Vissel Kobe labored to a 1-0 win at promoted Albirex Niigata in the J-League first division Friday, claiming all three points in their first match since the departure of Spain great Andres Iniesta.
Manager Takayuki Yoshida called Yuya Osako back into the starting eleven, and the former Japan forward delivered the match's only goal in the 15th minute at Denka Big Swan Stadium. The win moved Kobe up to second on 40 points, two behind leaders Yokohama F Marinos.
Kobe went ahead after Mitsuki Saito robbed Yuji Hoshi of the ball deep in Niigata's half. Yoshinori Muto instantly fed it into the box for Osako, whose shot on the turn found its way through to the left bottom corner.
"(Muto) judged the situation well and gave me the ball, and I just had to get my foot through it," Osako said of his season's 13th league goal.
Kobe lost defender Matheus Thuler five minutes later with an injury, and Niigata dominated the rest of the half as they patiently built their play from the back, with Shunsuke Mito's 22nd-minute long-range drive stinging the palms of diving Kobe keeper Daiya Maekawa.
Forward Kaito Taniguchi had the hosts' best chance two minutes from the break when his first-time shot off Eitaro Matsuda's pass from the right was denied again superbly by a one-handed Maekawa save.
The second half saw few chances for either side. Osako came closest in the 62nd minute, his left-footed half-volley off Daiju Sasaki's cross tipped onto the post by Niigata keeper Ryosuke Kojima.
Niigata had 15 shots to Kobe's five but failed to break down the visitors' defense, who had Albirex youth product and former Japan fullback Gotoku Sakai playing as an impromptu center-back. The home side remained on 21 points.
"It was a really tough 90 minutes. Niigata showed who they are, making fast transitions while playing with a concept," said Kobe manager Yoshida. "We have lots of injuries and almost no defenders, but everyone staved them off."
