The margins were incredibly fine in all three REGIONAL ROUND Match Week 17 games played in the MEIJI YASUDA J1 100 YEAR VISION LEAGUE on Saturday, as FC TOKYO edged Urawa Reds on penalties and Tokyo Verdy and Kashiwa Reysol picked up wins on the road at Mito Hollyhock and Yokohama F･Marinos, respectively.
FC TOKYO needed a win to still stand an outside chance of pipping Kashima Antlers to first place in the East, and the two points they claimed after their shootout triumph leave them on 37 points, two behind the leaders - although Kashima have a game in hand, and could wrap up top spot on Sunday.
Neither FC TOKYO nor hosts Urawa were able to find a way through in a closely-fought battle at Saitama Stadium 2002, with the contest ending 0-0 after 90 minutes.
There was then ample drama in the decider from 12 yards though, with the sides taking an incredible 26 kicks between them.
Six attempts were missed as the tension ramped up, and after Ryoma Watanabe added his name to the list of players who couldn’t find the net with Urawa’s 13th penalty, defender Kento Hashimoto converted to finally settle things 10-9 in FC TOKYO’s favour.
Tokyo-V also consolidated their place in the upper half of the East table, thanks to a 1-0 victory away to Mito.
Ryosuke Shirai struck the only goal of the game at K's denki Stadium Mito, sweeping in Yuta Arai’s low cross in the 54th minute.
The victory leaves Tokyo-V in fourth place on 28 points, three ahead of fifth-placed Urawa with one game of the REGIONAL ROUND left to play.
The day’s other game was also decided by a single goal, as Kashiwa picked up a 1-0 win at Yokohama F･M - in the process leapfrogging their opponents into eighth place in the East.
Koya Yuruki was the hero for Kashiwa, tucking in Tojiro Kubo’s drilled ball in from the right three minutes before half-time.
Kashiwa’s second 1-0 win in a row moved them level on 17 points with Yokohama F･M, but one place above them in the rankings on account of their superior goal difference.
Urawa Reds vs FC TOKYO - Game Highlights | MW17
Mito Hollyhock vs Tokyo Verdy - Game Highlights | MW17
Yokohama F•Marinos vs Kashiwa Reysol - Game Highlights | MW17
