The J.LEAGUE INTERNATIONAL SERIES 2024 powered by docomo kicked off with an eight-goal thriller as VfB Stuttgart defeated Kyoto Sanga, 5-3, in an absolute classic.

Sanga supporters were buzzing pregame with last season's Bundesliga runners-up in Kyoto and the home side proved they were up for the challenge straight from the kick-off.

Marco Túlio nearly gave Sanga an early lead with an audacious piece of play, ripping a shot from a flick and spin, but Stuttgart goalkeeper Alexander Nübel got down to make a fine save.

Something was brewing for the home side, though, and Sanga eventually opened the scoring in the 21st minute, courtesy of Rafael Elias. Taichi Hara set the finish up with a terrific run, racing through the midfield and leaving Stuttgart defenders in his wake before blasting a shot from 20 yards. It clattered against the post, but Rafael Elias was there to push the rebound over the line and give Kyoto the lead.

Túlio then doubled the Sanga advantage with a brilliant solo effort, driving the ball in transition and putting the Stuttgart defense on its heels before cutting in to perfectly slot the ball home.

Kyoto may sit 17th in J1 but heading into the break they were up a pair of goals against a side bound for the UEFA Champions League - and that advantage grew seconds after play resumed for the second half.

Hara's pace on the ball once again gave Stuttgart fits as he sprinted to the edge of the box before unleashing a powerful strike that pierced the top of the net for a 3-0 lead.

But in the 58th minute the tide shifted back toward the German side in a way few could have predicted. Running in behind the Kyoto backline, Justin Diehl got Stuttgart on the scoresheet when he touched the ball past the goalkeeper in no man's land and calmly finished into the open net.

That got VfB going and 10 minutes later they scored a second as Silas took the ball off a Sanga defender and sped in on goal before squaring the ball for Jamie Leweling to tap in.

The comeback was complete in the 73rd minute when Thomas Kastanaras got on the end of a beautiful cross from Moussa Cissé, who then fired Stuttgart into the lead six minutes later.

The French youngster won the race to a ball at midfield and carried it all the way into the box, where he had options to pass, but chose to go for goal and rightly so considering his beautiful finish ended up being the go-ahead goal.

It was a marvelous comeback for Stuttgart as they displayed the quality that took them into the upper reaches of one of the world’s top leagues, but they were not done yet. Promising talent Luca Raimund put the insurance tally on the match in the 90th minute when he hit an absolute missile from 25 yards that clanged off the bottom of the crossbar and into the net.

It was a tremendous comeback for Stuttgart, who dominated after both sides made second-half changes, but Sanga fans will also delight in the complete performance of their starters for nearly an hour.

It was a beautiful night of football in Kyoto and just the beginning for the J.LEAGUE INTERNATIONAL SERIES 2024 powered by docomo.

The competition has three matches to go and you can get your tickets right HERE to see some of Europe’s best take on the class of the J.League.