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Takuma Nishimura scored 16 minutes into the
second half to earn Marinos victory in the season curtain raiser
after Brazilian forward Elber had seen his opener for Yokohama
cancelled out by Peter Utaka just before halftime.
Elber had put Marinos in front on the halfhour mark when he
stroked home from close range after a lay-off from compatriot
Anderson Lopes.
However Utaka, who will celebrate his 39th birthday on Sunday,
levelled with a 44th-minute goal that was awarded following a
lengthy check by the Video Assistant Referee after the striker's
effort had initially been ruled out for offside.
Kofu's victory in the Emperor's Cup last year came as a surprise
given their struggles in the lower reaches of Japan's second
division. They threatened to pull off another shock against the
reigning J1 champions.
But Nishimura put Yokohama back in front in the 61st minute when
he reacted quickest to side-foot the ball in after seeing
Anderson Lopes' low strike touched onto the base of the post by
Kofu goalkeeper Kohei Kawata.
Marinos comfortably held out to claim the trophy for the first
time in six attempts. They begin the defence of their J1 League
title on Friday when they take on last season's runners-up
Kawasaki Frontale.
(Reporting by Michael Church in Hong Kong; Editing by Editing by
William Mallard)
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