Marinos finally got their first win of the season, after going behind to Tsubasa Oya’s first ever J.League goal 12 mknutes after half time. Vissel. though, already playing without Okubo, lost Tashiro to injury before the break. The home team came back with three goals in under seven minutes, all coming through some slack marking by the Vissel defence. Yuji Ono scored the first with a diving header, just when right back Okui thought he was clearing the ball. Taniguchi headed home the second, unchallenged and Nakazawa added the insurance goal when an incoming free kick was seemingly left to go out by the Vissel keeper and Nakazawa’s knee probably knew little of the goal, but was not complaining!

Both teams were considering a coaching change and this probably put the nail in the coffin of Wada, for Vissel, with Akira Nishino hovering in the background. Meanwhile, Marinos fans were probably wondering if this win had just postponed the inevitable and kept their coaching team intact for another game or two?!