J-League first-division debutants Machida Zelvia continued to be this season's surprise packet with a 2-1 away win Saturday at Consodole Sapporo on second-half goals from Shota Fujio and Kosovo international Ibrahim Dresevic.
The win at Sapporo Dome sent Zelvia to the top of the 20-team first-division table with three straight wins following a season-opening draw.
Zelvia, whose manager led them to the J2 championship after 28 years in the high school coaching ranks, looked well-schooled and disciplined in defense. And though their transition into attacking third was inconsistent, the visitors got most of the first-half looks at goal.
"We had been banking on the first half ending 0-0, and the game continued to go according to plan in the second half," Fujio said.
The forward broke the deadlock eight minutes into the second half. Oh Se Hun headed a high cross at the far post to near the penalty spot. Fujio chested the ball up before volleying home on the turn.
"Se Hun and I had practiced that play, where he gets that cross back to me, and we executed it just the way we have done in training," Fujio said.
The visitors scored again 13 minutes later. Defender Jang Min Gyu went up between two defenders to meet a superb Junya Suzuki corner and deflected it onto Dresevic's forehead. The center back seemed as surprised as anyone to see it go in just under the bar.
Kosuke Hara blasted home from a tight angle in the 84th minute after a poor clearance by the visitors for winless Consadole's first goal of the season.
Elsewhere Saturday, FC Tokyo crushed Avispa Fukuoka 3-1 away, while Sanfrecce Hiroshima dropped out of the top spot after their scoreless draw at defending champions Vissel Kobe.
Nagoya Grampus and Cerezo Osaka each won 2-0 away against Kashiwa Reysol and Sagan Tosu, respectively. Gamba Osaka won 2-1 at home over Jubilo Iwata. Hijiri Onaga's 90th-minute equalizer salvaged Tokyo Verdy's 2-2 home draw to Albirex Niigata.
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