J1 League Match Week 35 Recap: Kashima strike late to preserve top spot, Kashiwa close gap, Yokohama F･M edge closer to safety | News

Kashima Antlers dug deep to secure a 1-1 draw away to Kyoto Sanga F.C. with the last kick of the game on Saturday, keeping themselves top of the 2025 MEIJI YASUDA J1 LEAGUE table and at the same time serving a blow to Kyoto’s title hopes.

It looked as though third-placed Kyoto were going to close to within two points of the summit after Marco Tulio’s goal in the 36th minute, but Yuma Suzuki broke the hosts’ hearts in the sixth minute of stoppage time when he snuck in at the back post to equalise for Kashima.

Meanwhile, Kashiwa Reysol made sure to capitalise on Kashima only picking up a share of the spoils, and are now just one point adrift in second place after a 2-0 win over Yokohama FC.

Yuto Yamada gave Kashiwa the lead with a fizzing low drive from 30 yards in the 72nd minute, before Hayato Nakama made sure of the victory four minutes later.

That defeat means Yokohama FC are now five points from safety, after neighbours Yokohama F･Marinos won for the third time in their last four games by defeating Sanfrecce Hiroshima 3-0.

Yokohama F･M moved ahead when Asahi Uenaka crisply converted from just outside the area after 12 minutes at Nissan Stadium, before rounding off the victory with two late goals. First, Jun Amano scored a penalty with four minutes remaining and then Jeisson Quinones wrapped things up with a header in the first minute of stoppage time.

Elsewhere, Cerezo Osaka tore out of the traps to record a 2-0 win over Kawasaki Frontale - striking both goals in the opening seven minutes - while Gamba Osaka won by the same score on the road at Nagoya Grampus.

Rafael Ratao got C-Osaka up and running in the fourth minute at YODOKO SAKURA STADIUM, and three minutes later the hosts doubled their lead courtesy of Shunta Tanaka's fierce strike across goal.

G-Osaka had to wait until the 56th minute to break the deadlock at Toyota Stadium, but after Ryoya Yamashita clipped in off the post to put them 1-0 up Takeru Kishimoto added a second in the third minute of stoppage time.

In the day’s other games, FC TOKYO needed two late goals from Kota Tawaratsumida and Kein Sato to collect a 3-1 win at home to Fagiano Okayama - Sato opened the scoring in the 48th minute for the hosts but Ataru Esaka equalised in the 73rd minute for Okayama, before Tawaratsumida made it 2-1 in the 88th minute and Sato added his second two minutes later - Naoki Hayashi's 18th-minute own goal was enough to deliver Shimizu S-Pulse a 1-0 win against Tokyo Verdy, and Urawa Reds and FC Machida Zelvia drew 0-0.