Kanazawa held on for a 2-1 win against Imabari in the J-League Cup's Round of 128 on Tuesday. The result keeps their campaign alive, even if the manner of victory suggests they were fortunate to come away with all three points.
Sugiura opened the scoring in the 30th minute, finding space in the box when Imabari's defensive line was caught off guard. It was a welcome lift for Kanazawa following a string of heavy defeats—four goals against Kyoto Sangyo and six against Gamba Osaka in recent weeks. By then, the home side had settled into a more disciplined shape.
Kikuchi doubled their lead in the 71st minute, though he picked up a yellow card in the process. The visitors had started to control possession, but Kanazawa's defensive structure held firm when it mattered most. To be fair, Imabari's chances were limited by their own hesitation in the final third.
Patric finally got back into the game in the 89th minute, but the damage was already done. Kanazawa had made several defensive adjustments, bringing on Wesley Tanque and T. Yamada to shore up the back line, while Imabari responded with their own changes. The home side closed the game out effectively.
Imabari held 56 per cent possession and registered six corners to Kanazawa's four, yet the statistics tell a different story. Kanazawa's five shots on target compared to Imabari's two reveals who actually created the clearer chances. And here's the thing—the visitors wasted the majority of their control.
The two-goal cushion proved sufficient for Kanazawa to advance, despite Imabari's dominance in possession and territorial control. The hosts may have struggled recently, but they showed enough resolve to navigate this tie.
