The 2007 edition of the J.League Cup, officially the 2007 J.League Yamazaki Nabisco Cup, sponsored by Nabisco began on March 21 with reigning champions JEF United seeking to claim their 3rd successive crown. This would equal the record set by Verdy Kawasaki when the competition began in 1992. The top 4 teams of each qualifying group automatically qualified for the quarterfinals with the best two remaining runners-up. Both Kawasaki Frontale and Urawa Red Diamonds were exempt from competing in the group stage, due to their entry into the Asian Champions League. They were therefore entered into the quarter-final stage which begins in the summer.
The final was on November 3 at the Tokyo National Stadium. The winners were Gamba Osaka, beating Kawasaki Frontale in the final 1-0 to claim its first J.League Cup. They qualified for the 2008 Pan-Pacific Championship and the 2008 Suruga Bank Championship.
Group stage Group A
March 21, 2007Sanfrecce Hiroshima0 – 3Gamba OsakaVissel Kobe1 – 4JEF UnitedMarch 25, 2007Gamba Osaka2 – 2Vissel KobeJEF United2 – 1Sanfrecce HiroshimaApril 4, 2007Gamba Osaka0 – 1JEF UnitedSanfrecce Hiroshima2 – 0Vissel KobeApril 11, 2007JEF United0 – 1Gamba OsakaVissel Kobe0 – 1Sanfrecce HiroshimaMay 9, 2007Gamba Osaka0 – 1Sanfrecce HiroshimaJEF United0 – 1Vissel KobeMay 23, 2007Sanfrecce Hiroshima1 – 0JEF UnitedVissel Kobe2 – 4Gamba Osaka
Group B
March 21, 2007Kashiwa Reysol2 – 1Shimizu S-PulseYokohama F-Marinos0 – 1Omiya ArdijaMarch 25, 2007Omiya Ardija2 – 1Kashiwa ReysolShimizu S-Pulse2 – 2Yokohama F-MarinosApril 4, 2007Kashiwa Reysol0 – 0Omiya ArdijaYokohama F-Marinos2 – 0Shimizu S-PulseApril 11, 2007Omiya Ardija1 – 1Yokohama F-MarinosShimizu S-Pulse0 – 0Kashiwa ReysolMay 9, 2007Yokohama F-Marinos3 – 0Kashiwa ReysolOmiya Ardija1 – 2Shimizu S-PulseMay 23, 2007Kashiwa Reysol3 – 0Yokohama F-MarinosShimizu S-Pulse3 – 0Omiya Ardija
Group C
March 21, 2007Ōita Trinita1 – 0Yokohama FCJúbilo Iwata2 – 2FC TokyoMarch 25, 2007FC Tokyo0 – 2Ōita TrinitaYokohama FC2 – 0Júbilo IwataApril 4, 2007Júbilo Iwata0 – 1Yokohama FCŌita Trinita0 – 1FC TokyoApril 11, 2007FC Tokyo2 – 1Júbilo IwataYokohama FC1 – 2Ōita TrinitaMay 9, 2007Júbilo Iwata1 – 0Ōita TrinitaFC Tokyo0 – 1Yokohama FCMay 23, 2007Ōita Trinita1 – 3Júbilo IwataYokohama FC1 – 2FC Tokyo
Group D
March 21, 2007Ventforet Kofu2 – 1Nagoya Grampus EightAlbirex Niigata3 – 1Kashima AntlersMarch 25, 2007Kashima Antlers2 – 1Albirex NiigataNagoya Grampus Eight0 – 1Ventforet KofuApril 4, 2007Kashima Antlers0 – 1Ventforet KofuNagoya Grampus Eight2 – 2Albirex NiigataApril 11, 2007Kashima Antlers2 – 1Nagoya Grampus EightAlbirex Niigata2 – 1Ventforet KofuMay 9, 2007Nagoya Grampus Eight1 – 4Kashima AntlersVentforet Kofu0 – 0Albirex NiigataMay 23, 2007Ventforet Kofu0 – 3Kashima AntlersAlbirex Niigata0 – 0Nagoya Grampus Eight
Knockout stage
Quarterfinals
Match Team #1 Agg. Team #2 1st leg 2nd legAUrawa Red Diamonds3-6Gamba Osaka1-12-5BVentforet Kofu5-6Kawasaki Frontale3-22-4CYokohama F. Marinos4-3F.C. Tokyo0-14-2DSanfrecce Hiroshima2-3Kashima Antlers1-01-3
Semifinals
Semifinals Match#1 Gamba Osaka and Kashima Antlers ties on the aggregate with 3 – 3; Gamba Osaka advance to the final on away goal rule.
Semifinals Match#2 Kawasaki Frontale advances to the final on aggregate score of 6 – 3.
Final
Awards MVP: Michihiro Yasuda (Gamba Osaka) Top Scorer: Daisuke Sudo (Ventforet Kofu); 6 goals. New Hero Prize: Michihiro Yasuda (Gamba Osaka)
External links J.LEAGUE The Official Site