 2023.

External links

  • 2023ＪリーグYBCルヴァンカップ (in Japanese)
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