Fagiano Okayama picked up their first win in seven MEIJI YASUDA J1 LEAGUE games on Sunday as they beat Albirex Niigata 2-1, while Kawasaki Frontale were also celebrating all three points after defeating Cerezo Osaka 2-0.
Okayama hadn’t scored in four games heading into the contest at JFE Harenokuni Stadium, but took only 10 minutes to move in front courtesy of Ataru Esaka’s first goal of the season.
Ryo Tabei swung in an inviting free-kick from the left wing, and Esaka made no mistake when heading home at the near post.
Okayama’s joy was short-lived though, as Motoki Hasegawa struck back just five minutes later for Niigata.
The 26-year-old won possession in midfield and broke through the centre of the pitch, before keeping his cool and stroking beyond Okayama goalkeeper Svend Brodersen in a one-on-one.
The decisive goal then arrived just before the hour mark, when Kazunari Ichimi was fouled in the area by Niigata defender Michael James. Ichimi dusted himself off and took the resultant spot-kick himself, firing straight down the middle to make it 2-1 to Okayama in the 58th minute.
The victory lifted Okayama up into 12th place, while Niigata, who themselves now have just one win in their last seven games, remain second bottom.
The goals took a while longer to arrive at Uvance Todoroki Stadium by Fujitsu, meanwhile, where Kawasaki-F needed a late brace from substitute Erison against C-Osaka.
The first clear sight of goal came for C-Osaka in the 25th minute when Rafael Ratao surged into the area and cut back for Lucas Fernandes, but his attempt was blocked by Kawasaki-F defender Yuichi Maruyama.
Kawasaki-F also threatened in the first period but couldn’t find a way through, with one save by C-Osaka goalkeeper Koki Fukui from a Shin Yamada header in the 43rd minute especially impressive.
Fukui was again on hand to keep Kawasaki-F at bay early in the second half, first denying Yasuto Wakizaka in the 52nd minute and then making a smart stop in a one-on-one against Yamada two minutes later.
Erison finally had the ball in the net in the 85th minute though, beating the offside trap superbly to meet a cute Yusuke Segawa pass in behind before prodding home with the outside of his left foot.
The Brazilian then made the result safe three minutes later, chasing a long punt up field and bravely getting his head to the ball ahead of Fukui and Shinnosuke Hatanaka to send it home and move Kawasaki-F up to sixth in the table.
Fagiano Okayama vs. Albirex Niigata - Game Highlights | 2025 J1 LEAGUE HIGHLIGHTS | MW 17
Kawasaki Frontale vs. Cerezo Osaka - Game Highlights | 2025 J1 LEAGUE HIGHLIGHTS | MW 17
