Kawasaki Frontale and Sanfrecce Hiroshima both emerged victorious in the 2025 J.LEAGUE YBC Levain CUP Semi-final First Legs on Wednesday, picking up 3-1 and 2-0 wins, respectively, at home to Kashiwa Reysol and away at Yokohama FC.
Kawasaki-F moved ahead in just the 10th minute at Uvance Todoroki Stadium by Fujitsu, when Yuki Yamamoto sized up an effort from 25 yards and it took a wicked deflection off Yuto Yamada before looping up and over Kashiwa goalkeeper Ryosuke Kojima and into the net.
Sai Van Wermeskerken made it 2-0 13 minutes later with another strike from range, rifling an unstoppable drive past a helpless Kojima from almost the same distance as Yamamoto.
Kojima then did well to keep out Erison’s left-footed shot from just inside the area in the 30th minute, and Kashiwa nearly pulled a goal back when Tomoya Inukai headed just wide from a free-kick two minutes later.
The visitors did then manage to halve the deficit 17 minutes into the second period, when Tomoya Koyamatsu dinked a cross from the left into the six-yard box and Yoshio Koizumi was on hand to head home.
Tatsuya Ito struck what could prove to be a decisive blow for Kawasaki-F with five minutes left on the clock though, controlling Ten Miyagi’s pass into him and then slotting in off the far post to make it 3-1.
Meanwhile, Hiroshima claimed an encouraging 2-0 win on the road at NHK Spring Mitsuzawa Football Stadium, thanks to a goal in each half from Yotaro Nakajima and Shuto Nakano.
Hiroshima almost moved in front after half an hour, but after Tsukasa Shiotani lofted a ball in behind to Valere Germain Yokohama FC goalkeeper Akinori Ichikawa made a smart stop from the Frenchman’s strike.
Ichikawa could do nothing to deny Nakajima three minutes later, however, as the 19-year-old expertly controlled a lofted pass on his chest, twisted and turned to make space for a shot, and then snuck a delicious effort in off the near post.
Yokohama FC almost pulled level two minutes after the restart, but Solomon Sakuragawa’s header from a corner hit the woodwork, and Ichikawa came between Germain and the goal again in the 64th minute with a brave block.
The Yokohama FC keeper was once again powerless to stop Nakano doubling Hiroshima’s lead 20 minutes later though, as Nakano floated a sensational effort into the net from just inside the Yokohama FC half after Ichikawa had vacated his goal to dash out and make a clearance.
The participants in the November 1 final will now be decided in the semi-final second legs on Sunday, when Kashiwa welcome Kawasaki-F to SANKYO FRONTIER Kashiwa Stadium and Yokohama FC travel to EDION PEACE WING HIROSHIMA.
