The 2021 J.League Cup, known as the 2021 J.League YBC Levain Cup ( japanese : 2021 JリーグYBCルヴァンカップ ) for sponsorship reasons, was the 29th edition of J.League Cup, a japanese association football cup competition. It began on 2 March 2021 and ended on 30 October that class. [ 1 ] FC Tokyo was the cup holders, having won their third style. They failed to defend their title after being eliminated by eventual winners Nagoya Grampus in the semi-finals. Nagoya Grampus won their first ever J.League Cup entitle, defeating erstwhile winners Cerezo Osaka in the final .
format [edit ]
All 20 teams playing in the 2021 J1 League participated. Four clubs involved in the 2021 AFC Champions League received byes for the group and playoff stages : Kawasaki Frontale, Gamba Osaka, Nagoya Grampus, and Cerezo Osaka.
Reading: 2021 J.League Cup
sixteen teams played in the group stage. They were divided into four groups of four teams by their finish on the 2020 J1 and J2 Leagues ( parenthesized below ) .
schedule [edit ]
Stage
Round
Date[1]
Group stage
Matchday 1
2–3 March 2021
Matchday 2
27–28 March 2021
Matchday 3
20–21 April 2021
Matchday 4
28 April 2021
Matchday 5
5 May 2021
Matchday 6
19 May 2021
Play-off stage
2, 5, 6 June 2021 (first leg)
6, 13 June 2021 (second leg)
Prime stage
Quarter-finals
1 September 2021 (first leg)
5 September 2021 (second leg)
Semi-finals
6 October 2021 (first leg)
10 October 2021 (second leg)
Final
30 October 2021
Group degree [edit ]
Each group were played on a home-and-away round-robin basis. Each match were played in 90 minutes. All times listed are in Japan Standard Time ( JST, UTC+9 ) .
Tiebreakers [edit ]
In the group stage, teams in a group were ranked by points ( 3 points for a acquire, 1 point for a draw, 0 points for a passing ). If the points were tied, the following tiebreakers were applied accordingly :
- Points in head-to-head matches among tied teams;
- Goal difference in head-to-head matches among tied teams;
- Goals scored in head-to-head matches among tied teams;
- Away goals scored in head-to-head matches among tied teams;
- If more than two teams are tied, and applying all head-to-head criteria above remains a part of teams still tied, reapply the criteria above only for the tied teams.
- Goal difference in all group matches;
- Goals scored in all group matches;
- Penalty shoot-out if only two teams are tied and they met in the last round of the group;
- Fewer disciplinary points;
- Drawing of lots.
Group A [edit ]
Pos
Team
Pld
W
D
L
GF
GA
GD
Pts
Qualification
1
Kashima Antlers
6
3
3
0
14
4
+10
12
Advanced to play-off stage
2
Consadole Sapporo
6
3
2
1
11
8
+3
11
3
Avispa Fukuoka
6
2
2
2
10
11
−1
8
4
Sagan Tosu
6
0
1
5
5
17
−12
1
Rules for classification: source : J.League Rules for classification : Tiebreakers
Group B [edit ]
Pos
Team
Pld
W
D
L
GF
GA
GD
Pts
Qualification
1
FC Tokyo
6
3
3
0
6
2
+4
12
Advanced to play-off stage
2
Vissel Kobe
6
2
2
2
6
4
+2
8
3
Oita Trinita
6
1
3
2
4
6
−2
6
4
Tokushima Vortis
6
1
2
3
3
7
−4
5
Rules for classification: source : J.League Rules for classification : Tiebreakers
Group C [edit ]
Pos
Team
Pld
W
D
L
GF
GA
GD
Pts
Qualification
1
Urawa Red Diamonds
6
2
3
1
7
5
+2
9
Advanced to play-off stage
2
Shonan Bellmare
6
1
5
0
4
3
+1
8
3
Yokohama FC
6
2
1
3
5
6
−1
7
4
Kashiwa Reysol
6
1
3
2
6
8
−2
6
Rules for classification: generator : J.League Rules for classification : Tiebreakers
Group D [edit ]
Pos
Team
Pld
W
D
L
GF
GA
GD
Pts
Qualification
1
Yokohama F. Marinos
6
4
2
0
17
4
+13
14
Advanced to play-off stage
2
Shimizu S-Pulse
6
2
2
2
7
8
−1
8
3
Vegalta Sendai
6
2
0
4
7
11
−4
6
4
Sanfrecce Hiroshima
6
1
2
3
3
11
−8
5
Rules for classification: beginning : J.League Rules for categorization : Tiebreakers
Play-off stagecoach [edit ]
drumhead [edit ]
The play-off stage was played as two-legged ties of two teams each. The away goals rule, an extra time ( away goals rule not applied for the scores in the extra time ), and a penalty shoot-out would have been used if needed. The play-off stage was held over two legs ; on 2, 5, and 6 June 2021 ( first ), and 6 and 13 June 2021 ( second ). All times listed are in Japan Standard Time ( JST, UTC+9 ) .
Matches [edit ]
Kashima Antlers won 3–1 on aggregate.
FC Tokyo won 4–2 on aggregate.
Consadole Sapporo won 4–2 on aggregate.
Urawa Red Diamonds won 4–3 on aggregate.
Prime stage ( Knockout stage ) [edit ]
The prime phase ( knockout stage ) was played between four teams which won at the play-off stage and the four 2021 AFC Champions League participants entering the tournament at this degree. The prime stagecoach was played as two-legged ties of two teams each. The away goals rule, an extra time ( aside goals rule not applied for the scores in the extra clock time ), and a penalty shoot-out were used if needed. The quarter-finals and the semi-finals were played as two-legged ties ( same as the play-off phase ). The final was played as a single game.
compendious [edit ]
The quarter-finals were held over two legs ; on 1 ( beginning ) and 5 September 2021 ( second ). All times listed are in Japan Standard Time ( JST, UTC+9 ) .
Matches [edit ]
FC Tokyo won 3–2 on aggregate.
Nagoya Grampus won 4–0 on aggregate.
Cerezo Osaka won 4–1 on aggregate.
4–4 on aggregate. Urawa Red Diamonds won on away goals.
drumhead [edit ]
The semi-finals were held over two legs ; on 6 ( first ) and 10 October 2021 ( second ). All times listed are in Japan Standard Time ( JST, UTC+9 ) .
Matches [edit ]
Nagoya Grampus won 4–3 on aggregate.
Cerezo Osaka won 2–1 on aggregate.