KOFU, Japan (Interstat) — Kofu defeated Tochigi City 2-1 at JIT Recycle Ink Stadium on Saturday, overcoming an early deficit behind goals from Yamato Naito and Hiroya Sueki. Tochigi City opened the scoring in the 14th minute when Atsushi Yoshida found the net. Naito equalized in the 18th, and Sueki put Kofu ahead in the 25th. Hikaru Endo, Kazuki Nishiya and Michele Staccioli each recorded an assist. Pedro Augusto received a yellow card for Tochigi City in the 65th minute and was later substituted. Kofu improved to 1-0 in the competition and 1-0 across all competitions. Tochigi City fell to 0-1 in the competition and 0-1 across all competitions. Tochigi City made a 58th-minute substitution, and Kofu replaced Sueki in the 66th minute. Further changes followed for both sides as Kofu protected its lead. Tochigi City could not find an equalizer after the break. The visitors pressed late, but Kofu held firm to secure the win.