Consadole Sapporo outworked and outmaneuvered Urawa Reds for a 2-1 victory Monday as the J-League first division swung back into action following the Tokyo Olympics.
Kazuki Fukai and Tsuyoshi Ogashiwa netted a goal in each half for the hosts at Sapporo Dome before Takahiro Akimoto pulled a goal back for Reds.
Urawa attacker Ataru Esaka struggled to make an impact in his first match since transferring from Kashiwa Reysol, while two other new signings -- Japan right-back Hiroki Sakai and Danish center-back Alexander Scholz -- did not suit up.
Sapporo exposed the visitors' defense in the eighth minute when Fukai flew in unmarked to head home from a corner.
Ogashiwa almost doubled the lead midway through the half, hitting the post after Urawa coughed up the ball just outside their own area.
Reds were again found wanting at the back 13 minutes into the second half, when Thai playmaker Chanathip Songkrasin set up Ogashiwa with a ball over the top that caught center-back Tomoaki Makino off guard.
Urawa halved the deficit in the 66th minute when Takuya Iwanami used his head to tee up Akimoto following a high ball into the box from Takahiro Sekine.
Reds manager Ricardo Rodriguez brought on Danish marksman Kasper Junker for Shinzo Koroki in the second half, but the visitors were unable to turn late pressure into an equalizer.
Sapporo manager Mihailo Petrovic praised his side for dominating the contest with fast-paced, aggressive play.
"We controlled the game right from the kickoff until the end," Petrovic said. "We managed to play a very physical game. That kind of physicality and speed is not something you typically see in Japan. It was fantastic football."
The J1 had been scheduled to shut down while the July 23 to Aug. 8 Olympics were under way but held a handful of fixtures moved from earlier in the season due to the coronavirus.
Leandro Damiao scored the opener as leaders Kawasaki Frontale won 2-0 at Oita Trinita, while second-place Yokohama F Marinos saw their seven-game winning run halted as they were held to a 2-2 draw at Shimizu S-Pulse.
Vissel Kobe's seven-game unbeaten run also came to an end as a late winner from Mao Hosoya handed Kashiwa Reysol a 2-1 win at home. Sagan Tosu moved up to third after winning 1-0 at home to FC Tokyo.
Nagoya Grampus have gone five games without a win after a 2-0 defeat away to bottom-side Yokohama FC, while Tomoya Inukai hit a brace as Kashima Antlers secured a late 2-1 win at Shonan Bellmare.
Tokushima Vortis won 2-1 at home against Gamba Osaka as local rivals Cerezo Osaka were held to a goalless draw at home by Vegalta Sendai. A last-minute goal from Hiroyuki Mae salvaged Avispa Fukuoka a point with 1-1 home draw against Sanfrecce Hiroshima.
Related coverage:
Football: Furuhashi scores hat trick in home debut for Celtic
Olympics: Japan football in need of character for top titles
Olympics: Japan lose to Mexico in men's football bronze medal match
