Lukas Podolski scores twice in J-League debut

Kobe: German striker Lukas Podolski scored twice in his J-League debut on Saturday as Vissel Kobe beat Omiya Ardija 3-1.

Podolski gave Kobe a 1-0 lead four minutes after the break with a left-foot shot from outside the box.

Marcelo Toscano equalised on the hour mark but Podolski gave the hosts the lead for good two minutes later with a header.

Podolski moved from Turkish giant Galatasaray after signing a deal with Kobe estimated to be worth $5.3 million (Dh19.4 million).

He is the highest-profile J-League import since Uruguay striker Diego Forlan, who played for Cerezo Osaka from 2014-15.