Kashiwa Reysol have still lost just once and Albirex Niigata have still won just once after the pair drew 1-1 in Saturday’s sole game in the 2025 MEIJI YASUDA J1 LEAGUE.
Hosts Kashiwa came into the contest unbeaten in six games and in amongst the chasing pack at the top of the table while Niigata were looking to move themselves up from 19th place, and it was the visitors that took the lead inside the opening quarter of an hour.
Yota Komi played a pass into Motoki Hasegawa inside the Kashiwa penalty area, and after he was felled by a push from Shumpei Naruse referee Takafumi Mikuriya pointed to the spot. Komi stepped up to take the kick and made no mistake from 12 yards, bending the ball into the top corner to score his first goal of the season in the 14th minute.
Kashiwa weren’t behind for too long though, and drew level when Masaki Watai applied the finishing touch to a slick passing move 18 minutes later.
Tojiro Kubo drifted inside with the ball from the right wing before feeding Yuto Yamada as he made a smart run into the box, and Yamada swiftly moved possession on to Watai with a crisp reverse pass into his path. Watai made no mistake with his shot from just inside the area, drilling a low effort home with his left foot to make it 1-1.
Yoshio Koizumi had a couple of opportunities to put Kashiwa ahead before half-time, but on both occasions he was denied by Niigata goalkeeper Daisuke Yoshimitsu, who impressed on his MEIJI YASUDA J1 LEAGUE debut.
Jin Okumura went close to re-establishing Niigata’s lead in just the first minute of the second half, but after breaking into the box with a twisting run he saw his left-footed effort skid agonisingly wide of the far post.
Clear chances were few and far between in the second period, and the closest either side came was in the 75th minute when Niigata substitutes Danilo Gomes and Keisuke Kasai combined.
Danilo Gomes sent in a teasing cross from the right wing, but while Kasai met it with a strong connection he saw his header fizz just past the post, leaving the teams to settle for a point apiece.
Kashiwa Reysol vs. Albirex Niigata - Game Highlights | 2025 J1 LEAGUE HIGHLIGHTS | MW 12
