J1 League Regular Season - 8
Kashima 2 - 1 FT JEF United Chiba
Match Statistics
Possession
Shots
Shots on Target
Expected Goals (xG)
Passes
Pass Accuracy
Corners
Fouls
Yellow Cards
Red Cards
Match Events
4' Elber (R. Araki)
35' Ikuma Sekigawa
HT
↓ Eduardo ↑T. Yasui 56'
Yusuke Kobayashi 64'
65' ↓ Y. Higuchi ↑G. Shibasaki
65' ↓ R. Araki ↑K. Tagawa
66' ↓ Elber ↑H. Hayashu
Z. Issaka 70'
79' ↓ K. Misao ↑K. Chinen
79' ↓ Leo Ceara ↑Y. Matsumura
↓ T. Tsukui ↑M. Himeno 79'
↓ H. Goya ↑T. Matsumura 79'
84' N. Ueda (K. Chinen)
↓ Z. Issaka ↑Y. Igari 87'
↓ Y. Kobayashi ↑T. Amagasa 88'
FT
Player Cards
Our take on every player in this match
Kashima
Goalkeepers
T. Hayakawa 
MAGNET
56
Activity
56
Activity
56
Passes
0
Duels
Defenders
K. Nono 
ARCHITECT
2
Key Passes
2
Key Passes
0
Assists
55%
Pass Acc
N. Ueda 
CLOSER
1
Late Goals
1
Late Goals
0
Late Assists
75
Minute
I. Sekigawa
MAGNET
106
Activity
106
Activity
102
Passes
4
Duels
R. Ogawa 
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Midfielders
R. Araki 
PROVIDER
1
Assists
1
Assists
2
Key Passes
6.3
Rating
Y. Higuchi
ARCHITECT
3
Key Passes
3
Key Passes
0
Assists
38%
Pass Acc
K. Misao
MAGNET
68
Activity
68
Activity
59
Passes
9
Duels
Elber 
SNIPER
100%
Conversion
100%
Conversion
1
Goals
1
Shots
BENCH
Y. Kajikawa 
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
K. Anzai
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Kim Tae-Hyeon
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
G. Shibasaki
ARCHITECT
4
Key Passes
4
Key Passes
0
Assists
28%
Pass Acc
K. Chinen 
SUPER SUB
1
Assist
1
Assist
11
Minutes
6.9
Rating
Y. Matsumura
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
11
Total Mins
Started
Entry
H. Hayashu
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
25
Total Mins
Started
Entry
A. Cavric
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
K. Tagawa
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
25
Total Mins
Started
Entry
JEF United Chiba
Goalkeepers
T. Wakahara
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Defenders
R. Kuboniwa
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
D. Suzuki
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
T. Kawano
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
T. Mae
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Midfielders
Z. Issaka
SNIPER
50%
Conversion
50%
Conversion
1
Goals
2
Shots
Y. Kobayashi 
NPC
88
Minutes
88
Minutes
29%
Pass Acc
6.9
Rating
Eduardo
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
56
Total Mins
56
Entry
T. Tsukui
ARCHITECT
4
Key Passes
4
Key Passes
0
Assists
17%
Pass Acc
Forwards
D. Ishikawa
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
H. Goya 
PROVOCATEUR
3
Fouls Won
3
Fouls Won
5
Duels Won
0
Pens Won
BENCH
R. Suzuki
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
K. Toriumi
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
S. Saito
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
T. Yasui
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
34
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Y. Igari
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
3
Total Mins
Started
Entry
T. Amagasa
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
2
Total Mins
Started
Entry
M. Himeno
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
11
Total Mins
Started
Entry
H. Ito
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
T. Matsumura
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
11
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Head to Head
| Date | Home | Score | Away | Competition | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 03/22/2026 | Kashima | 2 - 1 | JEF United Chiba | J1 League | Mercari Stadium |
| 12/23/2012 | JEF United Chiba | 0 - 1 | Kashima | Emperor Cup | Ajinomoto Stadium |
03/22/2026
12/23/2012
Kashima Win
JEF United Chiba Win
Draw
Match previews and recaps to help you decide which games are worth watching
Ueda's Late Strike Rescues Kashima in Mercari Stadium Thriller
Average Entertainment Futmetrix Score: 43/100. Kashima's relentless possession finally paid off as a late winner kept their title ambitions burning brightly against a resilient JEF United Chiba side.
Fast Start, Lingering Dominance
Kashima asserted their authority immediately, dominating the Intensity with a staggering 66% possession to put the visitors firmly on the back foot. The breakthrough arrived in the blink of an eye when Élber converted an excellent feed from R. Araki just four minutes into the clash. It looked like the floodgates would permanently open at Mercari Stadium. Kashima piled unrelenting pressure on their opponents, smothering the midfield and dictating the tempo with ease. They eventually racked up 10 corners, turning the pitch into a shooting gallery with a barrage of 18 shots. Yet, despite entirely dictating the early flow of the match, their inability to find a crucial second goal left the door slightly ajar for a sudden response.
Chiba Strikes Against the Run of Play
Despite surviving an absolute onslaught, JEF United Chiba showcased remarkable grit to stay alive in this contest. The Balance of the match shifted unexpectedly in the 70th minute when they punished the hosts' wastefulness. Entirely against the run of play, Z. Issaka found the back of the net with a clinical finish, silencing the home crowd and threatening a major upset. This sudden equalizer forced the home manager into an immediate rethink, altering the tactical landscape as the clock aggressively ticked down. The visitors defended valiantly, absorbing immense set-piece pressure while holding onto what looked like a precious point. It was a textbook smash-and-grab attempt that completely redefined the momentum and set the stage for a grandstand finish in front of an anxious home support.
The Super-Sub Intervention
With the stakes reaching fever pitch, the home side desperately needed a hero to preserve their vital momentum near the top of the table. Enter K. Chinen. Barely five minutes after stepping onto the pitch as a late substitute, he delivered a flawless 84th-minute assist to N. Ueda, who ruthlessly buried the decisive goal. This dramatic 2-1 victory solidifies the hosts in second place on 23 points, keeping their formidable five-game winning streak alive and their title hopes burning bright. Meanwhile, the spirited defensive performance goes entirely unrewarded for the visitors, who now slump to their fourth defeat in five games, leaving them firmly anchored in the mid-table quagmire with plenty of questions to answer ahead of their next fixture.
Key Questions
How did substitute Élber change the game?
Élber actually started the match, scoring the 4th-minute opener. The true super-sub was K. Chinen, who came on to provide the match-winning assist in the 84th minute.
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.
Kashima's Title Charge Meets Chiba's Survival Fight
Highly Entertaining Futmetrix Score: 69/100. This stark mismatch represents a golden opportunity for Kashima to cement their championship credentials against a floundering opponent.
The Setup
Arriving at Mercari Stadium on March 22, 2026, Kashima look virtually unstoppable on home turf. A flawless five-win streak in front of their own fans fuels a massive Form rating that signals pure danger for the visitors. Sitting second in the J1 League, the home side is pushing relentlessly in the title race. Meanwhile, JEF United Chiba languish down in tenth place, suffering from a dire run of three consecutive defeats. The high Stakes are glaringly obvious: the hosts desperately need maximum points to capture the championship, while the visitors are sliding down the standings and bleeding confidence every single week. Every point is critical at this stage of the regular season, and Kashima knows they cannot afford a slip-up.
Key Battle
A fascinating clash of responsibilities awaits as Yuma Suzuki leads the home attacking line against Chiba's standout goalkeeper Ryota Suzuki. The Kashima forward is hunting goals to keep the title dream alive, exploiting defensive gaps with ruthless efficiency. On the other end, the away shot-stopper arrives with an absurd volume of saves to his name. If the visiting keeper cannot anchor his defence under relentless pressure, Chiba will completely crumble before the halftime whistle.
Our Prediction
We expect a comprehensive home victory. The immense gap in the Balance of this fixture heavily favours the title-chasing hosts. Armed with a squad loaded with top-tier Stars, Kashima will pin Chiba deep in their own half, suffocating their midfield before breaking the deadlock early. Chiba's recent inability to halt losing momentum suggests they lack the tactical resilience to disrupt Kashima's possession game. Once the first goal goes in, the floodgates will open for a multi-goal margin.