Kashima Antlers strengthened their position at the top of the 2025 MEIJI YASUDA J1 LEAGUE table on Tuesday, winning for the fifth game in a row and keeping a fourth consecutive clean sheet as they beat Avispa Fukuoka 1-0 at BEST DENKI STADIUM.
Leo Ceara was the hero for Kashima on his return from injury, scoring the only goal of the game from the penalty spot two minutes before half-time.
The Brazilian had only entered the fray 15 minutes earlier after replacing Kyosuke Tagawa, but made an immediate impression as he kept his cool to convert from 12 yards.
Urawa Reds lost some ground on Kashima as their winning streak was ended at five games by Gamba Osaka, but Kashiwa Reysol maintained their strong form and climbed into second place courtesy of a win over Shimizu S-Pulse.
Urawa tasted defeat for the first time in six games as they went down 1-0 in front of almost 42,000 fans at Saitama Stadium 2002 - Ryoya Yamashita’s header in the 53rd minute proving decisive for G-Osaka, who have now won three games in a row and climbed up into fifth place.
Meanwhile, Kashiwa moved onto 27 points, four behind Kashima with a game in hand, after beating Shimizu 1-0 thanks to Yuki Kakita’s 52nd-minute strike.
Hayato Nakama provided the assist with a terrific low cross into the area after being played in on the left hand side, and Kakita made no mistake from close range to extend Kashiwa’s unbeaten run to nine games.
Cerezo Osaka were also celebrating another three points in Match Week 15, claiming back-to-back victories for the first time this season by coming from behind to defeat Vissel Kobe 3-1.
Taisei Miyashiro put Kobe ahead in the last minute of regular time in the first half, but Satoki Uejo swept home an equaliser in the second minute of first-half stoppage time. Masaya Shibayama then put C-Osaka ahead with seven minutes to play, and Rafael Ratao made sure of the victory in the 96th minute.
Elsewhere, Tokyo Verdy now have five wins, five draws, and five defeats from their opening 15 games after a 2-0 home triumph over Yokohama FC.
Itsuki Someno headed Tokyo-V in front in the 36th minute at Ajinomoto Stadium, with Issei Kumatoriya wrapping up the points late on with his first MEIJI YASUDA J1 LEAGUE goal in the first minute of stoppage time.
There was nothing to separate the teams in the day’s other game, as Nagoya Grampus and Fagiano Okayama drew 0-0.
Avispa Fukuoka vs. Kashima Antlers - Game Highlights | 2025 J1 LEAGUE HIGHLIGHTS | MW 15
Urawa Reds vs. Gamba Osaka - Game Highlights | 2025 J1 LEAGUE HIGHLIGHTS | MW 15
Kashiwa Reysol vs. Shimizu S-Pulse - Game Highlights | 2025 J1 LEAGUE HIGHLIGHTS | MW 15
Vissel Kobe vs. Cerezo Osaka - Game Highlights | 2025 J1 LEAGUE HIGHLIGHTS | MW 15
Tokyo Verdy vs. Yokohama FC - Game Highlights | 2025 J1 LEAGUE HIGHLIGHTS | MW 15
Nagoya Grampus vs. Fagiano Okayama - Game Highlights | 2025 J1 LEAGUE HIGHLIGHTS | MW 15
