Kashima Antlers’ extraordinary run of form in the MEIJI YASUDA J1 100 YEAR VISION LEAGUE continued in REGIONAL ROUND Match Week 8, as the East leaders struck late on to defeat JEF United Chiba 2-1 on Sunday.
Elber put Kashima in front with a fine solo effort in the fourth minute at Mercari Stadium, but Chiba’s Zain Issaka pulled the visitors level with 20 minutes remaining.
Naomichi Ueda was on hand to make it seven wins in a row for Kashima though, heading in at an 84th-minute corner.
Meanwhile, there were goals galore in the Kanagawa Derby, as Yokohama F･Marinos recorded a famous 5-0 win over Kawasaki Frontale at MUFG Stadium.
Kaina Tanimura broke the deadlock from close range in the 30th-minute, before Jun Amano struck twice in the space of nine second half minutes to put Yokohama F･M 3-0 up.
Yuri Araujo then clipped in a rebound in the 72nd minute, before Jeisson Quinones wrapped up the scoring six minutes later when he headed home from a corner.
Things were far tighter in the Tokyo Derby at Ajinomoto Stadium, where hosts Tokyo Verdy played out a scoreless draw with capital city rivals FC TOKYO.
FC TOKYO’s first and third kickers then missed from the spot in the resultant penalty shoot-out, and with Tokyo-V’s takers all finding the net they were able to celebrate a 4-2 win.
Kyoto Sanga F.C. also came out on top after a perfect display from 12 yards, moving to the top of the West rankings after beating Nagoya Grampus 5-4 on penalties following a 1-1 draw.
Hidemasa Koda had opened the scoring for Nagoya with a shot from distance in the 19th minute, but Marco Tulio headed in Kyoto’s equaliser with 13 minutes remaining.
Things are incredibly tight in the West table, with only three points separating the teams in first and ninth, and Shimizu S-Pulse climbed up to fourth courtesy of a 3-1 victory over Sanfrecce Hiroshima.
Two quick-fire goals from Yutaka Yoshida and Oh Se Hun in the 19th and 21st minutes put Shimizu in control, before Koya Kitagawa made it 3-0 in the 66th minute. Ryo Germain struck Hiroshima’s late consolation with six minutes remaining.
In the day’s other games, a Nobuteru Nakagawa drive from 30 yards, Koshi Osaki own goal, and Yusuke Segawa volley sealed Kashiwa Reysol a 3-0 win over Mito Hollyhock, Cerezo Osaka defeated Vissel Kobe 6-5 on penalties after a 1-1 draw - Rikito Inoue on target for C-Osaka and Mitsuki Hidaka equalising for Kobe - and goals from Henry Heroki Mochizuki and Yuki Soma earned FC Machida Zelvia a 2-1 triumph away to Urawa Reds, for whom Matheus Savio replied.
Kashima Antlers vs JEF United Chiba - Game Highlights | MW8
Kawasaki Frontale vs Yokohama F•Marinos - Game Highlights | MW8
Tokyo Verdy vs FC TOKYO - Game Highlights | MW8
Kyoto Sanga F.C. vs Nagoya Grampus - Game Highlights | MW8
Shimizu S-Pulse vs Sanfrecce Hiroshima - Game Highlights | MW8
Kashiwa Reysol vs Mito Hollyhock - Game Highlights | MW8
Cerezo Osaka vs Vissel Kobe - Game Highlights | MW8
Urawa Reds vs FC Machida Zelvia - Game Highlights | MW8
