Two games were played in REGIONAL ROUND Match Week 11 of the MEIJI YASUDA J1 100 YEAR VISION LEAGUE on Wednesday, with Vissel Kobe extending their lead at the top of the West table thanks to a 2-0 win over Shimizu S-Pulse, and FC TOKYO climbing to second in the East after a 3-0 triumph away to FC Machida Zelvia.
A goal in each half was enough to secure the spoils for Kobe, moving them onto 19 points at the summit, five points clear of Kyoto Sanga F.C. and Gamba Osaka having played a game more.
The hosts took the lead after 28 minutes at NOEVIR Stadium Kobe, after Nanasei Iino sent in a cross from the right, Yosuke Ideguchi volleyed on, and Katsuya Nagato beat Shimizu defender Kengo Kitazume to the ball at the back post to head home.
Takahiro Ohgihara made the result safe in the 61st minute, calmly stroking in from the penalty spot after another Iino ball in from the right had struck Yutaka Yoshida’s hand.
Meanwhile, at Machida GION Stadium, FC TOKYO leapfrogged FC Machida into second place, climbing to 19 points and leaving them three behind leaders Kashima Antlers, who have a game in hand.
Keita Endo got the scoring started in the 32nd minute, cutting in from the left flank and unleashing a crisp low strike that caught FC Machida goalkeeper Kosei Tani off guard as it skidded across the wet turf and into the bottom corner.
Kein Sato then made it 2-0 in the 64th minute, seizing upon an under-hit back-pass by FC Machida’s Kotaro Hayashi, setting himself close to the byline, and then rifling a fierce drive across goal and into the far side of the net from a tight angle.
FC TOKYO also wrapped up their win with a penalty, awarded after Sato’s cross had struck Gen Shoji’s hand. Sato himself took the resultant spot-kick, slotting confidently past Tani to make it 3-0 with 12 minutes remaining.
Vissel Kobe vs Shimizu S-Pulse - Game Highlights | MW11
FC Machida Zelvia vs FC TOKYO - Game Highlights | MW11
