There were penalty shoot-outs galore as REGIONAL ROUND Match Week 2 in the MEIJI YASUDA J1 100 YEAR VISION LEAGUE continued on Saturday, with reigning J1 champions Kashima Antlers the only side to win inside 90 minutes as they defeated Yokohama F･Marinos 1-0.
Last season’s top scorer Leo Ceara was again the hero for Kashima, soaring at the back post to head home the only goal of the game in the 76th minute at Mercari Stadium.
All four of the day’s other games ended as draws, meaning penalties were needed to distribute the extra points available.
There was a flurry of goals just before half-time at Machida GION Stadium, where FC Machida Zelvia and Mito Hollyhock drew 2-2.
Erik put FC Machida in front when he tucked in a Yuki Soma cross in the 39th minute, but Taishi Semba equalised for Mito two minutes later and Yoshiki Torikai made it 2-1 to the visitors with a finish from the centre of the box in the 44th minute.
Gen Shoji headed in at a corner in the third minute of first-half stoppage time though, and with no further goals in the second period the game went to a shoot-out.
Once there, FC Machida goalkeeper Kosei Tani saved two of Mito’s first four kicks, leaving Dresevic to slam home and seal the hosts a 4-2 win.
There was sensational late drama at IAI Stadium Nihondaira, meanwhile, where Kyoto Sanga F.C.’s Rafael Elias struck in the 12th minute of additional time to cancel out Hisashi Appiah Tawiah's 46th-minute own goal and make it 1-1 against Shimizu S-Pulse.
Shimizu then failed three times from the spot, enabling Marco Tulio to sweep in and deliver a 3-1 triumph for Kyoto.
There was also an injury-time strike to force penalties in the clash between FC TOKYO and Urawa Reds.
Ryoma Watanabe had given Urawa the lead with a deflected effort against his former club in the 78th minute, but Fuki Yamada rifled in to make it 1-1 15 minutes later, ensuring a shoot-out was required.
Ryunosuke Sato then wrapped up the two points for FC Tokyo for the second week in a row, making no mistake with his side’s fifth penalty to complete a 5-3 victory.
The day’s other game also finished 1-1 and was also settled from 12 yards, after Sanfrecce Hiroshima and Fagiano Okayama couldn’t be separated over 90 minutes.
Ataru Esaka broke the deadlock for Okayama with a crisp strike in the 10th minute, but Ryo Germain levelled in the third minute of first-half stoppage time for Hiroshima.
Tsukasa Shiotani completed a 5-4 win for Hiroshima on penalties, with Keisuke Osako having saved Kaito Fujii’s fourth kick for Okayama.
Kashima Antlers vs Yokohama F•Marinos - Game Highlights | MW2
FC Machida Zelvia vs Mito Hollyhock - Game Highlights | MW2
Shimizu S-Pulse vs Kyoto Sanga F.C. - Game Highlights | MW2
FC TOKYO vs Urawa Reds - Game Highlights | MW2
Sanfrecce Hiroshima vs Fagiano Okayama - Game Highlights | MW2
