J. League second-division leader Machida Zelvia sprang one of the upsets of this year's Emperor's Cup by knocking out reigning top-flight champion Yokohama F Marinos 4-1 in the third round of Japan's longest-running soccer competition Wednesday.
Australian international Mitchell Duke opened the scoring after just five minutes at Machida Gion Stadium in Machida, western Tokyo, against a visiting Marinos side unable to replicate the free-flowing, attacking soccer that has propelled it to the top of the J1 standings.
Sho Fuseya doubled the lead in first-half stoppage time and substitute Yu Hirakawa struck twice in the second half before Kenta Inoue scored a late consolation goal for Kevin Muscat's men.
In other action from the 103rd edition of the tournament, last season's surprise champion, J2 outfit Ventforet Kofu, saw off visiting J1 heavyweights and five-time Emperor's Cup winners Kashima Antlers 11-10 on penalties following a 1-1 draw.