J1 League Match Week 31 Recap: Kashima extend their lead at the top, Kobe move into second | News

Kashima Antlers extended their lead at the top of the 2025 MEIJI YASUDA J1 LEAGUE table on Tuesday, beating Cerezo Osaka 3-1 as four of the chasing pack all took points off each other.

Vitor Bueno put visitors C-Osaka ahead from the penalty spot in the 28th minute, but

Kei Chinen equalised just three minutes later for Kashima, heading in a Naomichi Ueda cross from the right.

Centre-back Ueda claimed another assist in the 53rd minute, sending a long ball upfield for Leo Ceara to chase, and the Brazilian broke in behind before guiding a cute effort beyond goalkeeper Kim Jin Hyeon with the outside of his right boot.

A pair of substitutes then combined just one minute after coming on to make sure of a third straight win for Kashima, Yuta Matsumura converting from 10 yards after Cavric had squared into his path in the 68th minute.

Vissel Kobe made their way up into second with a comprehensive 4-0 win over Tokyo Verdy, as Taisei Miyashiro claimed a brace and fellow forwards Yuya Osako and Erik also got on the scoresheet.

Osako opened the scoring by burying a loose ball in the 10th minute, and Miyashiro doubled the hosts’ lead seven minutes before the break when he clipped home after a fine dribble.

Erik’s header in the 55th minute made it 3-0 to Kobe, before Miyashiro compounded Tokyo-V’s misery 12 minutes later by tucking in Erik’s cut-back.

Elsewhere, a quartet of other title hopefuls all had to make do with points apiece as Kyoto Sanga F.C. and FC Machida Zelvia drew 1-1 and the clash between Kashiwa Reysol and Sanfrecce Hiroshima finished scoreless.

Daihachi Okamura thought his 16th-minute strike was enough to earn FC Machida a huge victory, but Taichi Hara ensured the spoils were shared when he converted a penalty for Kyoto in the third minute of stoppage time - Rafael Elias having earlier been denied from 12 yards when Kosei Tani saved his 74th-minute spot-kick.

Neither Kashiwa nor Hiroshima could find a way through at SANKYO FRONTIER Kashiwa Stadium, meanwhile - one of four games to finish 0-0, with Shimizu S-Pulse also holding Urawa Reds, Albirex Niigata and Nagoya Grampus both frustrated, and Fagiano Okayama and Yokohama FC having to contend themselves with clean sheets.

In the day’s other games, goals from Yasuto Wakizaka and Tatsuya Ito earned Kawasaki Frontale a 2-1 win over Shonan Bellmare - Koki Tachi with Shonan’s late reply - Makoto Mitsuta, Deniz Hummet, and Takashi Usami were all on target as Gamba Osaka recovered from Jun Amano’s 60th-minute opener to defeat Yokohama F･Marinos 3-1, and Marcelo Ryan’s first-half header was enough to secure FC TOKYO a 1-0 win against Avispa Fukuoka.