Sanfrecce Hiroshima defeated Kashiwa Reysol 3-1 in the J.League YBC Levain Cup final on November 1, securing their second title. Set pieces made the difference in the match at Tokyo's National Stadium, attended by 62,466 fans. Hiroshima's clinical first-half performance proved decisive.
In the J.League YBC Levain Cup final at Tokyo's National Stadium on November 1, Sanfrecce Hiroshima beat Kashiwa Reysol 3-1 to claim their second title. Before a packed crowd of 62,466, set pieces were the key differentiator, with Hiroshima's Shuto Nakano's long throws causing persistent problems for Kashiwa. Hayato Araki rose highest to head in the opener in the 25th minute.
Shunki Higashi doubled the lead in the 38th minute, curling a free kick that goalkeeper Ryosuke Kojima could only parry into the net. Ryo Germain added a third on the stroke of halftime, firing into the roof after Sho Sasaki won another long throw at the front post.
Kashiwa pushed for a comeback in the second half, but Hiroshima appeared more dangerous on the counter. It was not until the 81st minute that Mao Hosoya broke into the box, outmuscled a defender, and slotted past Keisuke Osako to pull one back. The win marks Hiroshima's second league cup, following their 2022 final victory over Cerezo Osaka. Kashiwa, last winners in 2013, now shifts focus to the league, where they sit three places and seven points above Hiroshima, trailing leaders Kashima Antlers by just one point with three games remaining. The teams' two league meetings this season both ended in draws.