Albirex Niigata picked up a huge victory in the 2025 MEIJI YASUDA J1 LEAGUE on Sunday, as they defeated Yokohama F･Marinos 1-0 in front of 30,474 fans at DENKA BIG SWAN STADIUM.
Niigata started the day just two points above bottom-placed Yokohama F･M, with both teams knowing the clash was a classic six-pointer as they looked to lift themselves away from the foot of the table.
As such, the game was a very tight affair - and one that was ultimately decided in the 73rd minute by a moment of magic from Niigata forward Danilo Gomes.
The Brazilian received possession out wide on the right after a terrific raking ball across field from Hayato Inamura, before cutting sharply inside and bending a sensational effort beyond the despairing dive of Yokohama F･M goalkeeper Hiroki Iikura and into the far side of the net.
Kashiwa Reysol also claimed another big three points in Match Week 20, beating Tokyo Verdy 3-0 away from home thanks to goals from Tojiro Kubo, Yoshio Koizumi, and Mao Hosoya.
Kubo got Kashiwa up and running when he tucked in a low cross from Tomoya Koyamatsu in the 27th minute, with Koizumi doubling the visitors’ lead in the first minute of first-half stoppage time.
Hosoya then wrapped up the win in the 93rd minute, sweeping superbly across goal after Kubo’s cute ball into the area to ensure Kashiwa climbed back up to second, four points behind leaders Kashima Antlers.
Vissel Kobe sit four points further back with a game in hand in sixth after they earned a hard-fought 2-1 win over Nagoya Grampus at NOEVIR Stadium Kobe.
Kobe moved ahead courtesy of an own goal in the 44th minute - Nagoya’s Takuya Uchida inadvertently sending the ball into his own net after Jean Patric’s cut back into the area - and Taisei Miyashiro made it 2-0 in the second minute of first-half stoppage time when he slammed in from close range after taking the ball down well at a corner.
Teruki Hara gave Nagoya a glimmer of hope when he pulled one back in the 57th minute, but that would prove to be the end of the scoring, leaving Kobe to celebrate a fourth win in their last five games.
Elsewhere, Avispa Fukuoka beat Fagiano Okayama 1-0 thanks to centre back Tomoya Ando’s fourth goal of the season, and Shimizu S-Pulse and Gamba Osaka played out a 0-0 draw.
Albirex Niigata vs. ️Yokohama F・Marinos - Game Highlights | 2025 J1 LEAGUE HIGHLIGHTS | MW 20
Tokyo Verdy vs. Kashiwa Reysol - Game Highlights | 2025 J1 LEAGUE HIGHLIGHTS | MW 20
Vissel Kobe vs. Nagoya Grampus - Game Highlights | 2025 J1 LEAGUE HIGHLIGHTS | MW 20
Fagiano Okayama vs. Avispa Fukuoka - Game Highlights | 2025 J1 LEAGUE HIGHLIGHTS | MW 20
Shimizu S-Pulse vs. Gamba Osaka - Game Highlights | 2025 J1 LEAGUE HIGHLIGHTS | MW 20
