Kashima Antlers reclaimed first place in the 2025 MEIJI YASUDA J1 LEAGUE table with a 3-0 win over Yokohama FC on Tuesday, while Kashiwa Reysol and Shimizu S-Pulse both maintained their strong recent form and Albirex Niigata moved out of the relegation zone with a big three points.
Kashima’s breakthrough against Yokohama FC came via a Cavric penalty four minutes into the second half, with the Serbian then turning provider 18 minutes later as he teed up Yuma Suzuki to make it 2-0. An own goal by Kosuke Yamazaki wrapped up Kashima’s third consecutive win in the 77th minute, moving them top on 25 points.
Kashiwa sit one point behind Kashima in second place, after they came from a goal down to beat Nagoya Grampus 2-1.
Sho Inagaki put Nagoya ahead in just the second minute at Toyota Stadium, but Yuto Yamada pulled Kashiwa level in the 33rd minute before Mao Hosoya turned home a Diego cross five minutes into the second half to extend Kashiwa’s unbeaten run to eight games.
Shimizu are also flying at the moment, and Tadahiro Akiba’s side moved up to fifth place with a 2-0 victory away to FC TOKYO.
Captain Koya Kitagawa opened the scoring with a penalty in the first minute of first half stoppage time, before Takashi Inui made sure of Shimizu’s third win in a row with 11 minutes remaining.
Elsewhere, Niigata were celebrating a huge 1-0 win after striking late at EDION PEACE WING HIROSHIMA to deal out-of-form Sanfrecce Hiroshima their fourth straight defeat.
Miguel Silveira was the hero for Niigata, scoring his first MEIJI YASUDA J1 LEAGUE goal in the 85th minute to lift his side out of the bottom three on goal difference.
Meanwhile, Kyoto Sanga F.C. started the day in first place but ended it in third after they were beaten 2-1 by Gamba Osaka.
Takashi Usami and Deniz Hummet both struck in the opening 27 minutes to give G-Osaka control of the contest, and although Takuji Yonemoto pulled one back for Kyoto in the 34th minute there were to be no further goals and G-Osaka were able to celebrate a first win in three games.
In the day’s other matches, FC Machida Zelvia beat Cerezo Osaka 2-1 - Oh Se Hun and Dresevic finding the net for FC Machida and Thiago Andrade claiming an injury-time consolation for C-Osaka - Yuto Tsunashima scored the only goal against Fagiano Okayama to earn Tokyo Verdy back-to-back 1-0 wins, and Shonan Bellmare and Avispa Fukuoka played out a 0-0 draw.
Yokohama FC vs. Kashima Antlers - Game Highlights | 2025 J1 LEAGUE HIGHLIGHTS | MW 13
Nagoya Grampus vs. Kashiwa Reysol - Game Highlights | 2025 J1 LEAGUE HIGHLIGHTS | MW 13
FC TOKYO vs. Shimizu S-Pulse - Game Highlights | 2025 J1 LEAGUE HIGHLIGHTS | MW 13
Sanfrecce Hiroshima vs. Albirex Niigata - Game Highlights | 2025 J1 LEAGUE HIGHLIGHTS | MW 13
Gamba Osaka vs. Kyoto Sanga F.C. - Game Highlights | 2025 J1 LEAGUE HIGHLIGHTS | MW 13
Cerezo Osaka vs. FC Machida Zelvia - Game Highlights | 2025 J1 LEAGUE HIGHLIGHTS | MW 13
Fagiano Okayama vs. Tokyo Verdy - Game Highlights | 2025 J1 LEAGUE HIGHLIGHTS | MW 13
Shonan Bellmare vs. Avispa Fukuoka - Game Highlights | 2025 J1 LEAGUE HIGHLIGHTS | MW 13
