[ODDS and EVENS] Vissel Kobe Maintained Hunger for Another Title and Fulfilled Their Goal

When a team wins one championship, it may be considered a lucky accomplishment. But if a team defends its title, it's hard to convince people that it was a fluke. And that's certainly the case with Vissel Kobe.

The Kansai-based squad captured its second consecutive J.League title on the final day of the 2024 season at home by beating Shonan Bellmare 3-0 on Sunday, December 8.

Vissel manager Takayuki Yoshida's squad finished the campaign with 21 wins, nine draws and eight defeats (72 points), placing four points ahead of second-place Sanfrecce Hiroshima and another two in front of third-place FC Machida Zelvia.

Not to be overlooked, Vissel also triumphed in the Emperor's Cup final, defeating Gamba Osaka 1-0 on November 23 at Tokyo's National Stadium.

"We've won two titles and we're progressing well in the Asian Champions League," Yoshida said, according to Agence France-Presse in the euphoric afterglow of Vissel's season finale. "I appreciate the hard work of everyone in the team, all the players and staff."

Mission Accomplished for Vissel Kobe

Entering the final day of the season, the reigning J.League champions from Kobe held a one-point advantage over Sanfrecce, who sat in second place.

Sunday's results didn't change that.

Gamba prevailed 3-1 over visiting Sanfrecce, and Machida, unable to leapfrog past Gamba, had to settle for third after dropping a 3-1 away decision to the Kashima Antlers.

There was no magic formula for Vissel to win another title. Consistent, quality play and hard work were trademarks of the team's 2024 campaign.

"We've given 100 percent each game and that got us to where we are now," veteran striker Yoshinori Muto was quoted as saying by Kyodo News on Sunday at Noevir Stadium, where a spirited crowd of 27,444 spectators witnessed Vissel's title-winning exploits. "I had tough moments but never compromised on anything. [And] I believe this is the result of dedicating everything to football, so I'm really happy."

A season earlier, Yoshida's men built a bit of a cushion separating themselves and other title-chasing clubs at the top of the J.League table. In 2023, Vissel finished with 21 wins, eight draws and five losses (71 points), seven points better than Yokohama F Marinos.

For Muto and his teammates, there was no overpowering stretch to clinch another title. But they proved to be stronger than everyone else and did just enough to seal another title, with two victories and two draws in their final five matches.

A Winning Conclusion to a Successful Season

On Sunday, forward Taisei Miyashiro put the hosts ahead 1-0 in the 26th minute and Muto extended the lead to 2-0 in the 43rd. Takahiro Ogihara, who appeared in 35 matches this season, scored the final goal ― his lone goal of the J.League campaign ―  in the 70th minute.

After the match ended, with Vissel Kobe clinching the franchise's second J.League title, Miyashiro shared his thoughts on his reaction to the accomplishment.

"Frankly, I'm happy and also relieved," Miyashiro said, according to Kyodo News.

Miyashiro, 24, made significant contributions for the title-winning squad, bagging 11 goals (tied for second with teammate Yuya Osako).

Muto was the team's top scorer with 13 goals and delivered a tone-setting performance as a clutch player this season. His overall excellence in 2024 did not go unnoticed. The 32-year-old was named the J.League Player of the Year on Tuesday, December 10, headlining the J.League Awards ceremony in Yokohama.

Winning the 2024 title was confirmation that Vissel Kobe's recipe for success, including a plus-25 goal difference, was spot-on.

Week after week, fans saw the Kobe footballers sticking to their same plan without radical deviations from the norm.

"The secret of Kobe's strength lies in the responsibility of each and every one of us," Muto said, according to NHK. 

In addition to Muto, Vissel's Brazilian defender Matheus Thuler and Osako were named to the Best XI team.

RELATED:

• [ODDS and EVENS] Yuya Osako Set the Tone for Title-Winning Vissel Kobe
• [JAPAN SPORTS NOTEBOOK] Vissel Kobe Capture Their First J.League Title

Author: Ed Odeven

Find Ed on JAPAN Forward's dedicated website, SportsLook. Follow his [Japan Sports Notebook] on Sundays, [Odds and Evens] during the week, and X (formerly Twitter) ＠ed_odeven.