The Yomiuri Shimbun
Machida Zelvia forward Yuki Soma, right, scores his team’s second goal against Vissel Kobe in the JFA Emperor’s Cup final at National Stadium in Tokyo on Saturday.
16:13 JST, November 22, 2025 (updated at 18:20 JST)
A Shota Fujio brace and a goal from Yuki Soma inspired Machida Zelvia to their first-ever JFA Emperor’s Cup title, beating Vissel Kobe 3-1 in a thrilling final at Tokyo’s National Stadium on Saturday.
“I told the players that [this match] at the National Stadium, being the final, would be decided in the first 15 minutes,” Machida coach Go Kuroda said after the game. “They really listened and performed [their job] perfectly, scoring early and then adding to the lead. I’m thankful.”
“I want to express my gratitude to the players who fought so hard to get here, the staff who helped them and our supporters,” he added.
In the century-long history of the Emperor’s Cup, Machida had never even appeared in a final; quite the contrast with Kobe, which entered the match as defending champion.
The 31,414 in attendance didn’t have long to wait for the first goal, with Fujio beating Kobe keeper Daiya Maekawa to a cross from the left in the sixth minute, his looping header making it across the line ahead of a desperate Kobe defense.
Machida keeper Kosei Tani was forced into a fine save to stay ahead in the 22nd minute, stopping an instinctive shot from the center of the box. At the other end, Maekawa was forced to do the same, diving to his left to stop a fierce free kick.
In the 32nd minute, Australia international Mitchell Duke unlocked the Kobe defense with a sumptuous pass to release Soma. The Japan international then drove into the box and shot across Maekawa from a tight angle to make it 2-0.
Kobe started the second half brightly, but was prevented from creating any clear-cut chances by a compact Machida defense.
In the 56th, Machida’s Kotaro Hayashi stole the ball and played in Fujio, who unleashed a fierce shot from the edge of the box into the top right corner.
Kobe managed to reduce the deficit five minutes later when a cross from Daiju Sasaki found Taisei Miyashiro, whose deft flick of the head guided the ball into the goal.
For Machida, this victory caps a momentous rise. It was promoted to the J.League first division for the first time just two years ago. In its opening campaign, the club finished an impressive 3rd in the league, staying in the race for the title — that Kobe ultimately won — until the very end.
With two games to go in the domestic league, Kobe is third on 63 points. League-leader Kashima Antlers are seven points ahead and out of reach, with second-place Kashiwa Reysol the only team still in contention. Machida is seventh on 57 points.
Both teams are scheduled to play in the Asian Champions League this week. Machida will travel to South Korea to face Gangwon FC on Tuesday, and Kobe will travel to China for a match against Shanghai Shenhua on Wednesday.
AloJapan.com