There were big results at both ends of the 2025 MEIJI YASUDA J1 LEAGUE table on Saturday, as Kashiwa Reysol and Kyoto Sanga F.C. both closed the gap on leaders Kashima Antlers at the top and FC TOKYO edged themselves further away from the relegation zone with some dramatic late goals against Yokohama FC.
Tojiro Kubo set Kashiwa on their way to a 2-0 win over Shimizu S-Pulse with a deflected finish from just inside the area in the eighth minute at IAI Stadium Nihondaira, before Sachiro Toshima doubled their advantage 15 minutes later with a delightful half volley.
Meanwhile, Kyoto defeated Gamba Osaka 3-1 thanks to two goals in eight first-half minutes from Marco Tulio and a crisp Shinnosuke Fukuda finish in the 52nd minute. Issam Jebali struck G-Osaka’s consolation with two minutes remaining.
Those wins mean Kashiwa are now level on 41 points with Kashima, trailing only on goal difference, and that Kyoto sit just three points further back after Kashima fell to a shock 2-1 home defeat to Fagiano Okayama.
Yuma Suzuki opened the scoring for Kashima in the 18th minute when he clipped in a cute finish from close range, but Ataru Esaka converted Lucao’s cross to equalise for Okayama five minutes into the second half and Yuta Kamiya completed the comeback with a fierce drive from distance in the 59th minute.
At the other end of the table, FC TOKYO left it very late to come from behind and win their clash against Yokohama FC 2-1.
Solomon Sakuragawa headed visitors Yokohama FC in front in the fourth minute at Ajinomoto Stadium - a goal that looked for so long like it would settle the contest - but Motoki Nagakura had other ideas and equalised with a header of his own with five minutes of regular time remaining. Masato Morishige then sealed a sensational turnaround for FC TOKYO, slamming home a penalty in the 13th minute of injury time.
Two other sides in the bottom four had to settle for a share of the spoils, as Shonan Bellmare and Yokohama F･Marinos drew 1-1. Shonan took the lead courtesy of Taiyo Hiraoka’s 41st-minute header, but Elber earned a point for Yokohama F･M with a composed finish after breaking in behind in the 61st minute.
Elsewhere, a first-half Mateus Castro brace was enough to secure Nagoya Grampus a 2-1 win over Sanfrecce Hiroshima - Naoto Arai pulling one back for Hiroshima in the 90th minute - while Avispa Fukuoka and Vissel Kobe drew 0-0.
Shimizu S-Pulse vs. Kashiwa Reysol - Game Highlights | 2025 J1 LEAGUE HIGHLIGHTS | MW 22
Kyoto Sanga F.C. vs. Gamba Osaka - Game Highlights | 2025 J1 LEAGUE HIGHLIGHTS | MW 22
Kashima Antlers vs. Fagiano Okayama - Game Highlights | 2025 J1 LEAGUE HIGHLIGHTS | MW 22
FC TOKYO vs. Yokohama FC - Game Highlights | 2025 J1 LEAGUE HIGHLIGHTS | MW 22
Shonan Bellmare vs. Yokohama F・Marinos - Game Highlights | 2025 J1 LEAGUE HIGHLIGHTS | MW 22
Sanfrecce Hiroshima vs. Nagoya Grampus - Game Highlights | 2025 J1 LEAGUE HIGHLIGHTS | MW 22
Avispa Fukuoka vs. Vissel Kobe - Game Highlights | 2025 J1 LEAGUE HIGHLIGHTS | MW 22
