Kashima Antlers re-asserted their position at the top of the 2025 MEIJI YASUDA J1 LEAGUE table on Saturday, cruising to an emphatic 4-0 win away to Nagoya Grampus, while fellow top-six sides Vissel Kobe, FC Machida Zelvia, and Sanfrecce Hiroshima also collected all three points from their games.
Elber put Kashima ahead after breaking in behind after just 10 minutes at Toyota Stadium, with Leo Ceara making it 2-0 nine minutes later as he slotted home his 18th goal of the season.
Eighteen-year-old Homare Tokuda then wrapped up the win for Kashima in sensational style late on, coming on as an 84th-minute substitute before finding the net twice - first clipping in from close range in the 88th minute and then rifling a fierce drive beyond Nagoya goalkeeper Yohei Takeda from 20 yards two minutes later.
Kobe ensured Kashima didn’t extend their four-point lead at the summit, however, coming from behind to defeat Shimizu S-Pulse 2-1 and move onto 60 points in second place.
Kazuki Kozuka volleyed Shimizu 1-0 up five minutes before half-time, but Yuya Kuwasaki equalised with a header in the 65th minute and Gotoku Sakai completed the comeback when he swept home Ren Komatsu’s ball into the area in the second minute of injury time.
FC Machida also needed a late strike to keep themselves within range in fifth place, Gen Shoji heading the only goal of the game in the 95th minute to secure his side a narrow 1-0 win over Fagiano Okayama.
Meanwhile, Hiroshima beat Avispa Fukuoka 2-1 and are tied with FC Machida on 55 points and a +15 goal difference, but sit sixth on goals scored.
Valere Germain broke the deadlock for Hiroshima after 17 minutes, before Satoshi Tanaka doubled his side’s lead from close range with four minutes left on the clock. Hanan Sani Brown pulled one back for Fukuoka in the 92nd minute, but the 19-year-old’s debut goal wasn’t enough to secure his side any points.
Elsewhere, there were goals galore at Panasonic Stadium Suita, where Gamba Osaka twice came from behind to beat bottom side Albirex Niigata 4-2.
Taiki Arai struck first for Niigata with a cute finish in the 15th minute, only for Takashi Usami to restore parity with a low drive eight minutes before half-time.
Jin Okumura then tucked in to re-establish the visitors’ lead four minutes into the second period, but Welton once again drew G-Osaka level on the hour mark before Shuto Abe volleyed the hosts ahead four minutes later. Deniz Hummet added the gloss in the 75th minute, curling home a glorious attempt from just outside the area.
The day’s other game finished 0-0, as neither Tokyo Verdy nor Urawa Reds could find a way through at Ajinomoto Stadium.
Nagoya Grampus vs Kashima Antlers - Game Highlights | 2025 J1 LEAGUE | MW32
Vissel Kobe vs Shimizu S-Pulse - Game Highlights | 2025 J1 LEAGUE | MW32
FC Machida Zelvia vs Fagiano Okayama - Game Highlights | 2025 J1 LEAGUE | MW32
Avispa Fukuoka vs Sanfrecce Hiroshima - Game Highlights | 2025 J1 LEAGUE | MW32
Gamba Osaka vs Albirex Niigata - Game Highlights | 2025 J1 LEAGUE | MW32
Tokyo Verdy vs Urawa Reds - Game Highlights | 2025 J1 LEAGUE | MW32
