J1 Matchweek 34 review: Yokohama FC were relegated back to J2 after one year, Hiroshima finished third and Osako tied with Anderson Lopes on top of score ranking

Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo 0-2 Urawa Reds

Scorers:
58’ Alexander Scholz / Urawa
72’ Shoya Nakajima / Urawa

With big cheers from the Sapporo Dome, Shinji Ono’s incredible career came to an end

• Ono started and played until the 22nd minute in his last match
• Okubo dribbled to induce handling and won a penalty, which Scholz scored to put Urawa ahead
• Kante won a long pass, and Nakajima picked it up, turned and shot to make it 2-0
• Urawa won, but failed to move up to third place and missed out on a place in the AFC Champions League next season

Kashima Antlers 2-1 Yokohama FC

Goals:
18’ Yuma Suzuki / Kashima
41’ Yuta Matsumura / Kashima
63’ Caprini / Yokohama FC

As no miracles happened, Yokohama FC relegated

• Kashima’s Sano picked up the ball and carried it powerfully to Morooka, whose shot was defended in by the goalkeeper, but Suzuki scores
• Matsumura met Morooka’s cross in the centre to give Kashima the lead
• Yokohama FC’s Caprini scored with a powerful left-footed mid-range shot
• Yokohama FC was relegated to J2 after just one year
• Kashima moved up to fifth place with a win

Shonan Bellmare 0-1 FC Tokyo

Scorers:
52’ Kei Koizumi / FC Tokyo

FC Tokyo’s season ended with a win after five games

• In the 52nd minute, Adailton received the ball up front and passes it, Koizumi dribbled in and scored from an angle
• FC Tokyo won the game and finished 11th

Albirex Niigata 1-0 Cerezo Osaka 

Scores: 
87’ Motoki Nagakura / Niigata

Niigata, in their first year back in J1, finished 10th

• In the 87th minute, Nagakura scored his first goal since joining the club on the way to the final
• Niigata had 13 shots, Cerezo had 2
• Niigata ended the season without losing in nine consecutive matches
• Cerezo lost their third consecutive game

Nagoya Grampus 1-1 Kashiwa Reysol 

Scorers:
71’ Matheus Savio / Kashiwa
90+5’ Kasper Junker / Nagoya

Kashiwa stayed up despite a draw

• Kick-off time was delayed due to an accident at the match venue
• Kashiwa took the lead in the 71st minute through Matheus Savio’s goal after a dribble
• 90+5 minutes, Junker scored a penalty after handling in the area, and Nagoya equalised
• Though Kashiwa has drawn in four consecutive matches, they remained in J1
• Nagoya dropped to sixth place after four winless streak

Kyoto Sanga FC 3-1 Yokohama F.Marinos 

Scores: 
24’ Anderson Lopes / Marinos
45＋4’ Yuta Toyokawa / Kyoto
54’ Taichi Hara / Kyoto
58’ Sota Kawasaki / Kyoto

A brilliant comeback win for Kyoto

• In the 24th minute, Anderson Lopes scored the first goal for Marinos after a pass from Yamane
• 45+4 minutes, Toyokawa of Kyoto scored the equaliser after a through ball from Kaneko
• In the 54th minute, Hara’s shot from a tight angle put Kyoto ahead
• In the 58th minute, Hara’s cross was met by Kawasaki to give Kyoto the lead
• Kyoto moved up to 13th place with two wins in a row
• Anderson Lopes of Marinos is the top scorer with 22 goals this season, along with Osako of Kobe

Gamba Osaka 0-1 Vissel Kobe 

Goals:
56’ Jean Patric / Kobe

Kobe won the final match to complete a perfect end to the season

• Jean Patric’s scored a winner in the 56th for Kobe
• Kobe increased to 71 points, seven points ahead of the second-placed Marinos
• Kobe’s Osako did not score a goal and tied with Marinos’ Anderson Lopes to share the top scorer title
• Gamba finished in 16th place after seven consecutive defeats

Avispa Fukuoka 0-1 Sanfrecce Hiroshima 

Goals: 
90＋6’ Hayato Araki / Hiroshima

Dramatic late goal kept Hiroshima in third place

• Hiroshima had 21 shots to Fukuoka’s 3
• After a goalless 90+6 minutes, Araki headed in a cross from substitute Marcos Junior to give Hiroshima a last-minute goal
• Hiroshima extended their points tally to 58 and remain third-place
• Despite the defeat, Fukuoka finished the season in 7th place, their highest-ever position

Sagan Tosu 0-1 Kawasaki Frontale 

Goals: 
87’ Own Goal / Kawasaki

A tight contest was settled by own goal

• In the 87th minute, Kawasaki had a corner that led to an own goal. This proved to be the decisive goal and Kawasaki won the game
• Kawasaki moved up to 8th place with two wins in a row
• Tosu dropped to 14th place after five matches without a win

【J1 Tables / Matchweek 34】
1  Vissel Kobe 71pt
2  Yokohama F. Marinos 64pt
3  Sanfrecce Hiroshima 58pt
4  Urawa Reds 57pt
5  Kashima Antlers 53pt
6  Nagoya Grampus 52pt
7  Avispa Fukuoka 51pt
8  Kawasaki Frontale 50pt
9  Cerezo Osaka 49pt
10 Albirex Niigata 45pt
11 FC Tokyo 43pt
12 Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo 40pt
13 Kyoto Sanga 40pt
14 Sagan Tosu 38pt
15 Shonan Bellmare 34pt
16 Gamba Osaka 34pt
17 Kashiwa Reysol 33pt
18 Yokohama FC 29pt