J.League 2 strugglers Ventforet Kofu have defied the odds by winning the 2022 Emperor’s Cup, having edged out heavy favorites Sanfrecce Hiroshima on penalties in Sunday’s final at the Nissan Stadium in Yokohama. With their survival in the division virtually confirmed only a few weeks prior, underdogs Ventforet went gung-ho and refused to give up even after conceding a late Sanfrecce equalizer, capping off their performance with their fifth and final J.League 1 scalp to secure their first ever major title in the club’s history.
Prior to this year Ventforet have never progressed beyond the Emperor’s Cup quarterfinal, but underneath the tutelage of former Singapore national team head coach Tatsuma Yoshida – in his second stint at the club – Ventforet surprised many and earned the admiration of neutrals after disposing four J1 clubs on their way to this season’s Emperor’s Cup final.
After eliminating university side International Pacific University in the second round, Ventforet went on a giant-killing spree, starting off by knocking out Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo in the third round. Sagan Tosu were Ventforet’s next victims and the Kyushu-based side were knocked out in the round of 16, before Tosu’s local rivals Avispa Fukuoka were edged out in the quarterfinal. The semifinal saw Ventforet claim their biggest scalp yet, eliminating Kashima Antlers with a 1-0 win away at the Kashima Soccer Stadium.
The stage was set on Sunday as Ventforet took on Sanfrecce at the Nissan Stadium and although Sanfrecce came into the tie as heavy favorites – currently third in the J1 table this season – it was Ventforet who managed to pack out the Nissan Stadium in their signature colors of blue, white, and red, due to the venue’s close proximity with their native Yamanashi Prefecture as well as the momentous occasion that could see Ventforet winning their first ever major title.
Despite repeatedly flirting with relegation in this season’s J2, Ventforet threw their league form book out of the window and shocked Sanfrecce by assuming early control of the proceedings. The underdogs then proceeded to stun the Sanfrecce supporters in the 26th minute, with former Oita Trinita attacker Kazushi Mitsuhira tapping home a Sho Araki cross past Sanfrecce goalkeeper Keisuke Osako to give Ventforet the lead.
Sanfrecce slowly regained control of the match after the opener, with Ventforet having to endure tons of pressure from the men in purple. Eventually Sanfrecce found their breakthrough in the 84th minute, with substitute Ezequiel setting up Takumu Kawamura before the latter blasted the equalizer into the top right corner of the Ventforet goal.
With the scores tied in a 1-1 deadlock, extra-time was inevitably played out, with Sanfrecce coming close twice to snatching the lead.
Makoto Mitsuta hammered the Ventforet crossbar with his shot two minutes into extra-time, while in the 118th minute Mitsuta was once again involved after Sanfrecce were awarded with a late penalty following Hideomi Yamamoto’s handball in the area. Unfortunately for Sanfrecce, Ventforet’s 34-year old goalkeeper Kohei Kawata was on fine form and strongly denied Mitsuta with an excellent save.
With no winners after 120 minute, the match went into penalties, with former Barito Putera striker Willian Lira being one of the three successful penalty takers for Ventforet. Sanfrecce had also all three of their takers scoring, before Kawamura, who stepped up as Sanfrecce’s fourth penalty taker, saw his effort being denied by Kawata, which allowed Toshiki Ishikawa to earn Ventforet the lead in the shootout.
Mitsuta managed to tie things up for Sanfrecce shortly afterwards, only for 42-year old defender Yamamoto – Ventforet’s fifth taker – to successfully beat Osako from the spot, redeeming his earlier mistake and winning Venforet the 2022 Emperor’s Cup title.
By winning this year’s Emperor’s Cup, Ventforet became the first J2 side since FC Tokyo of 2011 to win the competition, and also became the first J2 side to qualify into the AFC Champions League since Tokyo Verdy back in 2006. Whilst they’ve won the Emperor’s Cup as a J2 side back in 2011, FC Tokyo also won promotion to the J1 that year, and thus participated in the 2012 AFC Champions League as a J1 club.