Newly promoted J. League first-division side Consadole Sapporo made a dream start to its new life in the top flight Saturday with a priceless 2-1 away win at Cerezo Osaka on the opening day of the 2001 season.
But Urawa Reds, back among the big boys after spending a season in the backwaters of the second division, fell apart in the last 25 minutes of their season opener, going down 2-0 at Nagoya Grampus Eight.
At Nagai Stadium, Brazilian striker Will pounced on the ball following confusion in the Cerezo box to give the visitors the lead 60 seconds before the interval.
South Korean midfielder Noh Jong Yoon converted from the penalty spot in the 78th minute to put Cerezo on level terms, but with seconds remaining Ryuji Bando fired home following some neat play with Will on the right to snatch all three points for Sapporo. At Mizuho Stadium, Urawa's Brazilian preseason signing Tuto twice went close in the early stages of the second half and saw a long range blast ricochet off the post before Nagoya moved up a gear in the final third of the match.
Brazilian striker Ueslei climbed high to head home a Dragan Stojkovic corner in the 64th minute and it was again the imperious Stojkovic who started the move for the second goal clinically finished by defender Naoki Hirayama with an 82nd-minute header.
In Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan midfielder Daisuke Oku grabbed a first-half brace as Jubilo Iwata, grouped with European champion Real Madrid in this year's World Club Championship, thrashed this season's relegation favorites JEF United Ichihara 4-1.
At Hakata-no-Mori Stadium, Avispa Fukuoka midfielder Tatsunori Hisanaga also helped himself to a first-half double strike to complete a miserable opening day for Osaka as his side defeated Gamba Osaka 2-0.