FC Machida Zelvia climbed up into second place in the East table of the MEIJI YASUDA J1 100 YEAR VISION LEAGUE on Saturday, beating Kawasaki Frontale 3-1 on penalties after their make-up fixture from REGIONAL ROUND Match Week 5 ended as a 1-1 draw.
The first half was all FC Machida at Machida GION Stadium, with Yuki Soma central to much of their attacking threat.
The diminutive winger drew a save at full stretch from Kawasaki-F goalkeeper Svend Brodersen from a free-kick in the third minute, and then had a close-range header ruled out for offside eight minutes later.
Erik then went incredibly close to opening the scoring after a terrific ball forward from FC Machida goalkeeper Kosei Tani set him in behind in the 32nd minute, but his delicate chip over Brodersen drifted just wide of the far post.
The Brazilian was celebrating nine minutes later though, after Soma got to the byline and crossed into the area, where Erik was on hand to convert with a flying volley.
Kawasaki-F came out with more attacking spark in the second half, and equalised from a very similar piece of play in the 59th minute.
Sota Miura did well to break into the left-hand side of the penalty area and drilled in a low cross that Tani could only deflect across goal and into the path of Erison, who made no mistake from the edge of the six-yard box.
FC Machida went down to 10 men in the 78th minute when Erik was sent off for a dangerous tackle on Yuichi Maruyama, but neither side was able to find the net again in the time remaining and the contest went to a penalty shoot-out.
Once there Tani was in phenomenal form, saving from Lazar Romanic, Yu Kobayashi, and So Kawahara, meaning FC Machida took the two points after Dresevic slammed in the home side’s fourth kick.
FC Machida Zelvia vs Kawasaki Frontale - Game Highlights | MW5
