Kashima Antlers’ Yuma Suzuki (L) celebrates after scoring during the first half of a J-League first-division match against Urawa Reds at Saitama Stadium on Sept. 20, 2025. (Kyodo)
SAITAMA (Kyodo) — A clinical winner from Yuma Suzuki gave Kashima Antlers a 1-0 win at Urawa Reds on Saturday, moving them three points clear at the top of the J-League first division.
Kashima, who have gone unbeaten in seven games, moved up to 58 points while Kyoto Sanga, who were without the league’s top scorer Rafael Elias through suspension, lost 1-0 at home to Shimizu S-Pulse and dropped to second as their 10-game unbeaten run came to an end. Kashiwa Reysol are third on goal difference after they were held 1-1 at Cerezo Osaka.
At Saitama Stadium, Takuro Keneko’s third-minute free-kick was saved by Kashima keeper Tomoki Hayakawa at full stretch before Shusaku Nishikawa made a calamitous error in front of the Urawa goal as he played his first-time pass too short, allowing Suzuki to find the empty net from the edge of the box.
“We knew we’d have a chance going after their build-up play,” Suzuki said.
Ryoma Watanabe’s low shot from a tight angle was denied by Hayakawa and Matheus Savio bent his shot wide on the half-hour mark as Urawa piled on the pressure to no avail.
Urawa kept probing with Yusuke Matsuo curling one wide before their biggest chance arrived in the 82nd minute with a well-worked counter from deep inside their own half. But Takahiro Sekine had a one-on-one saved by Hayakawa’s foot and Hirokazu Ishihara’s follow-up was palmed away.
Despite the win, Suzuki was not happy with the Antlers’ performance.
“We had too many players scared to receive the ball as the magnitude of the match got bigger,” he said. “We won’t develop as a team if we don’t have players who want the ball on these stages. Saying it more harshly, we won’t win the league if we stay this way.”
Elsewhere, FC Tokyo won 1-0 at Kawasaki Frontale, Nagoya Grampus beat a struggling Shonan Bellmare 3-1 and Tokyo Verdy prevailed 4-2 against Fagiano Okayama as all three winners moved away from the relegation zone.
Yokohama F Marinos are just above the drop zone after their 2-0 win over Avispa Fukuoka, with local rivals Yokohama FC a point behind in 18th following a 1-0 win over bottom side Albirex Niigata.
AloJapan.com