There were goals galore in the 2025 MEIJI YASUDA J1 LEAGUE on Wednesday night, as one fixture from Match Week 20 and two from Match Week 12 were played out.
Kyoto Sanga F.C. missed out on the opportunity to move to the top of the MEIJI YASUDA J1 LEAGUE rankings, as they lost 2-1 away to Urawa Reds in their Match Week 20 clash at Saitama Stadium 2002.
Yusuke Matsuo put Urawa ahead in the 24th minute, drilling home at the second time of asking after his initial attempt from a corner was blocked, but Rafael Elias levelled the score 10 minutes after the restart with a crisp left-footed finish.
Ryoma Watanabe was on hand to make sure of the three points for Urawa though, slotting home clinically in the 61st minute to deliver Maciej Skorza’s side back to back victories.
Meanwhile, Yokohama F･Marinos remain in the bottom three after they surrendered the lead to lose for the second game in a row, going down 3-2 at home to Shimizu S-Pulse.
Daiya Tono opened the scoring for Yokohama F･M in the 29th minute, before Asahi Uenaka doubled the hosts’ advantage six minutes into the second half. Hikaru Nakahara struck back for Shimizu with a majestic free kick just three minutes later though, and in the 71st minute Yokohama F･M’s Jean Claude headed into his own net from a Shimizu corner to make it 2-2.
That set the stage for Takashi Inui to seal Shimizu’s first win in four games with eight minutes left on the clock, as the former Japan forward fizzed home a sensational effort from distance.
All the goals in the day’s other Match Week 12 fixture were scored in the first half at NOEVIR Stadium Kobe, as Vissel Kobe defeated Kawasaki Frontale 2-1.
Daiju Sasaki got Kobe up and running in the 31st minute with a fierce dipping drive from the corner of the penalty area, and Matheus Thuler made it 2-0 in the 45th minute as he headed home a bouncing ball at a corner.
Marcinho halved the deficit in the third minute of stoppage time to give Kawasaki-F some hope, but neither team were able to add to the scoring in the second half and Kobe were able to celebrate a third win in their last four games.
Urawa Reds vs. Kyoto Sanga F.C. - Game Highlights | 2025 J1 LEAGUE HIGHLIGHTS | MW 20
️Yokohama F･Marinos vs. Shimizu S-Pulse - Game Highlights | 2025 J1 LEAGUE HIGHLIGHTS | MW 12
Vissel Kobe vs. Kawasaki Frontale - Game Highlights | 2025 J1 LEAGUE HIGHLIGHTS | MW 12
