J1 League Gameweek 18
Kashima 1 - 0 FT FC Tokyo
Match Statistics
Possession
Shots
Shots on Target
Passes
Pass Accuracy
Corners
Fouls
Yellow Cards
Red Cards
Match Events
S. Muroya 39'
HT
62' ↓ Leo Ceara ↑S. Morooka
62' ↓ A. Cavric ↑H. Hayashu
↓ K. Hashimoto ↑T. Ko 66'
74' ↓ G. Shibasaki ↑K. Chinen
74' ↓ R. Araki ↑R. Koike
↓ R. Sato ↑F. Yamada 76'
↓ K. Endo ↑K. Tawaratsumida 76'
79' S. Morooka (K. Chinen)
↓ Marcelo Ryan ↑T. Nakagawa 84'
↓ K. Sato ↑L. Nozawa 84'
87' ↓ K. Anzai ↑K. Tsukui
89' Y. Suzuki
FT
Player Cards
Our take on every player in this match
Kashima
Goalkeepers
Yuji Kajikawa 
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
94
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Defenders
Kimito Nono 
ARCHITECT
2
Key Passes
2
Key Passes
0
Assists
31%
Pass Acc
Naomichi Ueda
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
94
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Ikuma Sekigawa 
PROVOCATEUR
3
Fouls Won
3
Fouls Won
6
Duels Won
0
Pens Won
Koki Anzai 
NPC
87
Minutes
87
Minutes
32%
Pass Acc
6.9
Rating
Midfielders
Gaku Shibasaki 
STORMTROOPER
2
Shots
2
Shots
0
Goals
0
On Target
Kento Misao 
MAGNET
61
Activity
61
Activity
51
Passes
10
Duels
Yuma Suzuki
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
94
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Ryotaro Araki
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
74
Total Mins
74
Entry
Aleksandar Čavrić
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
62
Total Mins
62
Entry
Forwards
Léo Ceará
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
62
Total Mins
62
Entry
BENCH
Taiki Yamada 
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Keisuke Tsukui
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
7
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Ryoya Ogawa
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Ryuta Koike
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
20
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Haruki Hayashi
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
32
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Yuta Higuchi
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Yuta Matsumura
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Kei Chinen 
SUPER SUB
1
Assist
1
Assist
20
Minutes
7
Rating
Shu Morooka 
CLOSER
1
Late Goals
1
Late Goals
0
Late Assists
75
Minute
FC Tokyo
Goalkeepers
Hayate Tanaka
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
94
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Defenders
Sei Muroya
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
94
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Alexander Scholz 
WALL
0
Dribbled Past
0
Dribbled Past
3
Tackles
100%
Duel Win %
Hayato Inamura
MAGNET
82
Activity
82
Activity
75
Passes
7
Duels
Kento Hashimoto
ARCHITECT
4
Key Passes
4
Key Passes
0
Assists
28%
Pass Acc
Midfielders
Kein Sato
STORMTROOPER
3
Shots
3
Shots
0
Goals
1
On Target
Kento Hashimoto
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
66
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Kyota Tokiwa
MAGNET
69
Activity
69
Activity
59
Passes
10
Duels
Keita Endo
PROVOCATEUR
3
Fouls Won
3
Fouls Won
4
Duels Won
0
Pens Won
Forwards
Marcelo Ryan
LATE SHIFT
6
Late Mins
6
Late Mins
84
Total Mins
84
Entry
Ryunosuke Sato
LATE SHIFT
14
Late Mins
14
Late Mins
76
Total Mins
76
Entry
BENCH
Masataka Kobayashi
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Masato Morishige
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Rio Omori
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Kota Tawaratsumida
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
18
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Fuki Yamada
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
18
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Takahiro Ko
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
28
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Kei Koizumi
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Leon Nozawa
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
10
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Teruhito Nakagawa
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
10
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Head to Head
| Date | Home | Score | Away | Competition | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 02/07/2026 | FC Tokyo | 1 - 1 (PEN 5-4) | Kashima | J1 League | Ajinomoto Stadium |
| 08/10/2025 | FC Tokyo | 0 - 1 | Kashima | J1 League | Ajinomoto Stadium |
| 03/01/2025 | Kashima | 2 - 0 | FC Tokyo | J1 League | Mercari Stadium |
| 07/20/2024 | Kashima | 2 - 1 | FC Tokyo | J1 League | Kashima Soccer Stadium |
| 04/07/2024 | FC Tokyo | 2 - 0 | Kashima | J1 League | Japan National Stadium |
| 07/16/2023 | FC Tokyo | 1 - 3 | Kashima | J1 League | Ajinomoto Stadium |
| 05/20/2023 | Kashima | 1 - 1 | FC Tokyo | J1 League | Kashima Soccer Stadium |
| 10/01/2022 | Kashima | 0 - 1 | FC Tokyo | J1 League | Kashima Soccer Stadium |
| 05/29/2022 | FC Tokyo | 3 - 1 | Kashima | J1 League | Ajinomoto Stadium |
| 10/23/2021 | FC Tokyo | 1 - 2 | Kashima | J1 League | Ajinomoto Stadium |
Kashima Win
FC Tokyo Win
Draw
League Standings
P: 20 GD: +17
P: 18 GD: +20
P: 18 GD: +6
P: 20 GD: +9
P: 18 GD: +12
P: 18 GD: +3
P: 20 GD: +10
P: 18 GD: +4
P: 18 GD: +8
P: 19 GD: +4
P: 18 GD: +7
P: 18 GD: +7
P: 19 GD: +9
P: 18 GD: -4
P: 18 GD: -1
P: 20 GD: +9
P: 18 GD: -6
P: 18 GD: +4
P: 19 GD: +3
P: 18 GD: -1
P: 18 GD: -2
P: 19 GD: +7
P: 18 GD: -3
P: 18 GD: -7
P: 20 GD: -6
P: 18 GD: -16
P: 18 GD: -8
P: 19 GD: -6
P: 18 GD: -13
P: 18 GD: -10
P: 19 GD: -1
P: 19 GD: -5
P: 19 GD: +4
P: 19 GD: +1
P: 19 GD: -1
P: 19 GD: -2
P: 20 GD: -9
P: 19 GD: -11
P: 20 GD: -18
Match previews and recaps to help you decide which games are worth watching
Kashima Crowned Champions After Dramatic Title Decider
Average Entertainment Futmetrix Score: 40/100. A single moment of bench inspiration sealed the league title for Kashima in a high-stakes chess match against their closest rivals.
A Tense Title Clash
The title was on the line at Kashima Soccer Stadium, and the sky-high Stakes were evident from the opening exchanges. FC Tokyo arrived knowing only a win would keep their championship hopes alive. They played with immense desperation, unleashing a barrage of attempts in a match that saw a combined 24 shots. Despite the visitors pressing hard, the Balance of play remained deadlocked throughout the first half. Both sides edged possession evenly at 50 percent, trapped in a fascinating tactical stalemate. Alexander Scholz was an absolute rock for the visitors, expertly marshaling the defence and neutralising the hosts' starting attackers to keep the dream alive. It was a classic clash of nerves.
The Golden Substitutions
With the Intensity building and the coveted trophy gleaming in the distance, Kashima’s manager rolled the dice. In a masterstroke of tactical intervention, the introduction of fresh legs flipped the script entirely. Shu Morooka entered the fray in the 62nd minute, injecting immediate pace, followed shortly by K. Chinen. In the 79th minute, that exact duo combined to finally shatter Tokyo's stubborn resistance. Chinen provided the incisive setup, and Morooka clinically dispatched Kashima's only shot on target of the entire match. It was a brutal sucker punch that perfectly illustrated the ruthless nature of champions, punishing a Tokyo side that had dominated the shooting metrics but lacked the final killer touch.
Champions of Japan
The final whistle sparked absolute pandemonium in the stands. That decisive 1-0 victory extended Kashima's lead at the top of the table to an insurmountable 10 points, officially crowning them league champions on the final day. For the visitors from the capital, it was a bitterly frustrating pill to swallow after firing 17 shots but consistently failing to find a breakthrough against a resolute backline. Kashima weathered the tremendous storm and proved exactly why they are top of the pile, finishing a gruelling campaign with the ultimate prize. This monumental triumph cements their legacy this season, proving that defensive grit and clinical substitutions can win the most important silverware.
Key Questions
What does this mean for Kashima's season?
This historic victory secures the J1 League title for Kashima, extending their lead to 10 points and officially crowning them champions.
How did substitute Shu Morooka change the game?
Brought on in the 62nd minute, Shu Morooka delivered the title-winning blow by converting K. Chinen's assist for the match's only goal.
What is the Futmetrix Score?
The Futmetrix Score is our 0-100 verdict on how entertaining a match is. We look at intensity, balance, stakes, and star quality to tell you if it's worth your time.
J1 League Title Race Reaches Boiling Point
Must-Watch Futmetrix Score: 97/100. This top-of-the-table collision will either blow the J1 League title race wide open or give the leaders an insurmountable cushion.
The Setup
When first meets second in late May, the tension is strictly non-negotiable. Kashima sit four points clear at the summit, establishing an intimidating home record with six wins from seven matches at Mercari Stadium. The hosts boast a menacing Form rating, having secured three victories in their last five outings to reinforce their championship credentials. However, FC Tokyo travel to the league leaders as genuine away specialists. The visitors have tasted victory in five of their seven road trips, bringing incredible Balance to a clash where the Stakes are absolutely off the charts. A win for the chasing pack reduces the deficit to a single point, instantly igniting a fierce battle for the crown heading into the summer months.
Key Battle
The defining duel of the match pits Kashima's lethal attacking focal point Léo Ceará against the midfield engine room of FC Tokyo, marshalled by Ryunosuke Sato. Ceará's towering Stars presence in the final third means Sato must disrupt the supply lines early and often. If the visitors cannot anchor the midfield effectively and cut off those passing lanes, the home side will ruthlessly exploit the resulting gaps to put the game to bed.
The Expected Script
Expect a tense, tactical chess match that gradually opens up into a heavy-hitting brawl. FC Tokyo's away resilience will frustrate the leaders initially, forcing the play out wide. Yet, Kashima's overwhelming attacking momentum and sheer firepower in front of their own fans should eventually breach the visitors' backline. Our verdict points to a hard-fought 2-1 victory for the home side, extending their lead at the top and leaving the chasing pack trailing.