There were plenty of thrills and spills as MEIJI YASUDA J1 100 YEAR VISION LEAGUE REGIONAL ROUND Match Week 8 began on Saturday, as Avispa Fukuoka drew 2-2 with Gamba Osaka before triumphing after a sensational 30-penalty shoot-out, and V-Varen Nagasaki scored in injury time to defeat Fagiano Okayama 1-0.
Visitors G-Osaka took the lead in the 11th minute at BEST DENKI STADIUM, when Issam Jebali played Deniz Hummet in behind, and he made no mistake with a calm finish beyond Fukuoka goalkeeper Yuma Obata.
Yuma Tsujioka then equalised in the 22nd minute, rifling in a loose ball from a tight angle after G-Osaka goalkeeper Masaaki Higashiguchi had saved from Yota Maejima.
Tomoya Miki thought he had put the home side in front four minutes before half-time, but Riku Handa cleared his dinked attempt off the line and one minute later Welton seized upon a mistake by Obata to slot in and instead put G-Osaka back in the ascendancy.
Fukuoka then had a glorious chance to pull level in the 81st minute when they won a penalty for handball, but Miki saw his shot saved by Higashiguchi.
However, Tsujioka did then find the net again in the third minute of additional time, expertly guiding a low shot into the bottom corner with the outside of his left foot, making it 2-2 and sending the game to a penalty shoot-out.
An incredible decider then followed from 12 yards, with each side taking 15 kicks and Fukuoka ultimately emerging as 14-13 victors.
There were fewer goals but no less drama at JFE Harenokuni Stadium, where Okayama and Nagasaki went toe-to-toe.
The first clear sight of goal came in the 25th minute for hosts Okayama, but Kota Kawano dragged narrowly wide of the near post after cutting inside to make space for the shot.
Matheus Jesus fired the first warning shot for Nagasaki two minutes before half-time, driving forward with the ball from deep inside his own half and lashing goalwards, but Okayama goalkeeper Lennart Moser was equal to the strike.
A low Kazunari Ichimi effort skidded just past the post for Okayama in the 66th minute, before Nagasaki’s Tenmu Matsumoto then saw a header well saved by Moser four minutes later.
Ryogo Yamasaki made himself the hero in the third minute of stoppage time though, looping a header from Yuto Iwasaki’s cross from the left over Moser and in off the far post to secure all three points for Nagasaki.
Avispa Fukuoka vs Gamba Osaka - Game Highlights | MW8
Fagiano Okayama vs V-Varen Nagasaki - Game Highlights | MW8
