There were goals galore and late drama in both games in the 2025 MEIJI YASUDA J1 LEAGUE on Saturday, as Match Week 24 got underway in sensational style with FC TOKYO defeating Urawa Reds 3-2 and Shonan Bellmare drawing 3-3 with Cerezo Osaka.
The scoring got underway in just the sixth minute at Ajinomoto Stadium, as Keita Endo flicked home a clinical header from Yuto Nagatomo’s in-swinging cross from the right to put FC TOKYO ahead.
Kaito Yasui then equalised in the 15th minute for Urawa, winning possession just outside the area before sweeping a low drive beyond FC TOKYO goalkeeper Kim Seung Gyu.
The visitors then seized the advantage five minutes later, Ryoma Watanabe beating Kim at his near post after being played in behind to score against his old club.
FC TOKYO came out fighting in the second period though, and Marcelo Ryan restored parity in the 67th minute, controlling Nagatomo’s ball into the area and turning Danilo Boza before his shot found its way into the net via a deflection off Hirokazu Ishihara.
Teruhito Nakagawa then made sure of all three points for the hosts with two minutes left on the clock, doing just enough to win an aerial battle in the six-yard box and make sure the ball crossed the line after Leon Nozawa sent the ball back towards goal when a corner was only half cleared.
The first goal in the day’s other game also came in the sixth minute, when Lucas Fernandes swept C-Osaka in front after the ball was nudged to him inside the area by Rafael Ratao.
Shonan reacted well to that early setback and went in ahead at the break though. First, Akito Suzuki clipped home from close range to make it 1-1 in the 14th minute after Kosuke Onose had worked the ball towards him, then Taiyo Hiraoka turned Suzuki’s inviting cross in at the near post three minutes before half-time to put the hosts ahead.
It was C-Osaka’s turn to rally in the second half, and although Rafael Ratao saw his first attempt blocked by Sere Matsumura two minutes after the restart, the Brazilian recovered possession and cut sharply inside before slamming into the far side of the net with his left foot to level things up.
Thiago Andrade then put C-Osaka back in front in the 73rd minute, keeping his cool to round Shonan goalkeeper William Popp and slot into the gaping net after an incisive ball in behind from Shinji Kagawa.
Shonan equalised again with just one minute remaining though, Luiz Phellype calmly clipping a penalty into the bottom corner after Sena Ishibashi had drawn a foul from Takumi Nakamura inside the area.
FC TOKYO vs. Urawa Reds - Game Highlights | 2025 J1 LEAGUE HIGHLIGHTS | MW 24
Shonan Bellmare vs. Cerezo Osaka - Game Highlights | 2025 J1 LEAGUE HIGHLIGHTS | MW 24
