Kataller Toyama vs Urawa Reds

Urawa Reds needed a dramatic late fightback to see off spirited underdogs Toyama in a five-goal Levain Cup thriller, escaping 3-2 despite trailing for a stretch of the second half. Takuro Kaneko put Urawa Reds ahead in the 39th minute, but Toyama hit back after the break. Shun Mizoguchi's 62nd-minute effort squirmed in off a blocking defender to level, before Riki Matsuda volleyed the hosts in front in the 69th minute. Urawa needed a response and got two: Hiiro Komori, playing near his hometown, equalized in the 72nd minute, and substitute Renji Hidano struck the winner in the 83rd to complete the turnaround. Urawa Reds move on to round three of the Levain Cup despite fielding a near-unchanged side from their weekend league game, a rotation gamble that nearly backfired. Toyama, who made nine changes after playing in J2 days earlier, exit the cup with a performance full of promise against top-flight opposition.