Vissel Kobe dents Fernando Torres farewell tie in J1 League

 

Fernando Torres’ final game as a professional footballer ended in humiliating fashion as his Sagan Tosu side conceded six goals to Andres Iniesta’s  Vissel Kobe.

Torres, who announced his retirement from the game earlier this summer, played the full 90 minutes of the J-League encounter on Friday but Tosu were completely outmatched at the Best Amenity Stadium.

The visitors got off to a flying start when Kakeru Yamauchi broke the deadlock after 11 minutes, setting the precedent for what was to come.

Iniesta was next to inflict some damage on his former international team-mate as he converted a penalty nine minutes after the first.

It went from bad to worse as Junya Tanaka made it 3-0 moments later, leaving the hosts with it all to do.

Iniesta was subbed at half-time but Kobe were still relentless in making this day difficult to forget for all the wrong reasons for Torres as they added a fourth not long after the interval.

Kyogo Furuhashi made it 5-0 before an own goal from Thomas Vermaelen got Sagan Tosu on the board.

However, Torres’ other compatriot, David Villa, came on with 11 minutes left to set up Yamauchi to score his second, completing the 6-1 mauling.

The striker will take up an advisory role at Sagan Tosu after hanging up his boots.

Torres who joined Sagan Tosu in July last year scored five goals in 34 appearances for the side.

The former Liverpool and Chelsea forward will be hoping to bring his wealth of experience into this advisory role in the battle to save the club from relegation waters in the 18-team J1 league.