There was late, decisive drama in both games played in the 2025 MEIJI YASUDA J1 LEAGUE on Sunday, as already-relegated Albirex Niigata battled back from two goals down to draw 2-2 with Vissel Kobe, and Avispa Fukuoka struck an injury-time winner to beat Shonan Bellmare 1-0, ending Shonan’s hopes of survival.
Niigata’s fate had already been sealed after Saturday’s results left them bottom of the table and 15 points from safety with only four games to play, and they fell behind at DENKA BIG SWAN STADIUM when Yuya Osako headed in Taisei Miyashiro’s ball into the six-yard box in the third minute of first-half stoppage time.
Osako then doubled Kobe’s lead when he converted from the penalty spot seven minutes after the restart, at which point it looked as though the visitors had all three points safely in the bag.
Niigata refused to give up in front of a crowd of 19,480 though, and Takuya Shimamura gave them hope with 16 minutes remaining when he tucked in off the crossbar to make it 2-1.
Substitute Yamato Wakatsuki then made himself the hero for Niigata in the final minute of regular time, slotting in at the near post after a superb outside-of-the-boot pass from Motoki Hasegawa had played him in behind.
The point came too late to make any difference to Niigata’s plight, but Wakatsuki’s late goal did deal a blow to Kobe’s aspirations of winning a third consecutive title, leaving them in fourth place and five points behind leaders Kashima Antlers with three rounds remaining.
Meanwhile, Shonan saw their hopes of avoiding relegation extinguished as they conceded in injury time for the second straight game to taste defeat on the road at Fukuoka.
The closest Shonan came to finding the net in the first half was when Akito Suzuki headed over from close range in the 12th minute, while Fukuoka’s best chance fell the way of Shintaro Nago one minute before the break, but Shonan goalkeeper Kota Sanada stayed big to smother his attempt at the near post.
Suzuki then thought he had claimed a vital goal for Shonan in the 81st minute, but his calm finish from the edge of the area was ruled out for an offside in the build up.
Even a draw wouldn’t have been enough to keep Shonan in the top flight next season, but Tomoya Miki dealt the killer blow from the penalty spot in the third minute of stoppage time, sealing the win for Fukuoka and ending Shonan’s survival hopes.
Albirex Niigata vs Vissel Kobe - Game Highlights | 2025 J1 LEAGUE | MW35
Avispa Fukuoka vs Shonan Bellmare - Game Highlights | 2025 J1 LEAGUE | MW35
