Captain Hiroki Sakai's header gave Urawa Reds their first win of the J-League first-division season Sunday, 1-0 away to Consadole Sapporo.
The former Japan defender's 31st-minute winner at Sapporo Dome also helped secure new Norwegian manager Per-Mathias Hogmo's first league victory in Japan. Reds improved to four points from three games.
"I'm happy and relieved at the same time," former Marseille right-back Sakai said. "We're still on the learning curve as was evident today...it's important to pick up points as we gradually get closer to being the finished article."
Urawa winger Naoki Maeda went close twice within the opening minutes, while Sapporo midfielder Yuki Kobayashi curled a free-kick narrowly over at the other end before the visitors took the lead.
Swedish midfielder Samuel Gustafson picked out Sakai's run from outside the box following a short corner, and the defender rose high to power his header past Sapporo keeper Shunta Awaka.
Sapporo stepped up a gear in the second half, but Urawa forward Thiago Santana should have doubled the lead in the 71st minute when he headed wide off an inviting cross from Yusuke Matsuo.
Sapporo had late chances, but Hiromu Tanaka blasted over with four minutes to go following a corner before Katsuyuki Tanaka fired a long-range free-kick wide in stoppage time as Consadole remained on one point and without a goal.
