2018 J.League Cup

;Byes

:Teams that qualified for 2018 AFC Champions League group stage (3 or 4 teams) are given byes to the quarterfinals.

;Group stage

:The group stage was played by 16 teams, consisting of all other 2018 J1 League participants (14 or 15 teams) plus top 1 or 2 2018 J2 League participants based on the ranking of the previous season (i.e., 16th-placed team, and 17th-placed team if applicable, of 2017 J1 League).

;Play-off stage

:Play-off stage was played as four or five two-legged ties (number depending on the number of teams given byes to the quarterfinals so that eight teams play the quarterfinals).

:* If four teams are given byes to the quarterfinals, eight teams (top two teams of each group) advances to the play-off stage and composes four ties.

:* If three teams are given byes to the quarterfinals, ten teams (top two teams of each group, plus two best third-placed teams among four groups) advances to the play-off stage and composes five ties.

After the play-off stage where eight teams are active, quarterfinals (two-legged), semi finals (two-legged) and the final (single match) were played.{{cite web|url=https://www.jleague.jp/release/post-51918/|title=2018JリーグYBCルヴァンカップ 大会方式および試合方式について|trans-title=2018 J.League YBC Levain Cup tournament format|language=ja|publisher=J.League|date=12 December 2017|access-date=5 September 2018}}

Played between March 7 & May 16.

To determine the ranking of a group, teams with the same points are ranked by the following criteria:

1. Points in the matches between the teams in question,
2. Goal differences in the matches between the teams in question,
3. Number of goals in the matches between the teams in question,
4. Number of away goals in the matches between the teams in question.
5. In case there are still two or more tied teams by the criteria above, re-apply them for only the tied teams. If the process does not classify teams anymore, see the following criteria.
6. Goal differences in all group matches,
7. Number of goals in all group matches,
8. Penalty shoot-out (only if just two teams are tied, and they play the last group match)
9. Fewer disciplinary points,
10. Drawing of lots.

To determine the best third-placed teams (if needed), teams with the same points are ranked by the following criteria:

1. Goal differences in all group matches,
2. Number of goals in all group matches,
3. Fewer disciplinary points,
4. Drawing of lots.

{{#invoke:sports table|main|style=WDL

|show_matches=y | matches_style = FBR

|team1=VEG|name_VEG=Vegalta Sendai

|team2=YMA|name_YMA=Yokohama F. Marinos

|team3=ALB|name_ALB=Albirex Niigata

|team4=TOK|name_TOK=FC Tokyo

|win_VEG=3|draw_VEG=2|loss_VEG=1|gf_VEG=10|ga_VEG=6

|win_YMA=3|draw_YMA=2|loss_YMA=1|gf_YMA=10|ga_YMA=8

|win_ALB=2|draw_ALB=1|loss_ALB=3|gf_ALB=9|ga_ALB=10

|win_TOK=1|draw_TOK=1|loss_TOK=4|gf_TOK=5|ga_TOK=10

|col_Q=#BBF3BB|text_Q=

|result1=Q|result2=Q

|col_R=#FFBBBB|text_R=

|result3=R|result4=R

|update=complete|source=[https://data.j-league.or.jp/SFRT01/?competitionSectionIdLabel=Up+to+date&competitionIdLabel=J.LEAGUE+YBC+Levain+CUP+Group+Stage+Group+A&yearIdLabel=2018&yearId=2018&competitionId=447&competitionSectionId=0&search=search Group A League table]

| match_YMA_VEG = 0–0

| match_YMA_TOK = 1–0

| match_YMA_ALB = 2–1

| match_VEG_YMA = 4–2

| match_VEG_TOK = 3–0

| match_VEG_ALB = 1–1

| match_TOK_YMA = 2–2

| match_TOK_VEG = 0–1

| match_TOK_ALB = 1–0

| match_ALB_YMA = 1–3

| match_ALB_VEG = 3–1

| match_ALB_TOK = 3–2

}}

{{#invoke:sports table|main|style=WDL

|show_matches=y | matches_style = FBR

|team1=JÚB|name_JÚB=Júbilo Iwata

|team2=VEN|name_VEN=Ventforet Kofu

|team3=SSP|name_SSP=Shimizu S-Pulse

|team4=CON|name_CON=Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo

|win_JÚB=4|draw_JÚB=0|loss_JÚB=2|gf_JÚB=9|ga_JÚB=7

|win_VEN=3|draw_VEN=1|loss_VEN=2|gf_VEN=10|ga_VEN=5

|win_SSP=3|draw_SSP=1|loss_SSP=2|gf_SSP=8|ga_SSP=5

|win_CON=1|draw_CON=0|loss_CON=5|gf_CON=4|ga_CON=14

|col_Q=#BBF3BB|text_Q=

|result1=Q|result2=Q

|col_R=#FFBBBB|text_R=

|result3=R|result4=R

|update=complete|source=[https://data.j-league.or.jp/SFRT01/?competitionSectionIdLabel=Up+to+date&competitionIdLabel=J.LEAGUE+YBC+Levain+CUP+Group+Stage+Group+B&yearIdLabel=2018&yearId=2018&competitionId=448&competitionSectionId=0&search=search Group B League table]

| match_JÚB_CON = 2–3

| match_JÚB_SSP = 2–1

| match_JÚB_VEN = 3–2

| match_CON_JÚB = 0–1

| match_CON_SSP = 0–3

| match_CON_VEN = 0–3

| match_SSP_JÚB = 1–0

| match_SSP_CON = 2–1

| match_SSP_VEN = 1–1

| match_VEN_JÚB = 0–1

| match_VEN_CON = 3–0

| match_VEN_SSP = 1–0

}}

{{#invoke:sports table|main|style=WDL

|show_matches=y | matches_style = FBR

|team1=RED|name_RED=Urawa Red Diamonds

|team2=GAM|name_GAM=Gamba Osaka

|team3=SFR|name_SFR=Sanfrecce Hiroshima

|team4=GRA|name_GRA=Nagoya Grampus

|win_RED=4|draw_RED=1|loss_RED=1|gf_RED=9|ga_RED=5

|win_GAM=3|draw_GAM=0|loss_GAM=3|gf_GAM=12|ga_GAM=13

|win_SFR=2|draw_SFR=1|loss_SFR=3|gf_SFR=9|ga_SFR=7

|win_GRA=2|draw_GRA=0|loss_GRA=4|gf_GRA=9|ga_GRA=14

|col_Q=#BBF3BB|text_Q=

|result1=Q|result2=Q

|col_R=#FFBBBB|text_R=

|result3=R|result4=R

|update=complete|source=[https://data.j-league.or.jp/SFRT01/?competitionSectionIdLabel=Up+to+date&competitionIdLabel=J.LEAGUE+YBC+Levain+CUP+Group+Stage+Group+C&yearIdLabel=2018&yearId=2018&competitionId=449&competitionSectionId=0&search=search Group C League table]

| match_RED_GAM = 1–4

| match_RED_SFR = 1–0

| match_RED_GRA = 2–0

| match_GAM_RED = 0–1

| match_GAM_SFR = 0–4

| match_GAM_GRA = 1–4

| match_SFR_RED = 0–0

| match_SFR_GAM = 2–3

| match_SFR_GRA = 2–1

| match_GRA_RED = 1–4

| match_GRA_GAM = 1–4

| match_GRA_SFR = 2–1

}}

{{#invoke:sports table|main|style=WDL

|show_matches=y | matches_style = FBR

|team1=VIS|name_VIS=Vissel Kobe

|team2=BEL|name_BEL=Shonan Bellmare

|team3=VVN|name_VVN=V-Varen Nagasaki

|team4=SAG|name_SAG=Sagan Tosu

|win_VIS=3|draw_VIS=2|loss_VIS=1|gf_VIS=14|ga_VIS=8

|win_BEL=3|draw_BEL=1|loss_BEL=2|gf_BEL=8|ga_BEL=8

|win_VVN=2|draw_VVN=1|loss_VVN=3|gf_VVN=9|ga_VVN=11

|win_SAG=1|draw_SAG=2|loss_SAG=3|gf_SAG=5|ga_SAG=8

|col_Q=#BBF3BB|text_Q=

|result1=Q|result2=Q

|col_R=#FFBBBB|text_R=

|result3=R|result4=R

|update=complete|source=[https://data.j-league.or.jp/SFRT01/?competitionSectionIdLabel=Up+to+date&competitionIdLabel=J.LEAGUE+YBC+Levain+CUP+Group+Stage+Group+D&yearIdLabel=2018&yearId=2018&competitionId=450&competitionSectionId=0&search=search Group D League table]

| match_SAG_VIS = 0–2

| match_SAG_BEL = 0–0

| match_SAG_VVN = 2–1

| match_VIS_SAG = 1–1

| match_VIS_BEL = 3–4

| match_VIS_VVN = 2–2

| match_BEL_SAG = 1–0

| match_BEL_VIS = 0–3

| match_BEL_VVN = 2–0

| match_VVN_SAG = 3–2

| match_VVN_VIS = 1–2

| match_VVN_BEL = 2–1

}}

{{16TeamBracket|legs=2/2/2/1|aggregate=y

| RD1=Play-off stage

| RD2=Quarterfinals

| RD3=Semifinals

| RD4=Final

|RD1-team01 = Ventforet Kofu

|RD1-score01-1 = 2

|RD1-score01-2 = 1

|RD1-score01-agg = 3

|RD1-team02 = Urawa Red Diamonds

|RD1-score02-1 = 0

|RD1-score02-2 = 2

|RD1-score02-agg = 2

|RD1-team03 = Kashiwa Reysol

|RD1-score03-1 =

|RD1-score03-2 =

|RD1-score03-agg =

|RD1-team04 = Bye

|RD1-score04-1 =

|RD1-score04-2 =

|RD1-score04-agg =

|RD1-team05 = Shonan Bellmare

|RD1-score05-1 = 3

|RD1-score05-2 = 1

|RD1-score05-agg = 4

|RD1-team06 = Vegalta Sendai

|RD1-score06-1 = 0

|RD1-score06-2 = 3

|RD1-score06-agg = 3

|RD1-team07 = Cerezo Osaka

|RD1-score07-1 =

|RD1-score07-2 =

|RD1-score07-agg =

|RD1-team08 = Bye

|RD1-score08-1 =

|RD1-score08-2 =

|RD1-score08-agg =

|RD1-team09 = Kashima Antlers

|RD1-score09-1 =

|RD1-score09-2 =

|RD1-score09-agg =

|RD1-team10 = Bye

|RD1-score10-1 =

|RD1-score10-2 =

|RD1-score10-agg =

|RD1-team11 = Kawasaki Frontale

|RD1-score11-1 =

|RD1-score11-2 =

|RD1-score11-agg =

|RD1-team12 = Bye

|RD1-score12-1 =

|RD1-score12-2 =

|RD1-score12-agg =

|RD1-team13 = Gamba Osaka

|RD1-score13-1 = 1

|RD1-score13-2 = 3

|RD1-score13-agg = 4

|RD1-team14 = Júbilo Iwata

|RD1-score14-1 = 0

|RD1-score14-2 = 2

|RD1-score14-agg = 2

|RD1-team15 = Yokohama F. Marinos

|RD1-score15-1 = 4

|RD1-score15-2 = 1

|RD1-score15-agg = 5

|RD1-team16 = Vissel Kobe

|RD1-score16-1 = 2

|RD1-score16-2 = 1

|RD1-score16-agg = 3

| RD2-team01=Ventforet Kofu

| RD2-score01-1=2

| RD2-score01-2=1

| RD2-score01-agg=3

| RD2-team02=Kashiwa Reysol (a)

| RD2-score02-1=2

| RD2-score02-2=1

| RD2-score02-agg=3

| RD2-team03=Shonan Bellmare

| RD2-score03-1=3

| RD2-score03-2=2

| RD2-score03-agg=5

| RD2-team04=Cerezo Osaka

| RD2-score04-1=0

| RD2-score04-2=2

| RD2-score04-agg=2

| RD2-team05=Kashima Antlers

| RD2-score05-1=1

| RD2-score05-2=3

| RD2-score05-agg=4

| RD2-team06=Kawasaki Frontale

| RD2-score06-1=1

| RD2-score06-2=1

| RD2-score06-agg=2

| RD2-team07=Gamba Osaka

| RD2-score07-1=0

| RD2-score07-2=1

| RD2-score07-agg=1

| RD2-team08=Yokohama F. Marinos

| RD2-score08-1=4

| RD2-score08-2=3

| RD2-score08-agg=7

| RD3-team01=Kashiwa Reysol

| RD3-score01-1=1

| RD3-score01-2=2

| RD3-score01-agg=3 (4)

| RD3-team02=Shonan Bellmare {{pso}}

| RD3-score02-1=1

| RD3-score02-2=2

| RD3-score02-agg=3 (5)

| RD3-team03=Kashima Antlers

| RD3-score03-1=1

| RD3-score03-2=2

| RD3-score03-agg=3

| RD3-team04=Yokohama F. Marinos

| RD3-score04-1=2

| RD3-score04-2=2

| RD3-score04-agg=4

| RD4-team01=Shonan Bellmare

| RD4-score01= 1

| RD4-team02=Yokohama F. Marinos

| RD4-score02= 0

}}

In each tie (two-legged tie) of play-offs, quarterfinals or semifinals, away goals rule is applied for goals in the regular playing time, but not in the extra time.

Played on June 2 & 9.

{{TwoLegStart}}

{{TwoLegResult|Shonan Bellmare||4–3|Vegalta Sendai||3–0|1–3}}

{{TwoLegResult|Gamba Osaka||4–2|Júbilo Iwata||1–0|3–2}}

{{TwoLegResult|Ventforet Kofu||3–2|Urawa Red Diamonds||2–0|1–2}}

{{TwoLegResult|Yokohama F. Marinos||5–3|Vissel Kobe||4–2|1–1}}

|}

Played on September 5 & 9.

{{TwoLegStart}}

{{TwoLegResult|Shonan Bellmare||5–2|Cerezo Osaka||3–0|2–2}}

{{TwoLegResult|Ventforet Kofu||3–3 (a)|Kashiwa Reysol||2–2|1–1}}

{{TwoLegResult|Gamba Osaka||1–7|Yokohama F. Marinos||0–4|1–3}}

{{TwoLegResult|Kashima Antlers||4–2|Kawasaki Frontale||1–1|3–1}}

|}

{{Footballbox collapsible

| date = {{Start date|2018|9|5|df=y}}

| time = 19:03

| team1 = Shonan Bellmare

| score = 3–0

| report =

| team2 = Cerezo Osaka

| goals1 = Matsuda {{goal|28}}
Umesaki {{goal|70}}
Kaneko {{goal|75}}

| goals2 =

| stadium = Shonan BMW Stadium, Hiratsuka

| attendance = 5,896

| referee = M. Okabe

}}

----

{{Footballbox collapsible

| date = {{Start date|2018|9|5|df=y}}

| time = 19:03

| team1 = Ventforet Kofu

| score = 2–2

| report =

| team2 = Kashiwa Reysol

| goals1 = Nakayama {{goal|54}}
Soneda {{goal|69}}

| goals2 = {{goal|63}} Nakagawa
{{goal|85}} Cristiano

| stadium = Yamanashi Chuo Stadium, Kōfu

| attendance = 4,157

| referee = M. Fukushima

}}

----

{{Footballbox collapsible

| date = {{Start date|2018|9|5|df=y}}

| time = 19:03

| team1 = Gamba Osaka

| score = 0–4

| report =

| team2 = Yokohama F. Marinos

| goals1 =

| goals2 = {{goal|2||40}} Ito
{{goal|74}} Ōtsu
{{goal|75}} Nakagawa

| stadium = Panasonic Stadium Suita, Suita

| attendance = 5,792

| referee = M. Nishimura

}}

----

{{Footballbox collapsible

| date = {{Start date|2018|9|5|df=y}}

| time = 19:04

| team1 = Kashima Antlers

| score = 1–1

| report =

| team2 = Kawasaki Frontale

| goals1 = Nishi {{goal|19}}

| goals2 = {{goal|32|pen.}} Chinen

| stadium = Kashima Soccer Stadium, Kashima

| attendance = 7,145

| referee = M. Īda

}}

{{Footballbox collapsible

| date = {{Start date|2018|9|9|df=y}}

| time = 19:03

| team1 = Cerezo Osaka

| score = 2–2

| report =

| team2 = Shonan Bellmare

| goals1 = Takagi {{goal|25}}
Souza {{goal|35}}

| goals2 = {{goal|31}} Kaneko
{{goal|44|pen.}} Yamasaki

| stadium = Yanmar Stadium Nagai, Osaka

| attendance = 6,589

| referee = M. Iemoto

}}

----

----

{{Footballbox collapsible

| date = {{Start date|2018|9|9|df=y}}

| time = 19:03

| team1 = Yokohama F. Marinos

| score = 3–1

| report =

| team2 = Gamba Osaka

| goals1 = Nakagawa {{goal|12}}
Ito {{goal|20|pen.|85}}

| goals2 = {{goal|52}} Ichimi

| stadium = Nissan Stadium, Yokohama

| attendance = 11,207

| referee = M. Araki

}}

----

{{Footballbox collapsible

| date = {{Start date|2018|9|9|df=y}}

| time = 19:03

| team1 = Kawasaki Frontale

| score = 1–3

| report =

| team2 = Kashima Antlers

| goals1 = Abe {{goal|51|pen.}}

| goals2 = {{goal|28||37}} Yamamoto
{{goal|72}} Serginho

| stadium = Ajinomoto Stadium, Chōfu

| attendance = 19,214

| referee = M. Yamamoto

}}

Played on October 10 & 14.

{{TwoLegStart}}

{{TwoLegResult|Kashiwa Reysol||3–3 (4–5 p)|Shonan Bellmare||1–1|2–2 {{aet}}}}

{{TwoLegResult|Kashima Antlers||3–4|Yokohama F. Marinos||1–2|2–2}}

|}

{{Footballbox collapsible

| date = {{Start date|2018|10|10|df=y}}

| time = 19:04

| team1 = Kashiwa Reysol

| score = 1–1

| report = [https://www.jleague.jp/match/leaguecup/2018/101001/live/ Report]

| team2 = Shonan Bellmare

| goals1 = Segawa {{goal|1}}

| goals2 = Kikuchi {{goal|9}}

| stadium = Hitachi Kashiwa Stadium, Kashiwa

| attendance = 5,665

| referee = M. Nishimura

}}

----

{{Footballbox collapsible

| date = {{Start date|2018|10|10|df=y}}

| time = 19:03

| team1 = Kashima Antlers

| score = 1–2

| report = [https://www.jleague.jp/match/leaguecup/2018/101002/live/ Report]

| team2 = Yokohama F. Marinos

| goals1 = Inukai {{goal|90+4}}

| goals2 = Amano {{goal|77}}
Vieira {{goal|90+5}}

| stadium = Kashima Soccer Stadium, Kashima

| attendance = 8,421

| referee = M. Matsuo

}}

{{Footballbox collapsible

| date = {{Start date|2018|10|14|df=y}}

| time = 16:03

| team1 = Shonan Bellmare

| score = 2–2

| aet = yes

| penaltyscore = 5–4

| penalties1 = Sugioka {{pengoal}}
Yamasaki {{pengoal}}
Umesaki {{penmiss}}
Saka {{pengoal}}
Kaneko {{pengoal}}
Takayama {{pengoal}}

| penalties2 = {{pengoal}} Cristiano
{{pengoal}} Nakayama
{{pengoal}} Tezuka
{{penmiss}} Esaka
{{pengoal}} Suzuki
{{penmiss}} Yamazaki

| report = [https://www.jleague.jp/match/leaguecup/2018/101411/live/ Report]

| team2 = Kashiwa Reysol

| goals1 = Ishikawa {{goal|28}}
Saka {{goal|93}}

| goals2 = Otani {{goal|70}}
Yamazaki {{goal|113}}

| stadium = Shonan BMW Stadium, Hiratsuka

| attendance = 13,018

| referee = M. Tōjō

}}

----

{{Footballbox collapsible

| date = {{Start date|2018|10|14|df=y}}

| time = 14:04

| team1 = Yokohama F. Marinos

| score = 2–2

| report = [https://www.jleague.jp/match/leaguecup/2018/101412/live/ Report]

| team2 = Kashima Antlers

| goals1 = Vieira {{goal|20}}
Nakagawa {{goal|34}}

| goals2 = Doi {{goal|62}}
Serginho {{goal|70}}

| stadium = Nissan Stadium, Yokohama

| attendance = 12,979

| referee = M. Satō

}}

{{main|2018 J.League Cup Final}}

{{Footballbox collapsible

| date = {{Start date|2018|10|27|df=y}}

| time = 13:05

| team1 = Shonan Bellmare

| score = 1–0

| report = [https://www.jleague.jp/match/leaguecup/2018/102702/live/ Report]

| team2 = Yokohama F. Marinos

| goals1 = Sugioka {{goal|36}}

| goals2 =

| stadium = Saitama Stadium 2002, Saitama

| attendance = 44,242

| referee = M. Kimura

}}

{{updated|match played 27 October 2018}}.{{cite web | url=https://www.jleague.jp/en/stats/goal.html?s=YLC | title=MEIJI YASUDA J1 LEAGUE | 2022 Stats }}

{{Reflist}}

• [https://www.jleague.jp/leaguecup/2018/ Official site] {{in lang|ja}}

{{J.League Cup}}

{{2018 in Japanese football}}

{{J.League Cup champions}}

Category:J.League Cup

Category:2018 in Japanese football