There was a goal-fest at SANKYO FRONTIER Kashiwa Stadium on Saturday, as Kashiwa Reysol and Kyoto Sanga F.C. played out a thrilling 3-3 draw to leave them both in range at the top of the 2025 MEIJI YASUDA J1 LEAGUE table.
Yoshio Koizumi headed home to get the scoring started for Kashiwa in the 19th minute, but Takuji Yonemoto equalised for Kyoto five minutes later with a header of his own.
Kashiwa went in ahead at the break thanks to Yuki Kakita’s overhead kick in the 31st minute, only for Kyoto to pull level again with yet another header eight minutes after the restart, this time from Shun Nagasawa.
Wataru Harada put the hosts ahead for the third time in the 74th minute, but Kyoto just refused to be beaten and Sota Kawasaki ensured the points were shared when he nudged home from close range with six minutes remaining. The draw means Kashiwa stay second and Kyoto drop to fourth.
Meanwhile, leaders Kashima Antlers now have just one win in their last four league games after they fell to a 2-1 defeat away to FC Machida Zelvia.
Former Kashima forward Yuki Soma gave FC Machida the lead after just six minutes at Machida GION Stadium, and Daihachi Okamura doubled their advantage with a header in the 34th minute.
Kashima weren’t able to halve the deficit until Yuma Suzuki converted from the penalty spot in the 85th minute, which was too late for them to take anything from the game.
Elsewhere, Vissel Kobe moved up into third place with a 2-1 win from behind on the road at Kawasaki Frontale.
Yasuto Wakizaka broke the deadlock for hosts Kawasaki-F in the sixth minute, but Taisei Miyashiro equalised against his former club with a smart finish on the turn just four minutes later before striking again seven minutes into the second half to make sure of the win for Kobe.
Another side steadily climbing the table is Cerezo Osaka, who are now unbeaten in five games and sit seventh, just three points behind Kobe, after defeating Tokyo Verdy 2-1.
Rafael Ratao broke the deadlock for C-Osaka after 20 minutes, and although Shuhei Kawasaki restored parity in the second minute of first-half stoppage time Thiago Andrade headed in to seal the win for C-Osaka in the 62nd minute.
In the day’s other games, Avispa Fukuoka edged a rollercoaster battle against Albirex Niigata 3-2 - Kazuya Konno, Shosei Usui, and Yuji Kitajima on the mark for Fukuoka and Hayato Inamura and Kaito Taniguchi finding the net for Niigata - Lucao’s 17th minute header earned Fagiano Okayama a 1-0 win over Yokohama F･Marinos, and Nagoya Grampus and Shimizu S-Pulse drew 1-1 - Yuya Yamagishi scoring first for Nagoya and Kanta Chiba equalising for Shimizu with two minutes to play.
Kashiwa Reysol vs. Kyoto Sanga F.C. - Game Highlights | 2025 J1 LEAGUE HIGHLIGHTS | MW 21
FC Machida Zelvia vs. Kashima Antlers - Game Highlights | 2025 J1 LEAGUE HIGHLIGHTS | MW 21
Kawasaki Frontale vs. Vissel Kobe - Game Highlights | 2025 J1 LEAGUE HIGHLIGHTS | MW 21
Cerezo Osaka vs. Tokyo Verdy - Game Highlights | 2025 J1 LEAGUE HIGHLIGHTS | MW 21
Avispa Fukuoka vs. Albirex Niigata - Game Highlights | 2025 J1 LEAGUE HIGHLIGHTS | MW 21
Yokohama F・Marinos vs. Fagiano Okayama - Game Highlights | 2025 J1 LEAGUE HIGHLIGHTS | MW 21
Nagoya Grampus vs. Shimizu S-Pulse - Game Highlights | 2025 J1 LEAGUE HIGHLIGHTS | MW 21
