J.League wrap: Urawa win at champions Sanfrecce

Defending champions Sanfrecce Hiroshima fell to a 2-1 defeat at home to Urawa Reds on the opening day of the 2013 J.League season.

Defending champions Sanfrecce Hiroshima fell to a 2-1 defeat at home to Urawa Reds on the opening day of the 2013 J.League season.

Goals on either side of the break from Yosuke Kashiwagi and Genki Haraguchi were enough to hand the visitors victory on Saturday.

Sanfrecce were crowned champions of Japan for the first time in their 74-year history last season with 19 wins out of 34 games but they found themselves behind seven minutes before the break after Kashiwagi found the back of the net.

Haraguchi doubled Urawa’s advantage in the 52nd minute and it proved enough, despite Koji Morisaki’s response three minutes later.

Meanwhile, Yokohama F. Marinos came from behind to record a 4-2 win over newly promoted Shonan Bellmare.

Former Japan international Shunsuke Nakamura put the hosts ahead five minutes before the half-time interval, but Thiago Quirino levelled proceedings immediately.

Shonan hit the front on the hour mark courtesy of Quirino, however a Marquinhos brace and a Manabu Saito goal prevented a shock defeat for Yokohama.

Elsewhere on Saturday, a last-gasp goal from Yoichiro Kakitani handed Cerezo Osaka a 1-0 win at home to Albirex Niigata, while Tokyo overcame Oita Trinita 2-1.

A four-goal second half saw the points shared as Shimizu S-Pulse held Omiya Ardija to a 2-2 draw and Vegalta Sendai played out a 1-1 stalemate at home to Ventforet Kofu.

Kashima Antlers could only manage a 1-1 draw against Sagan Tosu, while Nagoya Grampus and Jubilo Iwata had to settle for a share of the spoils at Toyota Stadium, their clash also ending 1-1.