Both games ended 0-0 as Match Week 34 in the 2025 MEIJI YASUDA J1 LEAGUE got underway on Friday night, with Vissel Kobe held at home by leaders Kashima Antlers and the clash between Sanfrecce Hiroshima and FC TOKYO also finishing goalless.
A win would have helped Kobe close the gap between themselves and Kashima to just two points at the top of the table, and the hosts started brightly at NOEVIR Stadium Kobe as they looked to seize control of proceedings.
Their first chance came in just the third minute when Taisei Miyashiro sent a ball into the box from deep and Yuya Osako controlled well to get a quick shot off, but Kashima goalkeeper Tomoki Hayakawa stayed big and was able to keep it out with his left leg.
Miyashiro then had an opportunity of his own in the 27th minute, but dragged wide after Nanasei Iino’s low cross in from the right presented him with a sight of goal.
Kashima’s first chance came from an Elber cross in the 37th minute, but Naomichi Ueda headed just over after to ensure parity remained at the interval.
Leo Ceara then went close twice in the opening stages of the second period for Kashima, firing off target in the 47th minute and then seeing an effort blocked by Yuya Kuwasaki nine minutes later.
The only other clear chance of the game arrived for Kashima in the fifth minute of injury time when substitute Kyosuke Tagawa was played in behind, but Kobe goalkeeper Daiya Maekawa shut down the angle well to make a smart save at the near post.
Things were similarly tight at EDION PEACE WING HIROSHIMA, where hosts Hiroshima had to settle for a point that leaves them in fifth place, seven points behind Kashima.
Ryo Germain fired an attempt wide of FC TOKYO goalkeeper Kim Seung Gyu’s right-hand post in the 11th minute, before Shuto Nakano’s volley from the edge of the area six minutes later was easy for Kim to deal with.
The hosts were also the more threatening side in the early exchanges after the restart, with Tsukasa Shiotani drawing a save from Kim in the 49th minute and Tolgay Arslan working the keeper again three minutes later after dancing into the area with some terrific footwork.
Germain then saw not one, not two, but three shots blocked in the space of five seconds in the 56th minute, as Masato Morishige, Sei Muroya, and then Morishige again threw themselves in the way to preserve FC TOKYO’s clean sheet.
Both teams went for it in the closing stages, but Hayato Araki saw a powerful header from a corner saved by Kim with 15 minutes remaining and Takahiro Ko blazed over a glorious chance to snatch all three points for the visitors in the 89th minute.
Vissel Kobe vs Kashima Antlers - Game Highlights | 2025 J1 LEAGUE | MW34
Sanfrecce Hiroshima vs FC TOKYO - Game Highlights | 2025 J1 LEAGUE | MW34
