Going into a match which Urawa Reds has not won Yokohama F.Marinos for the past two years, so this particular match-up will always be nothing short of an entertaining encounter. However, Urawa’s curse does not seem to fade as it was Marinos who drew the first blood as early as 7th minute through Marcos Junior!
In the 14th minute, Teruhito Nakagawa nearly doubled the lead for the Yokohama team but luckily Urawa’s goalkeeper Shusaku Nishikawa was up to task to deny the close range shot.
Urawa Reds’ effort nearly paid off minutes later. Yuki Moto’s perfect pass found Shinzo Koroki clear in the box but the former Kashima Antlers hitman squandered his chance of equalizing for the team as he saw his shot went wide of goal.
Marinos responded immediately by missing out their second goal of the night when Nishikawa palmed off a point-blank shot by Marcos Junior in the half hour mark. Urawa Reds went into the half time break with a goal down.
Second half showed a more hardworking Urawa side as they introduced both Martinus and Japan International Kenyu Sugimoto. But all might be too late. Marinos’ Marcos Junior scored his second of the night with a sweet curler in the 61st minute.
Completing the demolition for the night, defender Rikuto Hirose scored the third and the last goal for Marinos in the 70th minute. Final score at Saitama Stadium, Urawa Reds 0 Yokohama F.Marinos 3. While Yokohama F.Marinos continues with their fine form against Urawa Reds, the Reds have to go back to their drawing board.
Between 2005 and 2007, the Urawa Red Diamonds’ local derby rival Omiya Ardija hosted matches here along with Urawa Komaba due to expansion of its home Omiya Park Soccer Stadium .