There was a goal rush in the 2025 MEIJI YASUDA J1 LEAGUE on Sunday, as Kawasaki Frontale picked up a sensational 5-3 win over FC Machida Zelvia and Gamba Osaka recovered from two goals down to defeat Shonan Bellmare 5-4.
Tatsuya Ito got the scoring started with a long-range drive for Kawasaki-F in the 20th minute, and while Na Sangho’s header eight minutes later and a free-kick from Hokuto Shimoda in the 36th minute saw FC Machida move ahead, Erison restored parity with a header in the fourth minute of first-half injury time.
Ten Miyagi tucked in from close range 20 minutes into the second period to make it 3-2 to the hosts, but Yuki Soma again leveled things up when his ball into the box flew all the way into the net in the 71st minute.
Erison finally settled the contest in Kawasaki-F’s favour with a deflected effort with 12 minutes remaining, and Marcinho rounded the scoring off with a tap-in in the 10th minute of stoppage time.
There was also a rollercoaster tie at Lemon Gas Stadium Hiratsuka, where Rio Nitta put Shonan ahead with a powerful strike in the 13th minute, before Taiyo Hiraoka doubled the hosts’ lead in the 37th minute when he tucked in a rebound.
Shota Fukuoka pulled one back with a header for G-Osaka three minutes later, and although Yutaro Oda re-established Shonan’s two-goal advantage with a fierce drive in the fourth minute of first-half stoppage time Rin Mito and Shinnosuke Nakatani netted in the 49th and 53rd minutes to make it 3-3.
Juan Alano then sensationally put G-Osaka ahead when he clipped in with two minutes left on the clock, and Ryoya Yamashita made it 5-3 in the 97th minute. Kazuki Oiwa struck a consolation for Shonan three minutes later.
Meanwhile, Kashiwa Reysol are back in second place and just one point behind leaders Kyoto Sanga F.C. after they defeated Avispa Fukuoka 2-1.
Takumi Kamijima gave Fukuoka the lead in the 34th minute, but Tojiro Kubo made it 1-1 in the fifth minute of first-half stoppage time and Yusuke Segawa wrapped up Kashiwa’s win with 14 minutes remaining.
In the day’s other games, Kashima Antlers dropped to fourth after a 1-1 draw away to Shimizu S-Pulse - Naomichi Ueda equalising for Kashima after Toshiki Takahashi had opened the scoring for Shimizu - Matheus Savio’s strike was enough to secure Urawa Reds a 1-0 win over Albirex Niigata, Lucas Fernandes and Kosuke Kinoshita were both on the scoresheet as Cerezo Osaka and Sanfrecce Hiroshima drew 1-1, and it also finished 1-1 between Nagoya Grampus and FC TOKYO - Yota Sato scoring for Nagoya and Keita Endo with FC TOKYO’s reply.
Kawasaki Frontale vs. FC Machida Zelvia - Game Highlights | 2025 J1 LEAGUE | MW28
Shonan Bellmare vs. Gamba Osaka - Game Highlights | 2025 J1 LEAGUE | MW28
Kashiwa Reysol vs. Avispa Fukuoka - Game Highlights | 2025 J1 LEAGUE | MW28
Shimizu S-Pulse vs. Kashima Antlers - Game Highlights | 2025 J1 LEAGUE | MW28
Urawa Reds vs. Albirex Niigata - Game Highlights | 2025 J1 LEAGUE | MW28
Cerezo Osaka vs. Sanfrecce Hiroshima - Game Highlights | 2025 J1 LEAGUE | MW28
Nagoya Grampus vs. FC TOKYO - Game Highlights | 2025 J1 LEAGUE | MW28
