Japanese schoolboy sets new record
TOKYO, Japan -- Takayuki Morimoto became the youngest player to score in the J-League when the 15-year-old snatched an 87th-minute winner to give Tokyo Verdy a 2-1 win over JEF United.
Two days shy of his 16th birthday, substitute Morimoto latched on to a Yoshiyuki Kobayashi cross to score with a brave diving header, relieving some of the pressure on Verdy manager Osvaldo Ardiles.
Once-mighty Verdy climbed to 11th on nine points from eight first-stage matches. JEF United remain second on 14 points, seven adrift of Jubilo Iwata.
The league leaders beat visiting Oita Trinita 2-1 thanks to a clinical finish from striker Ryoichi Maeda in the 60th minute at Yamaha Stadium.
Brazilian striker Emerson fired a superb 67th-minute winner to give Urawa Reds a 1-0 victory over Kashima Antlers in front of 56,000 at Saitama World Cup Stadium.
Victory lifted Urawa to third on 14 points, behind Ichihara on goal difference. Yokohama F-Marinos, playing in the Asian Champions League on Wednesday, also have 14 points.
Elsewhere, FC Tokyo won 2-1 at Vissel Kobe, whose form has slumped since Turkey striker Ilhan Mansiz left Japan to have knee surgery at the end of March.
Kashiwa Reysol slipped into the bottom three after going down 2-0 at home to Gamba Osaka.
In other matches, Sanfrecce Hiroshima beat bottom club Cerezo Osaka 2-1 away while promoted Albirex Niigata drew 1-1 at Nagoya Grampus Eight.
