2019 Emperor's Cup final

The **2019 Emperor's Cup Final** wis an association fitbaw match between Vissel Kobe an Kashima Antlers oan 1 January 2020 at Japan National Stadium in Tokyo. It wis the inaugural sporting event in the stadium, newly opened fur the 2020 Olympic Games. It wis the 99th edition Emperor's Cup, organised by the Japan Football Association (JFA). Vissel Kobe wur playin in thir first ever Emperor's Cup final. Kashima Antlers wur playing thir first Emperor's Cup final since they liftit the trophy in 2016, when they won 2–1 against Kawasaki Frontale efter extra time.

Ryuji Sato wis the referee fur the match, which wis played in front o 57,597 spectators. Vissel Kobe dominated the first-half o pley an brok the deidlock efter 18 minutes followin an own-goal by Tomoya Inukai, then doubled thir lead 20 minutes later efter the baw ricocheted aff striker Noriaki Fujimoto intae the net. The match ended 2–0 tae Vissel Kobe, who won thir first ever trophy in thir first final appearance in the competition.

As winners, Vissel Kobe automatically qualified fur the group stage o the 2020 AFC Champions League. 

## Teams

## Route tae the final
The tournament consisted o 88 teams in a knockoot format. The first roond contained 48 teams maide up o 47 prefectural cup winners an wan amateur team (winners of the 67th All Japan University Soccer Championship, Hosei University). The second roond then introduced the 18 J1 League clubs and the 22 J2 League clubs. At this roond, baith o the finalists entered the tournament.

## Pre-match

### Venue selection
The final wis hosted in the newly rebuilt Japan National Stadium – the first time the final hud been hosted in the national stadium since 2013. The game served as the inaugural sporting event at the venue. 

### Analysis
Vissel Kobe hud never reached further than the semi-final stage o any knockoot tournament in thir history. Kashima Antlers hud previously won the competition 5 times, the maist recent comin in 2016. In thir meetins in the 2019 J1 League, Kashima Antlers won thir first meeting awaiy at Vissel Kobe, wi Vissel then later winnin the reverse fixture.
Vissel Kobe hud a mare convincin run tae the final, defeating three J1 League teams en route. Kashima Antlers only met wan J1 team bit oan thir waiy unconvincinly beat JFL team Honda FC 1–0 in the quarter-finals. 

## Match

### First hauf
Vissel Kobe started the game brightly wi Andrés Iniesta central to thir guid play. Wan of thir early chances came doon the right, wi Kyogo Furuhashi breaking doon the right-side an providin a pull-back cross fae Noriaki Fujimoto who blazed his shot ower the bar. Kobe kept the pressure oan and followin a surge intae the box by Gotoku Sakai, Lukas Podolski managed tae retain possession and fire a tightly angled attempt at goalie Kwoun Sun-tae, who cid only parry it intae his teammate Tomoya Inukai wi the baw reboondin intae the net. Kashima wur limited in thir chances – coming closest wi a volley fae striker Serginho efter Kobe failed tae clear followin a free kick. Kobe continued thir strong play an efter Podolski hud a goal disallowed fur an affside in the build-up, it wisnae lang befare Kobe's second goal wis scored. Former Antlers player Daigo Nishi wis offered too much space oan the right-side an providit a cross which wis bundled intae the goal by Fujimoto, followin a mistak fae Kashima defender Inukai.

### Second hauf
In response tae the humbling first-hauf, Kashima manager Oiwa made a hauf-time substitution, bringin attacking midfielder Shoma Doi oan in plaice o Ryohei Shirasaki. Kashima played mare offensivly an managed tae create a number o hauf-chances, but a combination o poor finishin an strong defending fae Reo Osaki kept Kashima oot. Kashima then chynged thir formation tae play three at the baick an match Vissel Kobe's 3-4-3, which made the game a tighter contest an allooed them much mare possession and wing-play. However Kashima struggled tae break doon Kobe and create any meaningful chances, wi Kobe's pacey Furuhashi and Fujimoto threatenin oan the coonter. Kobe hud a chance tae finish the game aff late on, but striker Junya Tanaka wis enly able tae strike a weak shot fae 6 yards oot at goalie Kwoun, efter a fine break doon the left by Podolski. As the game drew tae a close, it wis a chance fur the fans o Vissel Kobe tae say cheerio tae legendary player David Villa, who made a cameo appearance in added time – his last professional appearance befare retirement.

### Details

### Statistics

## Post-match
By winning the match, Vissel Kobe won the first trophy in thir history, vindicatin the large amoont o investment pit intae the club by chairman Hiroshi Mikitoni. 
Thorsten Fink, the winnin manager, said "I'm really prood tae huv won ma first title. There are many supporters who support me as well as the club, nd ah hink it's very guid fur the city o Kobe". His opposite number, Go Oiwa said "It's a very disappointin result, but av tawd the players that am very grateful tae them fur huving fought tae the end". This wis to be Oiwa's last match in charge o Kashima befare steppin doon as manager.

The monetary reward tae Vissel Kobe fur winning the trophy wis 150,000,000円, wi runners-up Kashima Antlers awarded 50,000,000円.

Vissel Kobe also automatically qualified fur the group stage o the 2020 AFC Champions League following thir victory.

## References

## External links

* Emperor's Cup JFA 99th Japan Football Championship 
* 天皇杯 JFA 第99回全日本サッカー選手権大会