Shunsuke Nakamura struck a goal and set up another in his farewell game for the Yokohama F. Marinos as his team moved back to the top of the J. League Division One first-stage standings with a 2-1 come-from-behind win over Tokyo Verdy 1969 on Sunday night.
The sell-out 52,073 crowd at the National Stadium in Tokyo cheered the departing hero's every move in the game. Nakamura is headed for Italian Serie A side Reggina this season.
Former Brazil international Edmundo struck a free-kick six meters outside the box in the 21st minute to give Verdy a 1-0 lead.
But Yokohama equalized in the 35th minute. Nakamura fired a free-kick from the right flank, which Verdy 'keeper Daijiro Takakuwa punched at the near post to partially clear. His clearance found the head of Yokohama forward Will and sailed into the net.
Five minutes later, Nakamura dribbled into the box which induced a foul from two Verdy players and a penalty. The former Japan midfielder calmly slotted the spot-kick home to help Yokohama take the upper hand. It was Nakamura's 33rd goal in his 148th league game, since his professional debut for Yokohama in April 1997.
Verdy frustrated the Marinos with tight marking early in the game and created some scoring chances on counters, paced by Edmundo and his countryman Marquinhos. But the visitors couldn't produce any more goals.