Fujieda MYFC defeated Renofa Yamaguchi 2-0 in the Round of 128 of the J-League Cup on Wednesday. The visitors scored twice through H. Manabe to book their place in the next round. Renofa had fewer attacks but pressed forward throughout the match.
The match opened quietly, with both sides making early changes. Renofa brought on T. Numata at half-time to shift their approach. Fujieda responded with T. Kawamoto at the hour, looking to add fresh legs to their attack.
And here's the thing — the turning point came in the seventieth minute. Manabe fired home the opener, and Renofa's defenders seemed to have hit a wall under the pressure. The hosts made four substitutions in quick succession, but the damage was done.
By then, Renofa were running out of time. They earned a yellow card through Y. Wakasa as frustration mounted. Manabe doubled the advantage in the seventy-ninth minute, and the tie was effectively over. Fujieda brought on their goalscorer for a standing ovation.
To be fair, Renofa had their chances. They registered four shots on target and controlled 40 per cent of possession, but Fujieda were more clinical with six attempts on goal. The visitors also won more corners and completed more attacks, showing they pressed higher up the pitch.
The result means Fujieda progress to the next round, while Renofa's cup campaign ends. The hosts have now lost two of their last five matches, including defeats to Kagoshima United and Yokohama. Fujieda win four of their last five games and keep their hopes alive.
