Sapporo: Chanathip Songkrasin was impressive in his J-League debut for Consadole Sapporo yesterday.
The Thai midfielder became the first player from his country to play in the Japanese top flight before making way for fellow newcomer Jay Bothroyd in the 63rd minute.
Former England international Bothroyd opened his account for Sapporo in a 2-0 win over nine-man Urawa Reds.
Sapporo manager Shuhei Yomoda praised Chanathip and Bothroyd, who once played for Thai League 1 champions SCG Muang Thong United.
"Both of them showed their strengths. I think they will get better and as a team we will improve," said Yomoda, whose team are just above the relegation zone but have now taken seven points from their last three matches.
Having arrived in Japan earlier this month, Chanathip is playing for Sapporo on a 18-month loan deal from Muang Thong.
He came off the bench to make his first appearance in a competitive match for Sapporo in the League Cup in midweek.
Although his team lost and were eliminated, Chanathip had a good game.
Yesterday, Ken Tokura opened the scoring with a first-half header before Reds defender Tomoaki Makino was sent off in the 39th minute after clashing with the striker.
Reds then lost Daisuke Nasu to injury shortly after he had come on at the start of the second half and the team, having already made a maximum three substitutions, had to play the rest of the game with nine men on the field.
New signing Bothroyd, who was with Jubilo Iwata the last two seasons, came on midway through the second half and made his mark with a header that sealed victory two minutes from time.
"Today of course I scored a goal but my teammates were amazing," said the 35-year-old journeyman.
"It's an amazing atmosphere here, the fans have been great. They were our 12th man and this win is dedicated to them."
Sapporo took the lead after 32 minutes as Tokura outmuscled Makino to head home Akito Fukumori's corner and Urawa suffered a further blow when Makino was sent off.
Despite being two men down, Reds looked lively in the second half and substitute Zlatan Ljubijankic headed Tomoya Ugajin's cross against the right-hand post in the 54th minute. bangkok post/kyodo