There was drama galore in the 2025 MEIJI YASUDA J1 LEAGUE on Saturday, with half of the day’s games featuring sensational late goals.
Vissel Kobe, Urawa Reds, and Sanfrecce Hiroshima all claimed victories courtesy of strikes at the death, while Avispa Fukuoka secured a point after another injury-time intervention.
Yuya Osako gave Kobe the lead in the 50th minute against Gamba Osaka, only for Shu Kurata to equalise six minutes later.
The game then swung back in Kobe’s favour as Erik struck in the 59th minute, but Keisuke Kurokawa was on hand to once again restore parity 17 minutes from time.
It looked as though that would be enough to make sure of a point for G-Osaka, but Osako had other ideas and headed in his second of the game in the 96th minute to make it 3-2 and seal all three points for Kobe.
Urawa also won by the same scoreline after a rollercoaster battle against FC TOKYO.
FC TOKYO were twice in front thanks to goals from Marcelo Ryan and Keita Endo, but Hirokazu Ishihara and Taishi Matsumoto came up with replies each time for hosts Urawa.
Substitute Matsumoto then sent the fans at Saitama Stadium 2002 into raptures in the third minute of injury time, clipping home from just inside the six-yard box.
Matsumoto’s former club Hiroshima also left it late to seal the points in a 2-1 win over Tokyo Verdy.
It looked as though an upset could be on the cards when Yudai Kimura put Tokyo-V ahead in the 77th minute, but an extraordinary three minutes at the death flipped the contest on its head.
First up Valere Germain equalised in the 87th minute, before a crisp Hayao Kawabe strike with a minute left on the clock made it 2-1 and extended Hiroshima’s winning run to four games.
Both goals in Fukuoka’s 1-1 draw against Nagoya Grampus also arrived in the closing stages of the game.
Shuhei Tokumoto put Nagoya in front in the 81st minute, but Takeshi Kanamori made sure the spoils were shared after slamming home in the fifth minute of stoppage time.
Elsewhere, Kashima Antlers continue to soldier on at the top of the rankings, and Yuma Suzuki’s strike in the seventh minute was enough to seal a seventh straight win with a 1-0 against Shimizu S-Pulse.
Another 1-0 win sparked joy at the other end of the table, as Yokohama FC moved out of the relegation zone thanks to Lukian’s first-half winner against his former club Shonan Bellmare.
The day’s other two matches produced a further six goals, as Kyoto Sanga F.C. defeated Yokohama F･Marinos 3-0 and FC Machida Zelvia dealt Kashiwa Reysol their first defeat in 12 games by the same score.
Temma Matsuda put Kyoto ahead at Nissan Stadium with a fierce drive in the 31st minute, Masaya Okugawa doubled his side’s advantage midway through the second half, and Shinnosuke Fukuda wrapped things up with nine minutes remaining.
FC Machida had their three points in the bag by half-time, meanwhile, thanks to Kotaro Hayashi’s fourth-minute opener, a Taiyo Koga own goal, and Na Sangho’s penalty in first-half stoppage time.
Vissel Kobe vs. Gamba Osaka - Game Highlights | 2025 J1 LEAGUE HIGHLIGHTS | MW 17
Urawa Reds vs. FC TOKYO - Game Highlights | 2025 J1 LEAGUE HIGHLIGHTS | MW 17
Sanfrecce Hiroshima vs. Tokyo Verdy - Game Highlights | 2025 J1 LEAGUE HIGHLIGHTS | MW 17
Avispa Fukuoka vs. Nagoya Grampus - Game Highlights | 2025 J1 LEAGUE HIGHLIGHTS | MW 17
Kashima Antlers vs. Shimizu S-Pulse - Game Highlights | 2025 J1 LEAGUE HIGHLIGHTS | MW 17
Shonan Bellmare vs. Yokohama FC - Game Highlights | 2025 J1 LEAGUE HIGHLIGHTS | MW 17
️ Yokohama F・Marinos vs. Kyoto Sanga F.C. - Game Highlights | 2025 J1 LEAGUE HIGHLIGHTS | MW 17
FC Machida Zelvia vs. Kashiwa Reysol - Game Highlights | 2025 J1 LEAGUE HIGHLIGHTS | MW 17
