The fifth round of the MEIJI YASUDA J2 League concluded on Saturday with six matches taking place across the country.
After Hiroyuki Takasaki’s penalty gave Matsumoto Yamaga a 15th-minute lead against Nagoya Grampus, a pair of own-goals in the second half saw his team’s day end in a 2-1 defeat.
Machida Zelvia’s Akira Toshima and Yudai Inoue gave their side a 2-0 advantage at Zweigen Kanazawa before the 20-minute mark, but the hosts salvaged a draw after the interval via goals by Koichi Sato and Keiya Nakami.
Just over 2,200 fans braved the rainy weather at Shoda Shoyu Stadium to see Thespa Kusatsu Gunma host Fagiano Okayama, who ended the first half deadlocked at 1-1 after Shingo Akamine’s stoppage time effort negated Kazuma Takai’s opener just seven minutes earlier. Yuta Toyokawa was the hero in the 81st minute, giving Fagiano a 2-1 win.
Further north, neither Montedio Yamagata nor Avispa Fukuoka were able to break the deadlock as their match ended in a 0-0 draw.