FC Machida Zelvia were the big winners in the 2025 MEIJI YASUDA J1 LEAGUE on Sunday, as they sealed an emphatic 4-0 win away to Albirex Niigata.
Takuma Nishimura got the scoring started two minutes before half-time at DENKA BIG SWAN STADIUM, winning possession in the Niigata half before sending a strike from just outside the D beyond Niigata goalkeeper Kazuki Fujita after a slight deflection.
Yuki Soma doubled FC Machida’s lead in the 61st minute, receiving the ball out wide from Shota Fujio and then cutting sharply inside before unleashing a strike that Fujita was unable to keep out at his near post.
Soma then registered again from almost the same patch of grass six minutes later, this time arrowing a shot across goal and into the far side of the net after being found by Hiroyuki Mae.
Fujio compounded Niigata’s misery in the 76th minute, making no mistake after Nishimura capitalised upon a misplaced pass in the Niigata backline and teed him up inside the area.
FC Machida climbed to eighth in the rankings with the victory, just seven points behind 2025 MEIJI YASUDA J1 LEAGUE leaders Kashima Antlers.
In the day’s other game, a solitary Daiki Fukazawa goal just past the half-hour mark was enough to earn Tokyo Verdy a 1-0 win over Kawasaki Frontale.
Yasuto Wakizaka nearly put Kawasaki-F in front in the 19th minute at Ajinomoto Stadium, but he couldn’t quite get his free-kick from just outside the area to dip enough and it landed on the roof of the net.
Daiki Fukazawa did break the deadlock for Tokyo-V 13 minutes later though. Koki Morita sent in an out-swinging corner from the right-hand side, and after Hiroto Taniguchi rose highest to flick the ball on Fukazawa shook off his marker at the far post and rammed home.
Tatsuya Ito had half a sight at goal for Kawasaki-F five minutes into the second half, but his attempt was easy enough for Tokyo-V goalkeeper Matheus to deal with at his near post.
Tokyo-V also went close in the second period, and they were thwarted in the 72nd minute when Louis Yamaguchi agilely diverted Itsuki Someno’s near-post effort behind for a corner with his foot.
The closest Kawasaki-F came to equalising was in the 88th minute, but Yuichi Maruyama couldn’t get enough power in his header and it sailed into the grateful hands of Matheus.
That left Tokyo-V to celebrate a first win in four games, and one that lifted them up into 15th place, eight points above the relegation zone.
Albirex Niigata vs. FC Machida Zelvia - Game Highlights | 2025 J1 LEAGUE HIGHLIGHTS | MW 22
Tokyo Verdy vs. Kawasaki Frontale - Game Highlights | 2025 J1 LEAGUE HIGHLIGHTS | MW 22
