J. League champions Sanfrecce Hiroshima picked up from where they left off last year with a 3-1 win over Gamba Osaka in the season curtain-raising Fuji Xerox Super Cup on Saturday.
Sanfrecce beat Gamba in a two-legged playoff to claim the league title last December, and goals from Hisato Sato and Takuma Asano early in the second half at Nissan Stadium continued the champions' dominance over Emperor's Cup-holders Gamba.
Takashi Usami gave Gamba hope when he pulled a goal back in the 68th minute, but Sanfrecce substitute Peter Utaka pounced five minutes later to seal the deal and sound an ominous warning to the rest of the J. League ahead of next Saturday's season opener.
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