Kyoto Sanga F.C., Kashima Antlers, and Urawa Reds all continued their recent strong form in the 2025 MEIJI YASUDA J1 LEAGUE on Friday night, picking up wins to keep themselves nestled at the top of the table.
Kyoto remain in first place on 24 points after they beat a spirited Yokohama FC 2-1 at SANGA STADIUM by KYOCERA.
Taichi Hara gave Kyoto the lead with a powerful drive from just outside the area in the 15th minute, and while Lukian drew Yokohama FC level four minutes into the second half Masaya Okugawa made sure of the points for Kyoto in the 70th minute.
Second-place Kashima were also made to work for their 1-0 victory against Nagoya Grampus, Kei Chinen converting the only goal of the game in the 54th minute when he stooped to head home from close range.
Urawa extended their winning streak to four games and only trail Kashima on goal difference, meanwhile, after they saw off Sanfrecce Hiroshima by the same scoreline at Saitama Stadium 2002.
Takuro Kaneko was the hero for Urawa, keeping his composure to round Hiroshima goalkeeper Keisuke Osako and tuck home after Matheus Savio had made a lung-busting run forward and laid the ball into his path in the 57th minute. Hiroshima have now lost three games in a row.
Two further games also finished 1-0, as Tokyo Verdy and Shonan Bellmare both picked up much-needed wins after recent dips in form.
Tokyo-V’s three points came courtesy of Yuta Arai’s 33rd minute strike against Cerezo Osaka, while Shonan left it late to wrap up victory away to FC Machida Zelvia. Masaki Ikeda slotted Shonan’s winner home from inside the area in the third minute of stoppage time - just six minutes after he had come on as a substitute.
Late goals were the order of the day at Japan National Stadium as well, as FC TOKYO scored three times at the death to condemn Gamba Osaka to a 3-0 defeat.
Kota Tawaratsumida’s opener didn’t arrive until the 86th minute but was well worth the wait, as the 20-year-old picked the ball up deep inside his own half and drove forward at pace before carving his way into the G-Osaka box and drilling beyond Jun Ichimori.
Takahiro Ko curled home FC TOKYO’s second four minutes later, before an own goal from the unfortunate Takeru Kishimoto compounded G-Osaka’s misery in the fourth minute of injury time.
There was a dramatic late intervention in the day’s other game too, as Avispa Fukuoka and Fagiano Okayama drew 1-1. Fukuoka had led since Tomoya Ando’s seventh-minute header, but substitute Lucao made sure of a point for Okayama in the 95th minute when he bundled home from close range.
Kyoto Sanga F.C. vs. Yokohama FC - Game Highlights | 2025 J1 LEAGUE HIGHLIGHTS | MW 12
Kashima Antlers vs. Nagoya Grampus - Game Highlights | 2025 J1 LEAGUE HIGHLIGHTS | MW 12
Urawa Reds vs. Sanfrecce Hiroshima - Game Highlights | 2025 J1 LEAGUE HIGHLIGHTS | MW 12
Tokyo Verdy vs. Cerezo Osaka - Game Highlights | 2025 J1 LEAGUE HIGHLIGHTS | MW 12
FC Machida Zelvia vs. Shonan Bellmare - Game Highlights | 2025 J1 LEAGUE HIGHLIGHTS | MW 12
FC TOKYO vs. Gamba Osaka - Game Highlights | 2025 J1 LEAGUE HIGHLIGHTS | MW 12
Avispa Fukuoka vs. Fagiano Okayama - Game Highlights | 2025 J1 LEAGUE HIGHLIGHTS | MW 12
