Forwards Yudai Kimura and Itsuki Someno each hit a brace as Tokyo Verdy overpowered Consadole Sapporo 5-3 at home in the J-League first division on Sunday.
A week after their win at holders Vissel Kobe, promoted Verdy never trailed at rainy Ajinomoto Stadium and a second straight victory moved them up to 24 points. Sapporo remained on 11 points and dropped to the bottom of the 20-team J1 on goal difference.
"Dropping or winning points here would have changed our form going forward, and we as a team took it as an important match," said Kimura, who took his season's tally to eight goals. "I'm really happy to have contributed."
Kimura gave Verdy the lead with a 10th-minute penalty after Sapporo keeper Takanori Sugeno tripped him. Sapporo captain Takuma Arano leveled with a deflected 25-meter shot in the 20th minute, but the efficient home side netted twice before the break.
Verdy captain Koki Morita launched a counter near the halfway line and fed Someno, who scored through a defender's legs in the 32nd minute. Attacker Tomoya Miki recovered from a poor first touch off Hijiri Onaga's cross and sent a low hard shot that came off the post before hitting a defender and going in.
Tomoki Kondo headed in a corner for Sapporo within the opening minute of the second half, but Kimura restored Verdy's two-goal cushion before the hour mark after shrugging off a defender at the edge of the box and skipping past Sugeno to steer home in a fast attack.
Someno curled in his second in the 78th minute as the visitors' frail high line again failed to deal with a simple Verdy foray at the edge of the area. Youngster Kosuke Hara got a late consolation for Sapporo, who lost their third straight.
