REGIONAL ROUND Match Week 12 in the MEIJI YASUDA J1 100 YEAR VISION LEAGUE got underway on Friday night, with the top two sides in the East table both picking up wins as FC TOKYO defeated Mito Hollyhock 5-2 and leaders Kashima Antlers edged a hard-fought battle 1-0 against Kashiwa Reysol.
It was Mito who opened the scoring in the 16th minute at Ajinomoto Stadium, when Danilo flicked home at the near post after Mizuki Arai’s cross from the left.
The hosts pulled level 10 minutes before the break though, Marcelo Ryan receiving a pass from Alexander Scholz and then rifling in from distance.
Kein Sato then gave FC TOKYO the lead in the 43rd minute - tucking in after Ryunosuke Sato had capitalised on a heavy touch by Mito goalkeeper Konosuke Nishikawa - before Marcelo Ryan made it 3-1 with a penalty in the fifth minute of first-half stoppage time.
Things got even better for the home side in the 68th minute, as Sei Muroya received possession 35 yards from goal, carried it forward, and then fired an unstoppable drive past Nishikawa to extend FC TOKYO’s lead.
Two minutes later Koki Ando pulled one back for Mito just a minute after coming on as a substitute, winning possession on the left flank and then weaving his way into the area before converting calmly.
Ryunosuke Sato added the gloss for FC TOKYO in the 74th minute though, slotting in from the centre of the penalty area after Marcelo Ryan’s cut-back.
There were fewer goals, but no less action at SANKYO FRONTIER Kashiwa Stadium.
Kashiwa’s Mao Hosoya drew the first save in the 31st minute - Tomoki Hayakawa equal to his fierce strike from outside the area - before Yuma Suzuki broke the deadlock in the first minute of first-half additional time.
Kimito Nono showed terrific footwork to dribble into the area from the right, before prodding to Suzuki, who made no mistake from the corner of the six-yard box.
Wataru Harada almost equalised for Kashiwa when he sent a low curling effort just wide in the 51st minute, and Koya Yuruki whistled an absolute beauty into the net 13 minutes later, only to see it ruled out for an offside in the build up.
Yusei Yamanouchi also went close when he prodded towards the bottom corner in the 79th minute, but Hayakawa got down sharply to make the stop.
Nono had a glorious chance to wrap things up for Kashima in the 88th minute, but fired over as Kashiwa goalkeeper Kengo Nagai closed him down.
Even so, Kashima held on for another three points, lifting them onto 32 at the summit, six ahead of FC TOKYO.
FC TOKYO vs Mito Hollyhock - Game Highlights | MW12
Kashiwa Reysol vs Kashima Antlers - Game Highlights | MW12
