Kashima Antlers midfielder Masashi Motoyama successfully completed surgery to treat an injury in his upper right leg and will be hospitalized for one week before he can begin rehabilitation, officials of the J. League first-division team said Tuesday.
Motoyama, who scored a crucial second goal in the Nabisco Cup semifinals earlier this month, was diagnosed last Wednesday and told later he would need a full month to recover.
After discussions with club doctors in a post-game meeting on Saturday, Motoyama decided to undergo surgery.