KOBE -- Shimizu S-Pulse secured its place in the Nabisco Cup quarterfinals with a 2-0 victory over Vissel Kobe at Kobe Universiade Stadium on Thursday night, celebrating the return of Shimizu and Japan defender Ryuzo Morioka from an injury.
With one more match remaining in the round-robin first round, Shimizu has nine points while third-place Tokyo Verdy 1969 remained on four points after losing to Group B leader FC Tokyo 2-1 at National Stadium in Tokyo.
The hopes of Vissel and Verdy to advance to the next round were vanquished with Thursday's results. FC Tokyo also qualified for the quarterfinals with the win.