The third round of the Levain Cup first round was held in various locations, with J2 Jubilo Iwata defeating Gamba Osaka 2-1 after extra time, and was the only J2 player to advance to the playoff round, hoping to enter the quarterfinals. Avispa Fukuoka, aiming to win the championship for the first time in two tournaments, defeated J2 Catale Toyama 2-1, while Kashiwa Reysol defeated J2 Renofa Yamaguchi FC 2-0.

Shonan Bellmare won FC Tokyo 1-0, while Yokohama FC won the penalty shootout 1-1 against FC Machida Zelvia, 3-1. Cerezo Osaka won a comfortable victory over Kyoto Sanga FC, 4-1. Tokyo Verdi also beat Albirex Niigata 2-0 to advance.

The playoffs to be held on June 4th and 8th will feature eight teams, including seven teams that advanced in the first round and Sanfrecce Hiroshima, who participated in the Asian Champions League (ACL) 2. The four winners, Urawa Reds, Vissel Kobe, Kawasaki Frontale and Yokohama F. Marinos will compete in the quarterfinals in September.

The home and away playoff games are as follows:

　　　◇　　　◇　　　◇

▽Round 1 June 4th

Tokyo V-Kashiwa (19:00 Ajista)

Shonan – Iwata (19:00 Lemon S)

Cere Osaka – Yokohama FC (19:00 Yodoko)

Fukuoka-Hiroshima (19:00 Best Stadium)

▽Round 2 June 8th

Iwata – Shonan (14:00 Yamaha)

Hiroshima-Fukuoka (15:00 E-piece)

Yokohama FC-C Osaka (18:00 Nippon Tsu)

Kashiwa – Tokyo V (19:00 Sankyo F Kashiwa)

[Levain Cup]Yokohama FC wins penalty shootout against Machida 7 games/3rd round score details, including Cerezo Osaka's four-hit comeback