Leadership of the 2025 MEIJI YASUDA J1 LEAGUE table changed hands yet again on Saturday, as Kashima Antlers struck late on to secure a 2-1 win away to Albirex Niigata and return to the top of the rankings.
Sanfrecce Hiroshima also strengthened their title challenge by beating Tokyo Verdy 3-0 away from home, and Kawasaki Frontale ensured they can’t be entirely ruled out of the race thanks to a thrilling 4-3 win on the road at Nagoya Grampus.
Yuma Suzuki gave Kashima the lead in just the fourth minute at DENKA BIG SWAN STADIUM, stroking in from close range after being teed up by Elber, but Matheus Moraes pulled Niigata level 13 minutes later when he tucked home a rebound from close range.
It looked like Niigata might hold on for a vital point in their bid to avoid relegation, but Leo Ceara pounced for Kashima with three minutes remaining, converting with his left foot to take his side back into first place.
There was also an early goal for Hiroshima at Ajinomoto Stadium - Shuto Nakano on the mark in the sixth minute after Valere Germain’s header had come back off the post - before Sota Nakamura rounded Tokyo-V goalkeeper Matheus to make it 2-0 in the 62nd minute and Naoto Arai wrapped things up with a free-kick seven minutes from time.
There were goals galore in Nagoya, meanwhile, where Kawasaki-F’s three points weren’t secure until the 95th minute.
Tatsuya Ito’s seventh-minute strike and Erison’s near-post finish 11 minutes later put Kawasaki-F 2-0 up, but 18-year-old Soichiro Mori pulled one back for Nagoya when he headed home in the 32nd minute and Teruki Hara made it 2-2 with a left-footed finish in the third minute of first-half stoppage time.
Erison’s low effort re-established Kawasaki-F’s lead in the 80th minute, only for Ryuji Izumi to tap in and make it 3-3 one minute later, but Ito secured all three points for Kawasaki-F deep into injury time with a sublime dribble and finish.
Elsewhere, a Deniz Hummet strike and brace from Takashi Usami secured Gamba Osaka a 3-2 win over Yokohama FC - Adailton and Keisuke Muroi on target for Yokohama FC - Shinji Kagawa struck first but Erik equalised early in the second half to earn Vissel Kobe a 1-1 draw away at Cerezo Osaka, and Fagiano Okayama won for the third game in a row thanks to Ryunosuke Sato’s solitary strike at home to Shonan Bellmare.
The day’s other two games between Avispa Fukuoka and Shimizu S-Pulse and Yokohama F･Marinos and FC Machida Zelvia both ended scoreless.
Albirex Niigata vs. Kashima Antlers - Game Highlights | 2025 J1 LEAGUE HIGHLIGHTS | MW 27
Tokyo Verdy vs. Sanfrecce Hiroshima - Game Highlights | 2025 J1 LEAGUE HIGHLIGHTS | MW 27
Nagoya Grampus vs. Kawasaki Frontale - Game Highlights | 2025 J1 LEAGUE HIGHLIGHTS | MW 27
Gamba Osaka vs. Yokohama FC - Game Highlights | 2025 J1 LEAGUE HIGHLIGHTS | MW 27
Cerezo Osaka vs. Vissel Kobe - Game Highlights | 2025 J1 LEAGUE HIGHLIGHTS | MW 27
Fagiano Okayama vs. Shonan Bellmare - Game Highlights | 2025 J1 LEAGUE HIGHLIGHTS | MW 27
Avispa Fukuoka vs. Shimizu S-Pulse - Game Highlights | 2025 J1 LEAGUE HIGHLIGHTS | MW 27
Yokohama F•Marinos vs. FC Machida Zelvia - Game Highlights | 2025 J1 LEAGUE HIGHLIGHTS | MW 27
