J1 League Matchweek 20 Recap: Stalemates at the summit keep top four close

J1 League Matchweek 20 Recap: Stalemates at the summit keep top four close

It was a massive Matchweek 20 as the top four teams squared off, but there was no movement after both matches ended in draws. Let’s check in on that and the rest of the action from around the Meiji Yasuda J1 League:

Vissel Kobe 0, FC Machida Zelvia 0

Last year’s champions had the bulk of the chances, but they couldn’t find a way through as Zelvia held on for a precious point to remain four points clear of fourth-place Vissel.

Kashima Antlers 0, Gamba Osaka 0

Kashima were on the front foot throughout this tense matchup, but Gamba held firm, highlighted by Shinnosuke Nakatani’s phenomenal goal-line clearance. Both clubs remain two points back of Machida in first.

Sanfrecce Hiroshima 1, Albirex Niigata 1

Kaito Taniguchi opened the scoring to put Albirex on top, but Pieros Sotiriou scored for the fifth time in his last five matches to rescue a point in Hiroshima for Sanfrecce.

FC Tokyo 1, Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo 0

Soma Anzai got free at the back post and hammered home a shot on the full volley to earn FC Tokyo an important win in the capital.

Cerezo Osaka 1, Sagan Tosu 0

It took an own goal but the Sakura won a close match to secure full points at home against Sagan Tosu.

Avispa Fukuoka 2, Yokohama F·Marinos 1

Avispa scored on two headers — first from Iranian star Shahab Zahedi and then from Brazilian Wellington — to defeat the Tricolor and extend Fukuoka's unbeaten streak to five games.

Nagoya Grampus 0, Urawa Reds 1

The Reds won away as Ryoma Watanabe banged home an early goal before Grampus were reduced to ten men.

Júbilo Iwata 3, Tokyo Verdy 0

Júbilo had an early penalty saved by Verdy, but they put that behind them with a dominant second half to snap a three-match winless streak. Be sure to stay all the way to the end of the highlights to catch #NextGenJLEAGUE star Yosuke Furukawa's epic solo run for a goal.

Kyoto Sanga 2, Kashiwa Reysol 2

Kyoto leapt out in front twice in this one, but Kashiwa came back both times. First, Mao Hosoya brought Reysol level, then Matheus Sávio scored six minutes into stoppage time as the visitors earned a dramatic draw against Sanga.

Kawasaki Frontale 1, Shonan Bellmare 1

These two Kanagawa rivals battled to an entertaining draw. Shin Yamada did some terrific work to set up Marcinho for Frontale's opener before #NextGenJLEAGUE star Satoshi Tanaka hit an absolute belter to split the points in Kawasaki.

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