Kashima Antlers’ remarkable 27-game run without a home defeat was brought to an end in dramatic style in Match Week 9 of the 2025 MEIJI YASUDA J1 LEAGUE season, as Kyoto Sanga F.C. dealt Toru Oniki’s side a 4-3 defeat.
A Leo Ceara brace sent Kashima in 2-0 up at the break at Kashima Soccer Stadium, but Masaya Okugawa pulled one back for Kyoto in the 61st minute before two goals in three minutes from Rafael Elias turned the game on its head.
It looked as though Kashima’s record would remain intact when Shu Morooka equalised in the second minute of additional time, but Rafael Elias had other ideas and completed his hat-trick three minutes later to wrap up a sensational win for Kyoto.
That slip-up also saw Kashima surrender top spot in the MEIJI YASUDA J1 LEAGUE, with FC Machida Zelvia leapfrogging them to the summit after an entertaining 2-2 draw with fellow strong starters Kawasaki Frontale.
Kawasaki-F drew first blood in the 16th minute as Erison converted from close range, but Daihachi Okamura equalised before half time and then Takuma Nishimura put FC Machida in front eight minutes after the break.
A fierce drive from So Kawahara in the 73rd minute ensured the points were shared, however, keeping Kawasaki-F just two points behind the league leaders.
Sanfrecce Hiroshima also capitalised upon Kashima’s second consecutive defeat, beating Cerezo Osaka 2-1 to climb into second place, level with FC Machida on 17 points.
Lucas Fernandes had given C-Osaka the lead after a quarter of an hour, but Naoto Arai equalised against his former club just three minutes later and Hayato Araki made himself Hiroshima’s hero with just four minutes left on the clock.
Albirex Niigata were also celebrating on Sunday, claiming their first victory of the season after a 1-0 win against Vissel Kobe at Japan National Stadium. Motoki Hasegawa struck the only goal of the game after 12 minutes, curling home a beautiful effort from the edge of the area.
Kashiwa Reysol and Avispa Fukuoka also picked up 1-0 wins to maintain their steady starts to the season. Kashiwa beat Gamba Osaka thanks to Yoshio Koizumi’s crisp 65th-minute drive from the edge of the area, while Fukuoka emerged victorious over Urawa Reds after Yuto Iwasaki lashed home a left-footed drive in the 68th minute.
Elsewhere on Sunday, Yokohama FC beat Shimizu S-Pulse 2-0, Fagiano Okayama edged past FC TOKYO 1-0, and Shonan Bellmare won for the first time in six games, 2-1 against Nagoya Grampus. Saturday’s only game finished 0-0 between Yokohama F･Marinos and Tokyo Verdy.
Kashima Antlers vs. Kyoto Sanga F.C. - Game Highlights | 2025 J1 LEAGUE HIGHLIGHTS | MW 9
FC Machida Zelvia vs. Kawasaki Frontale - Game Highlights | 2025 J1 LEAGUE HIGHLIGHTS | MW 9
Sanfrecce Hiroshima vs. Cerezo Osaka - Game Highlights | 2025 J1 LEAGUE HIGHLIGHTS | MW 9
Vissel Kobe vs. Albirex Niigata - Game Highlights | 2025 J1 LEAGUE HIGHLIGHTS | MW 9
Kashiwa Reysol vs. Gamba Osaka - Game Highlights | 2025 J1 LEAGUE HIGHLIGHTS | MW 9
Avispa Fukuoka vs. Urawa Reds - Game Highlights | 2025 J1 LEAGUE HIGHLIGHTS | MW 9
Yokohama FC vs. Shimizu S-Pulse - Game Highlights | 2025 J1 LEAGUE HIGHLIGHTS | MW 9
Fagiano Okayama vs. FC TOKYO - Game Highlights | 2025 J1 LEAGUE HIGHLIGHTS | MW 9
Shonan Bellmare vs. Nagoya Grampus - Game Highlights | 2025 J1 LEAGUE HIGHLIGHTS | MW 9
️Yokohama F•Marinos vs. Tokyo Verdy - Game Highlights | 2025 J1 LEAGUE HIGHLIGHTS | MW 9
