Kashiwa Reysol re-established themselves at the top of the 2025 MEIJI YASUDA J1 LEAGUE table with a thrilling comeback on Friday night, recovering from 2-0 down to win 4-2 at home to Urawa Reds.
Yoichi Naganuma and Yusuke Matsuo both found the net in the first half to give Urawa a 2-0 lead, but Yusuke Segawa pulled one back for Kashiwa nine minutes after the restart and then three goals from the 83rd minute on from Mao Hosoya, Yudai Konishi, and Tojiro Kubo saw the hosts turn the contest around.
The scoring started in just the fifth minute at SANKYO FRONTIER Kashiwa Stadium, when Matheus Savio’s corner from the left was deflected to the back post and Naganuma stooped to head home.
Matsuo then doubled the visitors’ advantage two minutes before half-time, rounding off a slick break when he calmly converted after Takahiro Sekine had touched on Takuro Kaneko's ball into the box.
Segawa halved the deficit in the 54th minute, controlling a loose ball superbly in front of goal before turning smartly and poking home, and then with seven minutes remaining Hosoya restored parity - playing a one-two with Segawa before side-footing past Urawa goalkeeper Shusaku Nishikawa from just inside the penalty area.
The decisive goal then came in the very last minute of normal time, when Konishi turned the tie in Kashiwa’s favour with a moment of magic.
First, the substitute tricked his way into the left-hand side of the box with some clever footwork, then he arced a delightful shot across goal with his left foot that clipped the far post before crossing the line and sparking jubilant celebrations.
Tojiro Kubo then added the gloss in the sixth minute of stoppage time, nudging in the rebound after an attempt from Tomoya Koyamatsu had come back off the post.
The victory took Kashiwa back into first place on 50 points, but despite the loss Urawa also remain in the hunt for the title, sitting just six points further back in seventh.
Kashiwa Reysol vs. Urawa Reds - Game Highlights | 2025 J1 LEAGUE HIGHLIGHTS | MW 27
