Kyoto Sanga F.C. kept their 2025 MEIJI YASUDA J1 LEAGUE title challenge alive with a sensational injury-time intervention to secure a 1-1 draw away at Shonan Bellmare on Sunday, Hidehiro Sugai scoring in the 100th minute after Akito Suzuki had given Shonan a first-half lead.
The result means Kyoto are now five points behind leaders Kashima Antlers - who they play next weekend - while the late concession also dealt a blow to Shonan’s survival hopes, leaving them eight points from safety with four games to play.
It was the hosts who had the first chance at Lemon Gas Stadium Hiratsuka after just 23 seconds, when Shinya Nakano’s attempt from just inside the area was saved by Kyoto goalkeeper Gakuji Ota
Nakano then provided the assist to put Shonan ahead in the 29th minute, stealing in to beat Shinnosuke Fukuda to the ball and squaring for Suzuki, who fired a crisp low strike beyond Ota and into the bottom corner.
Kyoto were handed a golden chance to equalise with a penalty seven minutes before half time, but Taichi Hara’s kick was repelled by a strong hand from Shonan goalkeeper Kota Sanada, and the visitors’ task became even harder in the first minute of first-half stoppage time when Yoshinori Suzuki received a straight red card for denying a goalscoring opportunity.
Nakano came very close to doubling Shonan’s lead four minutes into the second half, but his left-footed effort from the edge of the area whistled just past the post, and Yutaro Oda saw another attempt from 25 yards fly just off target in the 66th minute as Shonan looked to capitalise upon their man advantage.
Kyoto started to throw more caution to the wind as the clock ticked down, and Shun Nagasawa almost equalised in the 71st minute after being played in by Masaya Okugawa, but Sanada did just enough to divert his shot from close range behind for a corner.
A minute later Shonan came within inches of making it 2-0, but Masaki Ikeda saw his first attempt saved by Ota and then couldn’t quite get a touch to Hiroya Matsumoto’s low ball to the back post.
As the game became increasingly stretched the next chance fell Kyoto’s way in the 75th minute, but after Hara helped the ball on in the area Sugai’s header went just wide of the target,
Nagasawa then had another sight of goal in the 89th minute, but sent his effort bouncing past the far post.
Just when it looked as though Shonan would hang on for a huge victory, however, Fuki Yamada swung a cross to the back post deep into stoppage time and Sugai arrived to nod home and salvage a precious point to keep his side in the running.
Shonan Bellmare vs Kyoto Sanga F.C. - Game Highlights | 2025 J1 LEAGUE | MW34
