FC Machida Zelvia moved top and Vissel Kobe climbed up to second place in the 2025 MEIJI YASUDA J1 LEAGUE table on Wednesday night, as they recorded victories over Gamba Osaka and Sanfrecce Hiroshima, respectively.
FC Machida’s 3-1 win over G-Osaka saw them assume leadership of the first division on 49 points, while Kobe’s 1-0 triumph away to Hiroshima leaves them on the same points tally as FC Machida and trailing only on goal difference.
Gen Shoji opened the scoring for FC Machida in the 17th minute at Machida GION Stadium, heading home from a corner against his former club, before Deniz Hummet equalised for G-Osaka 16 minutes into the second half when he converted from the edge of the six-yard box.
Kotaro Hayashi set FC Machida back on course for a sensational eighth consecutive league win in the 78th minute though, capitalising upon a fumble by G-Osaka goalkeeper Jun Ichimori, and Takuma Nishimura wrapped up the three points in the last minute, drilling home a penalty after Oh Se Hun had been fouled at a corner.
There were fewer goals but plenty of excitement at EDION PEACE WING HIROSHIMA, meanwhile, where Kobe forward Erik drew the first of several excellent saves by Hiroshima goalkeeper Keisuke Osako with a fizzing effort from inside the area in just the fourth minute.
Osako again reacted superbly to tip a low strike from Yosuke Ideguchi behind for a corner in the 33rd minute, and his opposite number Daiya Maekawa was just as alert one minute before half-time when he stopped a bullet header from Shunki Higashi.
The biggest chance of the opening period fell the way of Kobe’s Yuya Osako in the fourth minute of injury time, but after finding himself in space inside the Hiroshima penalty area he, too, was thwarted by his namesake in the home side’s goal.
Hiroshima’s Sho Sasaki was then shown a straight red card after committing a foul as the last man 12 minutes into the second half, with Osako again called into action as he saved from Katsuya Nagato at the resultant free-kick.
It looked as though the 10 men of Hiroshima might be able to hold out for a precious point, but Kobe finally found a way through with three minutes left on the clock when an in-swinging corner from the right caused havoc in the six-yard box and the ball bounced over the line off Hiroshima defender Kim Jusung.
FC Machida Zelvia vs. Gamba Osaka - Game Highlights | 2025 J1 LEAGUE HIGHLIGHTS | MW 30
Sanfrecce Hiroshima vs. Vissel Kobe - Game Highlights | 2025 J1 LEAGUE HIGHLIGHTS | MW 30
