Vissel started this game – in very wet conditions – knowing that they has taken maximum points away at Reds in the last two seasons, and were hoping for more of the same to kickstart their season after three losses in a row had derailed the good start of opening the season with two wins.
The opening stages were dominated by Vissel and Okubo saw a superb mid-range shot rocket off the bar after a counter-attack in the 9th minute, but the teams remained scoreless at the break. Yuki Abe broke the deadlock shortly after the restart with a left footed half volley after the ball fell to him from a Kashiwagi corner in the 53rd minute.
Reds almost went further ahead in the 63rd minute as Marcio Richardes hit the post from ten yards out, the rebound falling for Kashiwagi who was denied by Tokushige in the Vissel goal.
But it was indeed Marcio Richardes who made it 2-0 in the 77th minute after Takagi had mis-timed a tackle and given away an inviting free kick that the Reds’ Brazilian obligingly curled into Tokushige’s right hand top corner as the keeper did his best to get across his goal.
And so Vissel made it five losses in a row, including a Nabisco Cup defeat in Kashima, but there are good signs in the team and things are coming together, even if results are not, yet, going the way of the team in crimson.