Kyoto Sanga F.C. strengthened their position at the top of the 2025 MEIJI YASUDA J1 LEAGUE table on Saturday, putting in a dominant display in front of 20,030 fans to defeat Fagiano Okayama 5-0.
A brace from Rafael Elias and goals from Taichi Hara, Ryuma Nakano, and Masaya Okugawa made sure of the victory for Kyoto - their fourth in a row - and saw them improve to 54 points.
Rafael Elias gave Kyoto the lead in the 15th minute at SANGA STADIUM by KYOCERA, lashing home a fierce drive with his left foot after Hara had found him with a low ball into the area.
Hara then got his own name on the scoresheet five minutes later, winning possession in midfield and playing a one-two with Fuki Yamada before breaking in behind and slotting coolly past Okayama goalkeeper Svend Brodersen.
By the half-hour mark it was 3-0, as Rafael Elias showed some clever footwork and sharp-shooting from the edge of the six-yard box after again being teed up by Hara. That strike made it seven goals in the Brazilian’s last four appearances, and he is now joint-top scorer in the 2025 MEIJI YASUDA J1 LEAGUE, level with his compatriot Leo Ceara of Kashima Antlers on 15 goals.
Kyoto added the gloss to their win in the closing minutes of the contest, as Nakano seized upon a rebound from close range after a corner in the 80th minute and Okugawa then clipped in a cute volley from a Nakano cross in the second minute of stoppage time.
Meanwhile, Vissel Kobe made sure they kept Kyoto in their sights and didn’t lose any ground as they aim for a third consecutive MEIJI YASUDA J1 LEAGUE crown, battling to a hard-fought 1-0 win at home to Yokohama F･Marinos.
Yoshinori Muto struck the only goal of the game in the 37th minute at NOEVIR Stadium Kobe, converting crisply after Erik had done superbly to break in behind on the right flank and cut the ball back into the penalty box.
Those three points leave Kobe just one point behind Kyoto in second place, while the defeat means only goal difference is keeping Yokohama F･M outside of the relegation zone.
Elsewhere, the day’s other game finished as a scoreless draw, with neither Yokohama FC or Tokyo Verdy able to find a way through at NHK Spring Mitsuzawa Football Stadium. That result leaves Yokohama FC two points and two places below their local rivals Yokohama F･M, while Tokyo-V sit 14th on 32 points, seven above the drop zone.
Kyoto Sanga F.C. vs. Fagiano Okayama - Game Highlights | 2025 J1 LEAGUE | MW28
Vissel Kobe vs. Yokohama F•Marinos - Game Highlights | 2025 J1 LEAGUE | MW28
Yokohama FC vs. Tokyo Verdy - Game Highlights | 2025 J1 LEAGUE | MW28
