Midfielder Yuichi Nemoto inspired unfashionable Oita Trinita to a shock 3-0 win away to Nagoya Grampus Eight with a solid all-around display in the J. League first division on Sunday.
Nemoto masterminded Nagoya's downfall by setting up goals for defender Yuki Fukaya and Teppei Nishiyama and sealing the win with an easy finish in the 63rd minute at Mizuho Stadium while FC Tokyo edged promoted Kyoto Purple Sanga 2-1 at home in the day's other fixture.
"Our last game was extremely disappointing so we wanted to put that behind us and play our game right from the start today," said Nemoto, referring to Tuesday's 2-1 defeat at home to Yokohama F. Marinos.
"We got an early goal under our belts from a set piece, and that enabled us to settle down and we went on to play really well today," added the 24-year-old former Vegalta Sendai man.
"We haven't won at home yet this season, so hopefully we can give the fans something to celebrate in our next game," at home to Jubilo Iwata next Sunday.
Oita snatched an 11th-minute lead when Fukaya arrived at the far post to bundle the ball in after Daiki Takamatsu got the faintest of flicks on Nemoto's corner, but the visitors spent the rest of the half on the back foot as Nagoya pressed for an equalizer.
Masahiro Koga and Yutaka Akita, making a J. League record 382nd appearance, both went close before Keiji Yoshimura missed the home side's best chance of the half after a neat three-man move in the 29th minute.
Yohei Toyoda back-heeled the ball into Yoshimura's path after good work from Keiji Tamada, but the midfielder smashed his shot into the side-netting.
FC Tokyo also improved to seven points thanks to Yuhei Tokunaga's last-gasp strike over bottom club Kyoto.