SOCCEROO Joshua Kennedy missed his spotkick but it ultimately didn't matter as Nagoya Grampus beat Kashima Antlers with a 3-1 penalty shoutout win to claim the Japanese Super Cup.
The game - contested between the 2010 J.League champions and 2010 Emperor's Cup winners - had ended 1-1 after 90 minutes, taking it to spotkicks.
Kennedy, who missed the 2011 Asian Cup due to a back injury, stepped up first for Nagoya Grampus but failed to convert.
Kashima's skipper and Japanese international Daiki Iwamasa was next, but he also failed from the spot.
From there Nagoya goalkeeper Seigo Narazaki was the hero, stopping two more penalties as Grampus converted their spotkicks to win 3-1.
Nagoya boss Dragan Stojkovic said: "It was very important to avoid injuries. The game was played with fair play by both teams, so is a very good warming up for the J-League."
Kennedy's Nagoya begin their AFC Champions League campaign on Tuesday away to Hangzhou Lucheng before facing Yokohama F. Marinos next Saturday in their J.League opener.
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