The two games made up from REGIONAL ROUND Match Week 12 in the MEIJI YASUDA J1 100 YEAR VISION LEAGUE on Wednesday night were both incredibly tight affairs, as Vissel Kobe defeated Kyoto Sanga F.C. 1-0 and FC Machida Zelvia beat Tokyo Verdy 4-2 on penalties after a 0-0 draw.
These fixtures had been re-arranged on account of Kobe and FC Machida’s progression to the latter stages of the AFC Champions League Elite 2025/26, and Kobe claimed the victory they needed to move level on points with Nagoya Grampus at the top of the West table.
Clear chances were few and far between in the first half at NOEVIR Stadium Kobe, and the closest either side came was when Kyoto’s Rafael Elias saw a fierce drive whistle just over the bar in the 27th minute.
The Brazilian then thought he had given the visitors the lead when he tucked in at the back post with 18 minutes remaining, but there had been an offside in the build-up and the effort was ruled out.
It was instead the home side that claimed the decisive goal six minutes later, as Makoto Mitsuta floated a beautiful ball into the box and Boniface Nduka headed home.
Kobe now sit tied with Nagoya on 31 points, only trailing on goal difference with two games of the REGIONAL ROUND to play.
Meanwhile, there was to be no separating the sides at Machida GION Stadium, where the defences came out on top in a stalemate between FC Machida and Tokyo-V.
FC Machida’s Futa Tokumura was the standout threat in the first half, being denied by Tokyo-V goalkeeper Matheus after a neat dribble and shot in the ninth minute, before he went close again three minutes before half-time with a venomous attempt from distance that Matheus tipped over the bar.
Kaito Suzuki then thundered a strike just past the post seven minutes into the second half for Tokyo-V, but neither side was able to break the deadlock and the contest headed to a penalty shoot-out.
FC Machida found the net with all four of their spot-kicks in the decider, and with both Yuya Fukuda and Tetsuyuki Inami hitting the woodwork for Tokyo-V, the home side picked up two points to guarantee they will finish at least third in the East table.
Vissel Kobe vs Kyoto Sanga F.C. - Game Highlights | MW12
FC Machida Zelvia vs Tokyo Verdy - Game Highlights | MW12
