Avispa Fukuoka soared to the summit of the 2025 MEIJI YASUDA J1 LEAGUE table on Saturday, coming from a goal down to beat Yokohama F･Marinos 2-1.
Yokohama F･M took the lead in the 11th minute through Daiya Tono, but Kazuki Fujimoto equalised with a superb effort from range eight minutes before half time and Tomoya Miki was on hand to tuck home the winner for Fukuoka in the 81st minute.
As well as extending Fukuoka’s unbeaten run to seven games - six of which have been won by a single goal - the three points also saw Kim Myung Hwi's side finish the day atop the 2025 MEIJI YASUDA J1 LEAGUE rankings on 19 points.
Kyoto Sanga F.C. are another of the J.LEAGUE’s form sides right now, and they sit just a point behind Fukuoka in second place after sealing a 2-0 victory over Shonan Bellmare.
Captain Sota Kawasaki was the hero for Kyoto, heading home the opener in the 40th minute before converting again from close range in the 63rd minute to secure his side a fourth win in five unbeaten games.
Meanwhile, there was drama aplenty in the clash between Cerezo Osaka and Kashima Antlers, which ended 1-0 to C-Osaka thanks to Ryosuke Shindo’s goal in the 12th minute of second half injury time.
Ryosuke Shindo’s finish at the death sparked jubilant scenes at YODOKO SAKURA STADIUM, and came after C-Osaka had an incredible five goals ruled out for offside and also saw Rafael Ratao’s penalty saved by Kashima goalkeeper Tomoki Hayakawa just seconds before Ryosuke Shindo’s winner.
Fagiano Okayama were celebrating on Saturday as well, emerging as 1-0 victors in the Chugoku Derby against Sanfrecce Hiroshima thanks to Ryunosuke Sato’s 58th-minute strike.
That triumph continued Okayama’s sensational start to their debut season in the top flight, and a sixth clean sheet of the campaign helped lift Takashi Kiyama’s side into fifth place on 17 points.
Elsewhere, Gamba Osaka won for the first time in five games - Issam Jebali opening the scoring with a slick finish in the 63rd minute and Ryoya Yamashita tapping in 13 minutes later to secure a 2-0 victory against Nagoya Grampus - and Vissel Kobe claimed all three points on the road at Tokyo Verdy thanks to a solitary goal from Koya Yuruki.
Saturday’s other game saw the points shared in a 1-1 between Shimizu S-Pulse and Kawasaki Frontale. Koya Kitagawa put Shimizu ahead with a penalty in the 62nd minute, but Kawasaki-F struck back just six minutes later when Yuki Yamamoto side-footed home from inside the area.
Avispa Fukuoka vs. ️ Yokohama F・Marinos - Game Highlights | 2025 J1 LEAGUE HIGHLIGHTS | MW 10
Kyoto Sanga F.C. vs. Shonan Bellmare - Game Highlights | 2025 J1 LEAGUE HIGHLIGHTS | MW 10
Cerezo Osaka vs. Kashima Antlers - Game Highlights | 2025 J1 LEAGUE HIGHLIGHTS | MW 10
Sanfrecce Hiroshima vs. Fagiano Okayama - Game Highlights | 2025 J1 LEAGUE HIGHLIGHTS | MW 10
Gamba Osaka vs. Nagoya Grampus - Game Highlights | 2025 J1 LEAGUE HIGHLIGHTS | MW 10
Tokyo Verdy vs. Vissel Kobe - Game Highlights | 2025 J1 LEAGUE HIGHLIGHTS | MW 10
Shimizu S-Pulse vs. Kawasaki Frontale - Game Highlights | 2025 J1 LEAGUE HIGHLIGHTS | MW 10
