Read the full story on SportsLook - [JAPAN SPORTS NOTEBOOK] Nagoya Grampus Win the Levain Cup Final in a Penalty Shootout
Late drama decided the winner of the 2024 YBC Levain Cup, aka the J.League Cup.
Nagoya Grampus displayed poise in crunch time during a penalty shootout, winning it 5-4 against Albirex Niigata on Saturday, November 2.
The soccer match was tied 2-2 after the end of the second half and 3-3 after extra time at Tokyo's National Stadium.
Grampus players Sho Inagaki, Mitch Langerak, Ryosuke Yamanaka, Kasper Junker and Yuya Yamagishi notched goals in the penalty shootout.
Albirex forward Motoki Nagakura missed the team's second attempt in the shootout. Teammates Hiroki Akiyama, Thomas Jok Deng, Yuji Hoshi and Yota Komi had successful attempts.
On a rainy day in the nation's capital, after the match was decided, Nagoya manager Kenta Hasegawa expressed pride in goalkeeper Langerak's ability and the team's spirited fans.
"We have Mitch in our goal and I backed our chance if it were to go to penalties," Hasegawa said, according to Kyodo News. "The Nagoya fans kept cheering us on till the end in the rain and it was great to see their smiles."
In the ongoing J.League season, which will wrap up in early December, Grampus sit in ninth place and Albirex are 16th among 20 teams entering the 35th round of matches on Sunday, November 3.
Back-and-Forth Drama in the Levain Cup
Kensuke Nagai gave Grampus 1-0 and 2-0 leads on first-half goals in the 31st and 42nd minutes.
Kaito Taniguchi pulled Albirex within 2-1 in the 71st minute and teammate Komi scored the equalizer on a penalty kick in second-half injury time, sending the match into extra time.
In the 93rd minute, Grampus regained the lead when Katsuhiro Nakayama scored on a deflection.
Albirex forward Nagakura, who had a tournament-best six goals, threaded the ball to Komi with a well-placed pass in the 111th minute. Komi capitalized on the scoring opportunity, booting the ball past Langerak.
A 36-year-old Australian, Langerak was named YBC Levain Cup MVP. He has played for Grampus since 2018. But Langerak will join Melbourne Victory, for whom he began his pro career in 2007, in the 2025 campaign.
On the official J.League X account, Langerak's accomplishments in the tournament were summed up: "A wall in goal and a true leader on the field. Mitchell Langerak delivered a stunning performance with crucial saves throughout the journey, leading Nagoya Grampus to glory. A well-deserved MVP for an unforgettable run!"
Levain Cup Facts and Figures
In the 2023 Levain Cup final, Avispa Fukuoka earned a 2-1 victory over the Urawa Reds at National Stadium.
The Kashima Antlers have won the most tournament titles (six), most recently lifting the championship trophy in 2015.
Grampus won its first title in this event in 2021, topping Cerezo Osaka 2-0 at Saitama Stadium.
The J.League Cup was first held in 1992 and has been contested annually ever since, except for 1995 due to scheduling issues.
In its recent history, from 2018-23, the tournament was open to J.League first- and second-division clubs. This year's competition, which began in March, featured all 60 J.League clubs ― from J1, J2 and J3 (the third division).
Continue reading the full story, which includes news items on baseball, basketball and more, on SportsLook.
RELATED:
Author: Ed Odeven
Find Ed on JAPAN Forward's dedicated website, SportsLook. Follow his [Japan Sports Notebook] on Sundays, [Odds and Evens] during the week, and X (formerly Twitter) ＠ed_odeven.
