There were goals and drama galore in the 2025 MEIJI YASUDA J1 LEAGUE on Sunday, as Kyoto Sanga F.C. kept themselves in the title race, relegation battlers Yokohama F･Marinos and Yokohama FC both won, and Kawasaki Frontale and Kashiwa Reysol shared the points and eight goals in a rollercoaster clash.
Kyoto remain third and five points behind league leaders Kashima Antlers thanks a 2-1 win over Cerezo Osaka, with Shun Nagasawa heading Kyoto’s winner with just three minutes remaining.
Temma Matsuda broke the deadlock for Kyoto after a set-piece routine straight off the training ground in the 44th minute, sweeping into the bottom corner after Hidehiro Sugai had dummied Taiki Hirato’s low corner from the right.
C-Osaka then equalised from a corner of their own in the 57th minute - Dion Cools flicking home Masaya Shibayama’s delivery at the near post - and the decisive goal also came from a corner kick, when Nagasawa glanced in Fuki Yamada's floated ball in the 87th minute.
Meanwhile, Yokohama F･M kept themselves out of the relegation zone on goal difference after a narrow 3-2 win away to FC TOKYO.
The visitors found themselves 3-0 up just past the hour mark thanks to Takuya Kida’s 51st-minute header and a brace from Kaina Tanimura in the 59th and 62nd minutes, but they were made to sweat late on as Takahiro Ko tucked home a rebound in the 89th minute and Alexander Scholz converted a penalty in the seventh minute of stoppage time.
Yokohama FC also picked up a vital three points, as they edged a tight contest 1-0 over Shonan Bellmare.
Kyo Hosoi struck the only goal of the game in the 32nd minute - following in after his own long throw into the box and lashing through the massed bodies in front of goal as the ball was headed into his path.
That win leaves Yokohama FC tied with Yokohama F･M on 31 points and moved them six points above Shonan, who remain second from bottom.
The day’s other game was an absolute goal-fest at Uvance Todoroki Stadium by Fujitsu, where Kawasaki-F and Kashiwa drew 4-4.
Lazar Romanic put Kawasaki-F ahead with a penalty in the seventh minute, Yuki Kakita equalised eight minutes later, and Diego made it 2-1 to Kashiwa in the 39th minute, but Tatsuya Ito ensured the teams went in tied at the break after striking in the fifth minute of first-half stoppage time.
Yasuto Wakizaka and Romanic twice re-established Kawasaki-F’s lead in the second half, but Nobuteru Nakagawa and Hiromu Mitsumaru replied each time with terrific drives from outside the area - the latter in the 90th minute - to ensure the game ended all square.
Cerezo Osaka vs Kyoto Sanga F.C. - Game Highlights | 2025 J1 LEAGUE | MW32
FC TOKYO vs Yokohama F•Marinos - Game Highlights | 2025 J1 LEAGUE | MW32
Yokohama FC vs Shonan Bellmare - Game Highlights | 2025 J1 LEAGUE | MW32
Kawasaki Frontale vs Kashiwa Reysol - Game Highlights | 2025 J1 LEAGUE | MW32
