Makida Zelvia saw off Grulla Morioka 3-0 in the second round of the Emperor's Cup on Wednesday. The hosts controlled proceedings from start to finish, with goals from Y. Matsuo, T. Yengi and H. Nakamura. A late red card for the visitors only added to their misery as the fixture concluded at 09:30 local time.
Matsuo opened the scoring in the thirty-seventh minute and it was the kind of strike that settles a team's nerves. The visitors had been competitive enough to keep things level, but the breakthrough changed the complexion of the match. Zelvia began pressing higher up the pitch, and here's the thing — they paid for a sloppy opening more than they punished it.
By the sixty-ninth minute it was two-nil and Yengi got over the line from close range. The visitors had limited themselves to one shot on target at that point, and the margin was becoming uncomfortable. Morioka tried to respond but found themselves pinned back without real conviction.
The red card in the eighty-first minute was the moment the game truly slipped away. A Grulla player was sent off and the hosts switched off at a set piece shortly after. It was unnecessary drama added to an already one-sided afternoon.
Nakamura added the third in the eighty-fifth minute, a late flourish that meant the visitors had nothing to show for their efforts. By then the contest was effectively over, but the finish was tidy enough to avoid any embarrassment.
Zelvia registered 97 attacks against 82 for their opponents, with possession split 59-41. They managed six shots on target to one, and six off target compared to four. The visitors were reduced to thirteen goal kicks and just a single corner throughout.
The result keeps Zelvia on a roll, following victories over Urawa, JEF United Chiba and Tokyo in their recent run. Morioka's record shows a mix of results that suggests they have yet to find consistency. Three goals without reply is a result that demands attention.