The 2025 MEIJI YASUDA J1 LEAGUE season remains an incredibly closely-fought contest, with the top 11 teams separated by just four points after the conclusion of Match Week 11 on Sunday.
Kashiwa Reysol lifted themselves up into second place, only one point behind leaders Kyoto Sanga F.C., after Yuki Kakita’s solitary strike in the 48th minute made sure of a 1-0 victory away to Shonan Bellmare.
Kashima Antlers sit just one point further back in third after they came from behind to win 2-1 at Fagiano Okayama.
Ryunosuke Sato put Okayama in front two minutes before half-time, but Cavric levelled with a close-range finish five minutes after the restart and substitute Talles Brener struck the winner for Kashima in the 73rd minute, just one minute after coming on as a substitute.
Urawa Reds are also now on 19 points and only trail Kashima on goal difference after they emerged as 3-1 victors from their clash against Yokohama F･Marinos.
Matheus Savio opened the scoring for Urawa with a free-kick in the eighth minute of first half stoppage time, before Ryoma Watanabe and Danilo Boza also got on the scoresheet in the second half. Riku Yamane struck Yokohama F･M’s reply, but they are now winless in seven games.
Elsewhere, Shimizu S-Pulse won and scored three goals for the second game in a row as they defeated Avispa Fukuoka 3-1 at IAI Stadium Nihondaira.
Kai Matsuzaki gave Shimizu the lead in just the third minute, but Tomoya Miki equalised from the penalty spot six minutes later. Two goals in first half injury time secured the three points for Tadahiro Akiba’s side though, as first Matheus Bueno headed home from a Kai Matsuzaki corner in the 47th minute and then Kai Matsuzaki added his second of the day three minutes later.
Two-time defending champions Vissel Kobe continued their steady climb up the MEIJI YASUDA J1 LEAGUE table as well, edging a tight contest against FC Machida Zelvia 1-0 after a 62nd-minute own goal by FC Machida defender Daihachi Okamura.
Nagoya Grampus were also celebrating a big three points, as they climbed out of the bottom three courtesy of a 2-1 win against Sanfrecce Hiroshima.
Mateus Castro was the hero for Nagoya thanks to strikes in the 40th and 48th minutes, and although Daiki Suga pulled one back for Hiroshima with nine minutes remaining it wasn’t enough to affect the outcome of the game.
Elsewhere, Cerezo Osaka and FC TOKYO drew 1-1, Yokohama FC and Gamba Osaka shared the points after also finishing with a goal apiece, and the game between Kawasaki Frontale and Tokyo Verdy ended goalless.
Shonan Bellmare vs. Kashiwa Reysol - Game Highlights | 2025 J1 LEAGUE HIGHLIGHTS | MW 11
Fagiano Okayama vs. Kashima Antlers - Game Highlights | 2025 J1 LEAGUE HIGHLIGHTS | MW 11
Urawa Reds vs. ️Yokohama F・Marinos - Game Highlights | 2025 J1 LEAGUE HIGHLIGHTS | MW 11
Shimizu S-Pulse vs. Avispa Fukuoka - Game Highlights | 2025 J1 LEAGUE HIGHLIGHTS | MW 11
Vissel Kobe vs. FC Machida Zelvia - Game Highlights | 2025 J1 LEAGUE HIGHLIGHTS | MW 11
Nagoya Grampus vs. Sanfrecce Hiroshima - Game Highlights | 2025 J1 LEAGUE HIGHLIGHTS | MW 11
Cerezo Osaka vs. FC TOKYO - Game Highlights | 2025 J1 LEAGUE HIGHLIGHTS | MW 11
Yokohama FC vs. Gamba Osaka - Game Highlights | 2025 J1 LEAGUE HIGHLIGHTS | MW 11
Kawasaki Frontale vs. Tokyo Verdy - Game Highlights | 2025 J1 LEAGUE HIGHLIGHTS | MW 11
