A new year, a new decade, a new stadium and a new champion.
Vissel Kobe christened Tokyo's rebuilt National Stadium with its first-ever Emperor's Cup title on Wednesday, taking advantage of a pair of defensive lapses to defeat Kashima Antlers 2-0 on New Year's Day.
The sold-out spectacle was the match's return to its traditional location for the first time since the 2013 final, with an announced crowd of 57,597 filling the stadium that will serve as the centerpiece of the upcoming 2020 Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games.
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