SAITAMA -- Urawa Reds coach Holger Osieck sees something in Yuichiro Nagai not many others do. His faith in the forward paid off Saturday when he crashed in a brilliant late goal to secure a 2-1 win over Yokohama FC as the new J. League season got underway.
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| Urawa Reds players acknowledge fans after edging Yokohama FC 2-1 at Saitama Stadium 2002 on Saturday in the J. League season opener. KYODO PHOTO |
The opposition wasn't up to Gamba Osaka's lofty standards, but the 4-0 cuffing Urawa suffered in last weekend's Xerox Super Cup can be chalked down as an aberration after the league champions impressed in front of 57,188 fans at Saitama Stadium.