Wikipedia

2021 J.League Cup

The 2021 J.League Cup, known as the 2021 J.League YBC Levain Cup (Japanese: 2021 JリーグYBCルヴァンカップ) for sponsorship reasons, was the 29th edition of J.League Cup, a Japanese association football cup competition. It began on 2 March 2021 and ended on 30 October that year.[1]

2021 J.League Cup
2021 JリーグYBCルヴァンカップ
Tournament details
CountryJapan
Dates2 March – 30 October
Teams16 (group stage)
20 (total)
Final positions
ChampionsNagoya Grampus (1st title)
Runner-upCerezo Osaka
Tournament statistics
Matches played69
Goals scored172 (2.49 per match)
Top goal scorer(s)Japan Sho Inagaki
Denmark Kasper Junker
Japan Teruhito Nakagawa
Brazil Adaílton
(4 goals each)
← 2020
2022 →

FC Tokyo were the cup holders, having won their third title. They failed to defend their title after being eliminated by eventual winners Nagoya Grampus in the semi-finals. Nagoya Grampus won their first ever J.League Cup title, defeating one-time winners Cerezo Osaka in the final.

Format

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All 20 teams playing in the 2021 J1 League participated. Four clubs involved in the 2021 AFC Champions League received byes for the group and playoff stages: Kawasaki Frontale, Gamba Osaka, Nagoya Grampus, and Cerezo Osaka.

Sixteen teams played in the group stage. They were divided into four groups of four teams by their finish on the 2020 J1 and J2 Leagues (parenthesized below).

Schedule

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Stage Round Date[1]
Group stage Matchday 1 2–3 March 2021
Matchday 2 27–28 March 2021
Matchday 3 20–21 April 2021
Matchday 4 28 April 2021
Matchday 5 5 May 2021
Matchday 6 19 May 2021
Play-off stage 2, 5, 6 June 2021 (first leg)
6, 13 June 2021 (second leg)
Prime stage
Quarter-finals 1 September 2021 (first leg)
5 September 2021 (second leg)
Semi-finals 6 October 2021 (first leg)
10 October 2021 (second leg)
Final 30 October 2021

Group stage

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Each group were played on a home-and-away round-robin basis. Each match were played in 90 minutes.

All times listed are in Japan Standard Time (JST, UTC+9).

Tiebreakers

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In the group stage, teams in a group were ranked by points (3 points for a win, 1 point for a draw, 0 points for a loss). If the points were tied, the following tiebreakers were applied accordingly:

  1. Points in head-to-head matches among tied teams;
  2. Goal difference in head-to-head matches among tied teams;
  3. Goals scored in head-to-head matches among tied teams;
  4. Away goals scored in head-to-head matches among tied teams;
  5. If more than two teams are tied, and applying all head-to-head criteria above remains a part of teams still tied, reapply the criteria above only for the tied teams.
  6. Goal difference in all group matches;
  7. Goals scored in all group matches;
  8. Penalty shoot-out if only two teams are tied and they met in the last round of the group;
  9. Fewer disciplinary points;
  10. Drawing of lots.

Group A

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Kashima Antlers 6 3 3 0 14 4 +10 12 Advance to play-off stage
2 Consadole Sapporo 6 3 2 1 11 8 +3 11
3 Avispa Fukuoka 6 2 2 2 10 11 −1 8
4 Sagan Tosu 6 0 1 5 5 17 −12 1
Source: J.League
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
3 March 2021 (2021-03-03) Avispa Fukuoka 2–3 Consadole Sapporo Fukuoka
18:03
  • Mikuni   18'
  • Jogo   88'
 Report
Stadium: Best Denki Stadium
Attendance: 1,564
Referee: Hajime Matsuo
3 March 2021 (2021-03-03) Kashima Antlers 3–0 Sagan Tosu Kashima
19:03
Report Stadium: Kashima Soccer Stadium
Attendance: 3,784
Referee: Hayato Shimizu
27 March 2021 (2021-03-27) Sagan Tosu 1–5 Consadole Sapporo Tosu
14:03 Tashiro   67' Report
Stadium: Ekimae Real Estate Stadium
Attendance: 4,399
Referee: Futoshi Nakamura
27 March 2021 (2021-03-27) Avispa Fukuoka 1–5 Kashima Antlers Fukuoka
18:03 Carlos   75' Report
Stadium: Best Denki Stadium
Attendance: 3,964
Referee: Ryo Tanimoto
20 April 2021 (2021-04-20) Kashima Antlers 3–0 Consadole Sapporo Kashima
19:03
Report Stadium: Kashima Soccer Stadium
Attendance: 4,477
Referee: Hiroyoshi Takayama
21 April 2021 (2021-04-21) Sagan Tosu 0–1 Avispa Fukuoka Tosu
19:03 Report Croux   82' Stadium: Ekimae Real Estate Stadium
Attendance: 4,227
Referee: Takuto Okabe
28 April 2021 (2021-04-28) Consadole Sapporo 1–1 Avispa Fukuoka Sapporo
19:03 Anderson Lopes   84' Report Mary   90+4' Stadium: Sapporo Dome
Attendance: 4,446
Referee: Yuichi Nishimura
28 April 2021 (2021-04-28) Sagan Tosu 2–2 Kashima Antlers Tosu
19:03
Report
Stadium: Ekimae Real Estate Stadium
Attendance: 3,402
Referee: Yoshiro Imamura
5 May 2021 (2021-05-05) Consadole Sapporo 2–1 Sagan Tosu Sapporo
14:03
Report Yuzawa   90+1' Stadium: Sapporo Dome
Attendance: 7,507
Referee: Nobutsugu Murakami
5 May 2021 (2021-05-05) Kashima Antlers 1–1 Avispa Fukuoka Kashima
15:03 Shirasaki   31' Report Mary   24' Stadium: Kashima Soccer Stadium
Attendance: 8,343
Referee: Futoshi Nakamura
19 May 2021 (2021-05-19) Consadole Sapporo 0–0 Kashima Antlers Sapporo
19:03 Report Stadium: Sapporo Dome
Attendance: 2,829
Referee: Yoshiro Imamura
19 May 2021 (2021-05-19) Avispa Fukuoka 4–1 Sagan Tosu Fukuoka
19:03
Report Hayashi   74' Stadium: Best Denki Stadium
Attendance: 979
Referee: Akihiko Ikeuchi

Group B

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 FC Tokyo 6 3 3 0 6 2 +4 12 Advance to play-off stage
2 Vissel Kobe 6 2 2 2 6 4 +2 8
3 Oita Trinita 6 1 3 2 4 6 −2 6
4 Tokushima Vortis 6 1 2 3 3 7 −4 5
Source: J.League
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
2 March 2021 (2021-03-02) Oita Trinita 1–3 Vissel Kobe Ōita
19:03 Fujimoto   20' Report
Stadium: Showa Denko Dome Oita
Attendance: 3,320
Referee: Hiroki Kasahara
3 March 2021 (2021-03-03) FC Tokyo 1–0 Tokushima Vortis Chōfu
18:03 Tagawa   59' Report Stadium: Ajinomoto Stadium
Attendance: 3,788
Referee: Takuto Okabe
27 March 2021 (2021-03-27) Tokushima Vortis 0–1 Oita Trinita Naruto
14:03 Report Nagasawa   5' Stadium: Pocarisweat Stadium
Attendance: 2,322
Referee: Yuichi Nishimura
28 March 2021 (2021-03-28) FC Tokyo 2–0 Vissel Kobe Chōfu
14:03
Report Stadium: Ajinomoto Stadium
Attendance: 6,512
Referee: Hajime Matsuo
21 April 2021 (2021-04-21) Vissel Kobe 0–1 Tokushima Vortis Kobe
18:03 Report Kawata   30' Stadium: Noevir Stadium Kobe
Attendance: 2,184
Referee: Dai Matsumoto
21 April 2021 (2021-04-21) Oita Trinita 0–1 FC Tokyo Ōita
19:03 Report Nagai   50' Stadium: Showa Denko Dome Oita
Attendance: 2,806
Referee: Akihiko Ikeuchi
28 April 2021 (2021-04-28) Vissel Kobe 0–0 Oita Trinita Kobe
18:03 Report Stadium: Noevir Stadium Kobe
Referee: Nobutsugu Murakami
28 April 2021 (2021-04-28) Tokushima Vortis 1–1 FC Tokyo Naruto
19:03 Hamashita   12' Report Uvini   47' Stadium: Pocarisweat Stadium
Attendance: 1,969
Referee: Yudai Yamamoto
5 May 2021 (2021-05-05) Oita Trinita 1–1 Tokushima Vortis Ōita
14:03 Takazawa   14' Report Cacá   84' Stadium: Showa Denko Dome Oita
Attendance: 3,987
Referee: Masaaki Toma
5 May 2021 (2021-05-05) Vissel Kobe 0–0 FC Tokyo Kashima
15:03 Report Stadium: Kashima Soccer Stadium
Referee: Hiroki Kasahara
19 May 2021 (2021-05-19) FC Tokyo 1–1 Oita Trinita Chōfu
19:03 Nagai   63' Report Yumiba   45+2' Stadium: Ajinomoto Stadium
Attendance: 2,842
Referee: Yuichi Nishimura
19 May 2021 (2021-05-19) Tokushima Vortis 0–3 Vissel Kobe Naruto
19:03 Report
Stadium: Pocarisweat Stadium
Attendance: 3,448
Referee: Hajime Matsuo

Group C

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Urawa Red Diamonds 6 2 3 1 7 5 +2 9 Advance to play-off stage
2 Shonan Bellmare 6 1 5 0 4 3 +1 8
3 Yokohama FC 6 2 1 3 5 6 −1 7
4 Kashiwa Reysol 6 1 3 2 6 8 −2 6
Source: J.League
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
2 March 2021 (2021-03-02) Shonan Bellmare 0–0 Urawa Red Diamonds Hiratsuka
18:03 Report Stadium: Lemon Gas Stadium Hiratsuka
Attendance: 3,022
Referee: Masaaki Toma
3 March 2021 (2021-03-03) Kashiwa Reysol 0–1 Yokohama FC Kashiwa
18:03 Report S. Ito   51' (pen.) Stadium: Sankyo Frontier Kashiwa Stadium
Attendance: 2,260
Referee: Ryo Tanimoto
27 March 2021 (2021-03-27) Shonan Bellmare 1–0 Yokohama FC Hiratsuka
15:03 Nemoto   47' Report Stadium: Lemon Gas Stadium Hiratsuka
Attendance: 4,865
Referee: Ryosuke Yamaoka
27 March 2021 (2021-03-27) Urawa Red Diamonds 0–1 Kashiwa Reysol Saitama
15:03 Report Cristiano   79' Stadium: Saitama Stadium 2002
Attendance: 8,024
Referee: Nobutsugu Murakami
21 April 2021 (2021-04-21) Kashiwa Reysol 1–1 Shonan Bellmare Kashiwa
18:03 Goya   28' Report Kobayashi   90' Stadium: Sankyo Frontier Kashiwa Stadium
Attendance: 2,152
Referee: Yusuke Araki
21 April 2021 (2021-04-21) Yokohama FC 1–2 Urawa Red Diamonds Yokohama
19:03 Kléber   14' Report Sugimoto   45', 57' Stadium: NHK Spring Mitsuzawa Football Stadium
Attendance: 2,481
Referee: Masaya Ueda
28 April 2021 (2021-04-28) Urawa Red Diamonds 0–0 Shonan Bellmare Saitama
18:03 Report Stadium: Saitama Stadium 2002
Attendance: 4,231
Referee: Ryo Tanimoto
28 April 2021 (2021-04-28) Yokohama FC 2–0 Kashiwa Reysol Yokohama
19:03
Report Stadium: NHK Spring Mitsuzawa Football Stadium
Attendance: 1,891
Referee: Shu Kawamata
5 May 2021 (2021-05-05) Yokohama FC 1–1 Shonan Bellmare Yokohama
14:03 Kléber   78' Report Hiraoka   42' Stadium: NHK Spring Mitsuzawa Football Stadium
Attendance: 4,004
Referee: Takuto Okabe
5 May 2021 (2021-05-05) Kashiwa Reysol 3–3 Urawa Red Diamonds Kashiwa
16:03
Report
Stadium: Sankyo Frontier Kashiwa Stadium
Attendance: 3,775
Referee: Hayato Shimizu
19 May 2021 (2021-05-19) Urawa Red Diamonds 2–0 Yokohama FC Saitama
19:03
Report Stadium: Saitama Stadium 2002
Attendance: 4,252
Referee: Koichiro Fukushima
19 May 2021 (2021-05-19) Shonan Bellmare 1–1 Kashiwa Reysol Hiratsuka
19:03 Ikeda   50' Report Takahashi   90+2' Stadium: Lemon Gas Stadium Hiratsuka
Attendance: 3,521
Referee: Hiroyoshi Takayama

Group D

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Yokohama F. Marinos 6 4 2 0 17 4 +13 14 Advance to play-off stage
2 Shimizu S-Pulse 6 2 2 2 7 8 −1 8
3 Vegalta Sendai 6 2 0 4 7 11 −4 6
4 Sanfrecce Hiroshima 6 1 2 3 3 11 −8 5
Source: J.League
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
3 March 2021 (2021-03-03) Yokohama F. Marinos 1–0 Vegalta Sendai Yokohama
18:03 Onaiwu   16' Report Stadium: Nissan Stadium
Attendance: 3,851
Referee: Yuki Noda
3 March 2021 (2021-03-03) Sanfrecce Hiroshima 0–0 Shimizu S-Pulse Hiroshima
19:03 Report Stadium: Edion Stadium Hiroshima
Attendance: 1,904
Referee: Jumpei Iida
27 March 2021 (2021-03-27) Vegalta Sendai 0–1 Shimizu S-Pulse Sendai
14:03 Report Yu. Suzuki   70' Stadium: Yurtec Stadium Sendai
Attendance: 3,196
Referee: Koichiro Fukushima
27 March 2021 (2021-03-27) Yokohama F. Marinos 5–0 Sanfrecce Hiroshima Yokohama
14:03
Report Stadium: Nissan Stadium
Attendance: 5,600
Referee: Yudai Yamamoto
21 April 2021 (2021-04-21) Sanfrecce Hiroshima 0–1 Vegalta Sendai Hiroshima
19:03 Report C. Kato   75' Stadium: Edion Stadium Hiroshima
Attendance: 1,739
Referee: Koichiro Fukushima
21 April 2021 (2021-04-21) Shimizu S-Pulse 0–0 Yokohama F. Marinos Shizuoka
19:03 Report Stadium: IAI Stadium Nihondaira
Attendance: 3,466
Referee: Tomohiro Inoue
28 April 2021 (2021-04-28) Vegalta Sendai 2–5 Yokohama F. Marinos Sendai
18:03
Report
Stadium: Yurtec Stadium Sendai
Attendance: 1,953
Referee: Toru Kakinuma
28 April 2021 (2021-04-28) Shimizu S-Pulse 1–2 Sanfrecce Hiroshima Shizuoka
19:03 Ibusuki   69' Report
Stadium: IAI Stadium Nihondaira
Attendance: 3,511
Referee: Futoshi Nakamura
5 May 2021 (2021-05-05) Shimizu S-Pulse 4–1 Vegalta Sendai Shizuoka
14:03
Report Sasaki   36' Stadium: IAI Stadium Nihondaira
Attendance: 5,376
Referee: Kazuyoshi Enomoto
5 May 2021 (2021-05-05) Sanfrecce Hiroshima 1–1 Yokohama F. Marinos Hiroshima
14:03 Ayukawa   90+6' Report Ceará   28' Stadium: Edion Stadium Hiroshima
Attendance: 4,491
Referee: Akihiko Ikeuchi
19 May 2021 (2021-05-19) Vegalta Sendai 3–0 Sanfrecce Hiroshima Sendai
19:03
Report Stadium: Yurtec Stadium Sendai
Attendance: 1,560
Referee: Ryo Tanimoto
19 May 2021 (2021-05-19) Yokohama F. Marinos 5–1 Shimizu S-Pulse Yokohama
19:03
Report Katayama   2' Stadium: Nissan Stadium
Attendance: 4,363
Referee: Masaaki Toma

Play-off stage

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Summary

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The play-off stage was played as two-legged ties of two teams each. The away goals rule, an extra time (away goals rule not applied for the scores in the extra time), and a penalty shoot-out would have been used if needed.

The play-off stage was held over two legs; on 2, 5, and 6 June 2021 (first), and 6 and 13 June 2021 (second). All times listed are in Japan Standard Time (JST, UTC+9).

Team 1 Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score Team 2 1st leg 2nd leg
Shimizu S-Pulse 1–3 Kashima Antlers 0–1 1–2
FC Tokyo 4–2 Shonan Bellmare 0–1 4–1
Consadole Sapporo 4–2 Yokohama F. Marinos 1–1 3–1
Vissel Kobe 3–4 Urawa Red Diamonds 1–2 2–2

Matches

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Shimizu S-Pulse0–1Kashima Antlers
Report Hayashi   8'
Attendance: 3,626
Referee: Futoshi Nakamura
Kashima Antlers2–1Shimizu S-Pulse
 Report Thiago Santana   21'
Attendance: 7,274
Referee: Yoshiro Imamura

Kashima Antlers won 3–1 on aggregate.

FC Tokyo0–1Shonan Bellmare
Report Wellington   71'
Attendance: 4,284
Referee: Hayato Shimizu
Shonan Bellmare1–4FC Tokyo
Nakamura   44' Report
Attendance: 4,690
Referee: Nobutsugu Murakami

FC Tokyo won 4–2 on aggregate.

Consadole Sapporo1–1Yokohama F. Marinos
Aoki   26' Report Nakagawa   45+2'
Attendance: 3,814
Referee: Koichiro Fukushima
Yokohama F. Marinos1–3Consadole Sapporo
Mizunuma   61' Report
Attendance: 4,909
Referee: Masaaki Toma

Consadole Sapporo won 4–2 on aggregate.

Vissel Kobe1–2Urawa Red Diamonds
Douglas   3' Report
Attendance: 4,720
Urawa Red Diamonds2–2Vissel Kobe
 Report
Attendance: 4,892
Referee: Akihiko Ikeuchi

Urawa Red Diamonds won 4–3 on aggregate.

Prime stage (Knockout stage)

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The prime stage (knockout stage) was played between four teams which won at the play-off stage and the four 2021 AFC Champions League participants entering the tournament at this stage. The prime stage was played as two-legged ties of two teams each. The away goals rule, an extra time (away goals rule not applied for the scores in the extra time), and a penalty shoot-out were used if needed.

The quarter-finals and the semi-finals were played as two-legged ties (same as the play-off stage). The final was played as a single game.

Quarter-finals

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Summary

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The quarter-finals were held over two legs; on 1 (first) and 5 September 2021 (second). All times listed are in Japan Standard Time (JST, UTC+9).

Team 1 Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score Team 2 1st leg 2nd leg
Consadole Sapporo 2–3 FC Tokyo 2–1 0–2
Nagoya Grampus 4–0 Kashima Antlers 2–0 2–0
Cerezo Osaka 4–1 Gamba Osaka 0–1 4–0
Urawa Red Diamonds 4–4 (a) Kawasaki Frontale 1–1 3–3

Matches

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Consadole Sapporo2–1FC Tokyo
 Report Watanabe   14'
Attendance: 3,204
Referee: Yoshiro Imamura
FC Tokyo2–0Consadole Sapporo
 Report
Attendance: 3,272
Referee: Hiroki Kasahara

FC Tokyo won 3–2 on aggregate.

Nagoya Grampus2–0Kashima Antlers
 Report
Attendance: 5,744
Referee: Nobutsugu Murakami
Kashima Antlers0–2Nagoya Grampus
Report
Referee: Yoshiro Imamura

Nagoya Grampus won 4–0 on aggregate.

Cerezo Osaka0–1Gamba Osaka
Report Yamami   89'
Attendance: 4,205
Referee: Koichiro Fukushima
Gamba Osaka0–4Cerezo Osaka
Report
Attendance: 4,869
Referee: Hajime Matsuo

Cerezo Osaka won 4–1 on aggregate.

Urawa Red Diamonds1–1Kawasaki Frontale
Sekine   35' Report Ienaga   72' (pen.)
Attendance: 4,629
Kawasaki Frontale3–3Urawa Red Diamonds
 Report
Attendance: 4,936
Referee: Masaaki Toma

4–4 on aggregate. Urawa Red Diamonds won on away goals.

Semi-finals

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Summary

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The semi-finals were held over two legs; on 6 (first) and 10 October 2021 (second). All times listed are in Japan Standard Time (JST, UTC+9).

Team 1 Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score Team 2 1st leg 2nd leg
Nagoya Grampus 4–3 FC Tokyo 3–1 1–2
Urawa Red Diamonds 1–2 Cerezo Osaka 1–1 0–1

Matches

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Nagoya Grampus3–1FC Tokyo
 Report Adaílton   90+3'
Attendance: 7,778
Referee: Hiroyuki Kimura
FC Tokyo2–1Nagoya Grampus
 Report Inagaki   79'
Attendance: 9,910
Referee: Hajime Matsuo

Nagoya Grampus won 4–3 on aggregate.

Urawa Red Diamonds1–1Cerezo Osaka
Junker   12' Report Yamada   66'
Attendance: 8,734
Referee: Ryuji Sato
Cerezo Osaka1–0Urawa Red Diamonds
M. Kato   53' Report
Attendance: 8,654
Referee: Koichiro Fukushima

Cerezo Osaka won 2–1 on aggregate.

Final

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Main article: 2021 J.League Cup Final
Nagoya Grampus2–0Cerezo Osaka
 Report
Attendance: 17,933
Referee: Masaaki Toma

Top scorers

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Rank Player Club Goals[2]
1   Sho Inagaki Nagoya Grampus 4
  Kasper Junker Urawa Red Diamonds
  Teruhito Nakagawa Yokohama F. Marinos
  Adaílton FC Tokyo
5   Hisashi Jogo Avispa Fukuoka 3
  Ryonosuke Kabayama Yokohama F. Marinos
  Kota Mizunuma Yokohama F. Marinos
  Douglas Oliveira Consadole Sapporo
  Ado Onaiwu Yokohama F. Marinos
  Takahiro Sekine Urawa Red Diamonds
  Everaldo Stum Kashima Antlers

References

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  1. ^ a b "大会概要：2021ＪリーグYBCルヴァンカップ". JLeague.jp (in Japanese). Japan Professional Football League. Retrieved 2 March 2021.
  2. ^ "Goals / J League YBC Levain Cup". J.League Data Site. Retrieved 30 October 2021.
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