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After last weekend's disappointing 3-1 defeat to Nagoya Grampus, it was nice to see Shimizu S-Pulse turn things around with a comprehensive 2-0 victory over Kyoto Sanga in the Shizuoka side's League Cup opener.

Unlike Kyoto - who were hammered 3-1 in the snow by Montedio Yamagata in midweek - last season's League Cup finalists Shimizu S-Pulse were afforded a bye in the opening round of fixtures, meaning that Kenta Hasegawa's side were always likely to be fresher than a Kyoto side playing its second away game in the space of four days. 

To rub salt into Kyoto wounds, Japan international Shinji Okazaki returned from his five-minute cameo against Bahrain in a World Cup qualifier the previous evening, to further bolster former striker Hasegawa's attacking options - albeit from the bench.

As it was, the hosts opened the scoring through the unlikeliest of sources, as stand-in full-back Jumpei Takaki found himself one-on-one with Kyoto keeper Yuichi Mizutani, before keeping his cool and producing the most composed of finishes... to the astonishment of the the 11,281 fans who turned out at Nihondaira, and no doubt Takaki himself. 

The hosts always looked likely to double their advantage against an off-colour "Purple" Sanga, but try as the S-Pulse midfield could to set up Frode Johnsen for his first goal in an orange jersey, the big Norwegian simply could not find a way to open his account for his new club.

Johnsen directed one free header straight at Mizutani midway through the second half, and it was left to the reliable Takuma Edamura to sweep home Shimizu's second and send the home fans off with a spring in their step. 

I watched the game with Gora - blogmeister of Kyoto Sanga fansite Oretachi no Kyoto - and he assures me that Kyoto fans won't be heartbroken by their second consecutive League Cup defeat, since avoiding relegation is very much the modus operandi for the Kansai club.

But with S-Pulse fans still sporting a bitter taste from last season's League Cup final defeat at the hands of Oita Trinita, they'll be hoping to go one better this time around and pick up a long-awaited piece of silverware, as Kenta Hasegawa looks to sate the trophy thirst of the Shimizu faithful.