Kashima Antlers bolstered their position at the top of the 2025 MEIJI YASUDA J1 LEAGUE table on Sunday, coming from a goal down to beat Kawasaki Frontale 2-1 in front of 59,574 fans at Japan National Stadium.
Kawasaki-F flew out of the traps on their return to MEIJI YASUDA J1 LEAGUE action after finishing as runners up in the AFC Champions League Elite 2024/25, taking the lead in just the seventh minute through an Asahi Sasaki header from a corner.
Both teams had chances to add to the score as an entertaining first half progressed, but the next goal didn’t come until the first minute of stoppage time, when Yu Funabashi equalised for Kashima.
Kawasaki-F goalkeeper Louis Yamaguchi came for a cross but couldn’t collect it, and Yuma Suzuki played the ball back to Funabashi who cut inside Yuto Ozeki before slamming into the net with his left foot.
Suzuki was again the provider as Kashima moved ahead 20 minutes into the second half, bending an inviting ball in behind for Kyosuke Tagawa to chase. Substitute Tagawa, who had only come on three minutes earlier, made no mistake with the opportunity, calmly slotting beyond Yamaguchi to make it 2-1.
Two of Kashima’s closest challengers only managed to pick up a point apiece in Match Week 16, as Kyoto Sanga F.C. and Urawa Reds drew 1-1 against Nagoya Grampus and Albirex Niigata, respectively.
Kyoto took the lead in the 70th minute against Nagoya thanks to Shun Nagasawa’s header, but were pegged back with six minutes remaining as Sho Inagaki seized upon a loose ball for Nagoya.
Meanwhile, Motoki Nagakura rescued a point for Urawa against his former club, heading home in the 80th minute after Motoki Hasegawa had put Niigata in front six minutes earlier.
Elsewhere, Sanfrecce Hiroshima, Shonan Bellmare, and Cerezo Osaka were all celebrating victories.
Hiroshima won for the third game in a row courtesy of Tsukasa Shiotani’s solitary strike on the road at Gamba Osaka, Shonan claimed a 2-0 win away to Tokyo Verdy thanks to goals from Kohei Okuno and Luiz Phellype, and Rafael Ratao’s 24th-minute effort was enough to secure a 1-0 win for C-Osaka at home to Yokohama F･Marinos.
The day’s other game saw Shimizu S-Pulse come from behind twice to draw 2-2 with FC Machida Zelvia.
Takuma Nishimura headed FC Machida in front after 21 minutes, and although Koya Kitagawa equalised from the penalty spot for Shimizu in the 66th minute Kotaro Hayashi re-established FC Machida’s lead just one minute later with another header.
Douglas Tanque earned a point for Shimizu with six minutes left on the clock though, also converting with his head after Capixaba’s cross from the left.
Kashima Antlers vs. Kawasaki Frontale - Game Highlights | 2025 J1 LEAGUE HIGHLIGHTS | MW 16
Kyoto Sanga F.C. vs. Nagoya Grampus - Game Highlights | 2025 J1 LEAGUE HIGHLIGHTS | MW 16
Albirex Niigata vs. Urawa Reds - Game Highlights | 2025 J1 LEAGUE HIGHLIGHTS | MW 16
Gamba Osaka vs. Sanfrecce Hiroshima - Game Highlights | 2025 J1 LEAGUE HIGHLIGHTS | MW 16
Tokyo Verdy vs. Shonan Bellmare - Game Highlights | 2025 J1 LEAGUE HIGHLIGHTS | MW 16
Cerezo Osaka vs. ️ Yokohama F・Marinos - Game Highlights | 2025 J1 LEAGUE HIGHLIGHTS | MW 16
Shimizu S-Pulse vs. FC Machida Zelvia - Game Highlights | 2025 J1 LEAGUE HIGHLIGHTS | MW 16
