Two semi-final matches were held at the Emperor's Cup All-Japan Championship, which competes for Japan's best football, and J2's Ventforet Kofu and J1's Sanfrecce Hiroshima won and advanced to the final.
Ventforet, the only team in J2 to advance, faced J1's Kashima Antlers, who have won the Emperor's Cup five times in the past, and in the 37th minute of the first half, Junma MIYAZAKI jumped out behind the defense in a timely manner, dodging the goalkeeper and scoring the opening goal. Did.
Ventforet held on to this lead to beat Antlers 1-0 to reach the final for the first time.
It is the first time in eight tournaments since Montedio Yamagata that a J2 team has advanced to the final.
The other match was a face-to-face match between J1 teams, with Sanfrecce and Kyoto Sanga playing against each other.
Sanfrecce took the lead in the first half when Douglas Vieira scored a penalty kick from an opponent's handball foul.
In the second half, the score was tied and the match went into overtime, but substitute Nassim BENKHALIFA scored the winning goal to win the match 2-1 and advance to the final.
As a result, in the final to be held at Nissan Stadium in Yokohama City on the 16th of this month, Ventforet, who is aiming for his first victory, will play against Sanfrecce, who is aiming for his first victory since becoming a professional.