There was more late drama in the 2025 MEIJI YASUDA J1 LEAGUE on Wednesday, as Kyoto Sanga F.C. came from behind to defeat FC Machida Zelvia 2-1 with a 95th-minute winner at Machida GION Stadium.
After a tight start between two well organised sides, hosts FC Machida took the lead in the 39th minute after a trademark long throw from Kotaro Hayashi.
Daihachi Okamura rose highest to flick the ball on inside the penalty area, and Henry Heroki Mochizuki was on hand to tuck home his first MEIJI YASUDA J1 LEAGUE goal from the edge of the six-yard box.
Kyoto very nearly levelled in the 45th minute, but Japan goalkeeper Kosei Tani did superbly to tip Shinnosuke Fukuda’s fizzing effort onto the crossbar.
Five minutes after the restart Takuma Nishimura went close to doubling FC Machida’s lead, but his curled effort from distance dropped just over and in the 73rd minute substitute Sora Hiraga struck Kyoto’s equaliser.
Masaya Okugawa did very well to keep the ball in play at the byline, and Hiraga met his dinked cross with a perfect glancing header across goal and into the far side of the net.
Both sides went in search of a winner as full-time approached, and in the 92nd minute it looked as though FC Machida had found it when Okamura beat Kyoto goalkeeper Gakuji Ota with a well-placed attempt.
Patrick William had other ideas though, with Kyoto’s Brazilian defender heroically heading off the line to deny Okamura.
Three minutes later it was instead the visitors celebrating, as Fukuda sensationally rifled home a loose ball from the edge of the area to send Kyoto up into third place and condemn FC Machida to a fifth defeat in six games.
In Wednesday’s other game, Sanfrecce Hiroshima made it two wins in a row as they picked up all three points on the road with a 1-0 at Shonan Bellmare.
The only goal of the game at Lemon Gas Stadium Hiratsuka came in just the sixth minute, when Ryo Germain stroked home a penalty after Sota Nakamura had been fouled by Kim Min Tae.
There was hardly anything to separate the sides in a closely-fought contest, although Nakamura almost added a second for Hiroshima in the 59th minute when he sent an effort just off target after being teed up by Germain.
The closest Shonan came to equalising was via a half chance for Luiz Phellype, but the hosts were ultimately unable to find a way though, leaving them winless and goalless in three games.
FC Machida Zelvia vs. Kyoto Sanga F.C. - Game Highlights | 2025 J1 LEAGUE HIGHLIGHTS | MW 15
Shonan Bellmare vs. Sanfrecce Hiroshima - Game Highlights | 2025 J1 LEAGUE HIGHLIGHTS | MW 15
