2003 J.League Cup Explained

J.League Cup
Year:	2003
Other Titles:	J.League Yamazaki Nabisco Cup
Dates:	8 March 2003 - 3 November 2003
Num Teams:	16
Champions:	Urawa Red Diamonds
Count:	1
Runner-Up:	Kashima Antlers
Semi-Finalist1:	Júbilo Iwata
Semi-Finalist2:	Shimizu S-Pulse
Matches:	49
Player Label:	MVP Award
Prevseason:	2002
Nextseason:	2004

The J.League Cup 2003, officially the 2003 J.League Yamazaki Nabisco Cup, was the first edition of Japan soccer league cup tournament and the 11th edition under the current J.League Cup format. The championship started on March 8, and finished on November 3, 2003.

Teams from the J1 took part in the tournament. Kashima Antlers and Shimizu S-Pulse were given a bye to the quarter-final due to their qualification for the AFC Champions League. The rest of 14 teams started from the group stage, where they're divided into four groups. The group winners of each group qualifies for the quarter-final along with the runners-up of group A and B, and the two teams which qualified for the AFC Champions League.

Group stage

Group A


2003-03-08
Júbilo Iwata	2–0	Urawa Red Diamonds
Tokyo Verdy 1969	0–1	Vissel Kobe
2003-03-15
Vissel Kobe	4–2	Júbilo Iwata
Urawa Red Diamonds	0–1	Tokyo Verdy 1969
2003-04-09
Júbilo Iwata	4–0	Tokyo Verdy 1969
Vissel Kobe	1–2	Urawa Red Diamonds
2003-04-23
Urawa Red Diamonds	0–0	Júbilo Iwata
Vissel Kobe	2–2	Tokyo Verdy 1969
2003-07-02
Tokyo Verdy 1969	1–1	Urawa Red Diamonds
Júbilo Iwata	3–1	Vissel Kobe
2003-07-16
Urawa Red Diamonds	1–0	Vissel Kobe
Tokyo Verdy 1969	3–2	Júbilo Iwata

Group B


2003-03-08
Kashiwa Reysol	1–1	Vegalta Sendai
Yokohama F. Marinos	1–0	FC Tokyo
2003-03-15
FC Tokyo	2–2	Yokohama F. Marinos
Vegalta Sendai	4–1	Kashiwa Reysol
2003-04-09
Kashiwa Reysol	0–3	Yokohama F. Marinos
FC Tokyo	4–1	Vegalta Sendai
2003-04-23
FC Tokyo	4–0	Kashiwa Reysol
Yokohama F. Marinos	0–2	Vegalta Sendai
2003-07-02
Vegalta Sendai	0–3	Yokohama F. Marinos
Kashiwa Reysol	0–0	FC Tokyo
2003-07-16
Vegalta Sendai	1–2	FC Tokyo
Yokohama F. Marinos	1–1	Kashiwa Reysol

Group C


2003-03-08
Gamba Osaka	1–0	Cerezo Osaka
2003-03-15
JEF United Ichihara	1–2	Cerezo Osaka
2003-04-09
Cerezo Osaka	0–0	JEF United Ichihara
2003-04-23
Cerezo Osaka	2–2	Gamba Osaka
2003-07-02
Gamba Osaka	4–2	JEF United Ichihara
2003-07-16
JEF United Ichihara	2–1	Gamba Osaka

Group D


2003-03-08
Kyoto Purple Sanga	3–2	Ōita Trinita
2003-03-15
Ōita Trinita	0–1	Nagoya Grampus Eight
2003-04-09
Nagoya Grampus Eight	0–0	Kyoto Purple Sanga
2003-04-23
Ōita Trinita	2–2	Kyoto Purple Sanga
2003-07-02
Nagoya Grampus Eight	1–1	Ōita Trinita
2003-07-16
Kyoto Purple Sanga	0–1	Nagoya Grampus Eight