The J.League Cup 2003, officially the 2003 J.League Yamazaki Nabisco Cup, was the first edition of Japan soccer league cup tournament and the 11th edition under the current J.League Cup format. The competition started on March 8, and finished on November 3, 2003.
Teams from the J1 took part in the tournament. Kashima Antlers and Shimizu S-Pulse were given a bye to the quarter-final due to their qualification for the AFC Champions League. The rest of 14 teams started from the group stage, where they're divided into four groups. The group winners of each group qualifies for the quarter-final along with the runners-up of group A and B, and the two teams which qualified for the AFC Champions League.
Group stage
Group A
2003-03-08Júbilo Iwata2–0Urawa Red DiamondsTokyo Verdy 19690–1Vissel Kobe2003-03-15Vissel Kobe4–2Júbilo IwataUrawa Red Diamonds0–1Tokyo Verdy 19692003-04-09Júbilo Iwata4–0Tokyo Verdy 1969Vissel Kobe1–2Urawa Red Diamonds2003-04-23Urawa Red Diamonds0–0Júbilo IwataVissel Kobe2–2Tokyo Verdy 19692003-07-02Tokyo Verdy 19691–1Urawa Red DiamondsJúbilo Iwata3–1Vissel Kobe2003-07-16Urawa Red Diamonds1–0Vissel KobeTokyo Verdy 19693–2Júbilo Iwata
Group B
2003-03-08Kashiwa Reysol1–1Vegalta SendaiYokohama F. Marinos1–0FC Tokyo2003-03-15FC Tokyo2–2Yokohama F. MarinosVegalta Sendai4–1Kashiwa Reysol2003-04-09Kashiwa Reysol0–3Yokohama F. MarinosFC Tokyo4–1Vegalta Sendai2003-04-23FC Tokyo4–0Kashiwa ReysolYokohama F. Marinos0–2Vegalta Sendai2003-07-02Vegalta Sendai0–3Yokohama F. MarinosKashiwa Reysol0–0FC Tokyo2003-07-16Vegalta Sendai1–2FC TokyoYokohama F. Marinos1–1Kashiwa Reysol
Group C
2003-03-08Gamba Osaka1–0Cerezo Osaka2003-03-15JEF United Ichihara1–2Cerezo Osaka2003-04-09Cerezo Osaka0–0JEF United Ichihara2003-04-23Cerezo Osaka2–2Gamba Osaka2003-07-02Gamba Osaka4–2JEF United Ichihara2003-07-16JEF United Ichihara2–1Gamba Osaka
Group D
2003-03-08Kyoto Purple Sanga3–2Ōita Trinita2003-03-15Ōita Trinita0–1Nagoya Grampus Eight2003-04-09Nagoya Grampus Eight0–0Kyoto Purple Sanga2003-04-23Ōita Trinita2–2Kyoto Purple Sanga2003-07-02Nagoya Grampus Eight1–1Ōita Trinita2003-07-16Kyoto Purple Sanga0–1Nagoya Grampus Eight
Knockout stage
Quarter finals
First leg
Second leg
Semi finals
First leg
Second leg
Final
Top goalscorers
GoalscorersGoalsTeam EmersonUrawa Red Diamonds Ryoichi MaedaJúbilo Iwata GralJúbilo Iwata
Awards MVP: Tatsuya Tanaka (Urawa Red Diamonds) New Hero Prize: Tatsuya Tanaka (Urawa Red Diamonds)
References J.League Official Site