FC Machida Zelvia concluded their MEIJI YASUDA J1 100 YEAR VISION LEAGUE REGIONAL ROUND duties with a 1-0 win over Urawa Reds on Friday night, as Match Week 18 got underway at MUFG Stadium (National Stadium).
Visitors Urawa were the first side to threaten in the sixth minute, when Takuro Kaneko embarked upon a weaving run down the right flank before breaking into the penalty area, but his shot was ultimately straight at FC Machida goalkeeper Kosei Tani.
It was instead FC Machida who took the lead four minutes later, after a slick attack was finished off by Brazilian marksman Erik.
Hotaka Nakamura started the move when he swept a cross-field pass from right to left to Kotaro Hayashi, and he then nudged possession into the path of the overlapping Yuta Nakayama, who crossed into the area. The ball travelled all the way to Erik on the far side of the box, and the Brazilian’s controlled effort whistled into the far side of the net after a slight deflection off Matheus Savio.
Urawa went close to restoring parity six minutes before half-time, but Tani once again denied them after leaping to his left to keep out Yoichi Naganuma’s header from Hirokazu Ishihara’s inviting cross.
Tete Yengi then had a couple of decent opportunities to extend FC Machida’s lead in the second half, first poking an attempt at Urawa goalkeeper Shusaku Nishikawa after being played in by Na Sangho in the 52nd minute and then heading substitute Yuki Soma’s cross straight at Nishikawa 16 minutes later.
Urawa were unable to fashion any clear sights of goal as the clock ticked down, and the closest either side came to adding to the scoreline was when FC Machida’s Shota Fujio fizzed an effort just over in the fifth minute of stoppage time.
The win means FC Machida are guaranteed third place in the East table, while Urawa will finish either fifth or sixth.
FC Machida Zelvia vs Urawa Reds - Game Highlights | MW18
