Urawa beats Bellmare 3-1 to kick off J-League season

Posted March 06, 2015 10:00 pm

The Associated Press

HIRATSUKA, Japan (AP) - Tomoya Ugajin and Daisuke Nasu scored second-half goals Saturday as Urawa Reds beat newly-promoted Shonan Bellmare 3-1 on the opening day of the 2015 J-League season.

Shinzo Koroki equalized in the 41st minute after Bellmare scored through Wataru Endo's penalty kick in the 35th.

Ugajin put the visitors ahead for good on a right-foot shot from 17 meters in the 74th and Nasu ensured victory for Urawa with a close-range effort three minutes later.

In other matches, FC Tokyo held champions Gamba Osaka to a 2-2 draw.

Osaka led 2-0 after goals from Patric and Takashi Usami, but Yoshinori Muto struck twice over the last 15 minutes to equalize for Tokyo.

Newly-promoted Matsumoto Yamaga almost beat Nagoya Grampus in its top-flight debut, drawing 3-3 away.

Wilson scored two late goals as Vegalta Sendai defeated Montedio Yamagata 2-0 while Kashiwa Reysol beat former coach Nelsinho's team in a 1-0 win over Vissel Kobe.

Kawasaki Frontale defeated Yokohama F Marinos 3-1, Sagan Tosu edged Albirex Niigata 2-1 and Sanfrecce Hiroshima beat Ventforet Kofu 2-0.

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