J1 League Gameweek 6
Kashima 1 - 0 FT Kawasaki Frontale
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Futmetrix Verdict
43
Coventry
vs
Newcastle
Mon, Oct 12 • 19:00 UTC
⚡ Form
47
⚖️ Balance
95
🏆 Stakes
0
⭐ Stars
72
Coventry's survival bid meets Newcastle's inconsistency.
Futmetrix Verdict
83
Al-Wasl FC
vs
Al-Ahli Jeddah
Mon, Oct 12 • 16:00 UTC
⚡ Form
31
⚖️ Balance
82
🏆 Stakes
0
⭐ Stars
66
Early AFC Champions League Elite test.
Futmetrix Verdict
45
Atalanta
vs
Venezia
Mon, Oct 12 • 16:30 UTC
⚡ Form
51
⚖️ Balance
60
🏆 Stakes
0
⭐ Stars
64
Desperate Venezia seek lifeline against Atalanta.
Match Statistics
Possession
Shots
Shots on Target
Expected Goals (xG)
Passes
Pass Accuracy
Corners
Fouls
Yellow Cards
Red Cards
Match Events
HT
↓ A. Ienaga ↑Marcinho 60'
66' ↓ A. Cavric ↑K. Tagawa
↓ R. Oshima ↑Y. Yamamoto 66'
66' ↓ R. Araki ↑H. Hayashu
74' ↓ Y. Higuchi ↑G. Shibasaki
79' Leo Ceara (Y. Suzuki)
↓ T. Ito ↑K. Konno 83'
↓ L. Romanic ↑Erison 83'
↓ K. Tachibanada ↑Y. Ozeki 83'
84' ↓ S. Mizoguchi ↑R. Ogawa
84' ↓ K. Misao ↑K. Chinen
90'+1 Kyosuke Tagawa
FT
Player Cards
Our take on every player in this match
Kashima
Goalkeepers
Tomoki Hayakawa 
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Defenders
Kimito Nono
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Naomichi Ueda
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Kim Tae-Hyeon 
MAGNET
90
Activity
90
Activity
85
Passes
5
Duels
Shuhei Mizoguchi
LATE SHIFT
6
Late Mins
6
Late Mins
84
Total Mins
84
Entry
Midfielders
Yuta Higuchi
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
74
Total Mins
74
Entry
Kento Misao
LATE SHIFT
6
Late Mins
6
Late Mins
84
Total Mins
84
Entry
Ryotaro Araki 
ENFORCER
4
Tackles
4
Tackles
5
Duels Won
71%
Win %
Yuma Suzuki 
ARCHITECT
3
Key Passes
3
Key Passes
1
Assists
32%
Pass Acc
Aleksandar Čavrić
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
66
Total Mins
66
Entry
Forwards
Léo Ceará 
CLOSER
1
Late Goals
1
Late Goals
0
Late Assists
75
Minute
BENCH
Yuji Kajikawa 
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Ryoya Ogawa
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
13
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Ikuma Sekigawa
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Gaku Shibasaki
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
16
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Kei Chinen
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
13
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Yuta Matsumura
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
H. Hayashu
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
24
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Kyosuke Tagawa
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
24
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Élber
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Kawasaki Frontale
Goalkeepers
Svend Brodersen
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Defenders
Reon Yamahara
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Hiroto Taniguchi
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Yuichi Maruyama 
WALL
0
Dribbled Past
0
Dribbled Past
3
Tackles
58%
Duel Win %
Sota Miura
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Midfielders
Kento Tachibanada 
PROVOCATEUR
3
Fouls Won
3
Fouls Won
3
Duels Won
0
Pens Won
Ryota Oshima
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
66
Total Mins
66
Entry
Akihiro Ienaga
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
60
Total Mins
60
Entry
Yasuto Wakizaka 
STORMTROOPER
2
Shots
2
Shots
0
Goals
1
On Target
Tatsuya Ito
STORMTROOPER
2
Shots
2
Shots
0
Goals
1
On Target
Forwards
Lazar Romanić
LATE SHIFT
7
Late Mins
7
Late Mins
83
Total Mins
83
Entry
BENCH
Yuki Hayasaka
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Filip Uremović
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Yuto Matsunagane
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Yuki Yamamoto
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
24
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Kazuya Konno
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
14
Total Mins
Started
Entry
So Kawahara
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Yuto Ozeki
PROVOCATEUR
3
Fouls Won
3
Fouls Won
3
Duels Won
0
Pens Won
Erison
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
14
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Marcinho
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
30
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Head to Head
| Date | Home | Score | Away | Competition | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 04/12/2026 | Kawasaki Frontale | 0 - 2 | Kashima | J1 League | Kawasaki Todoroki Stadium |
| 03/14/2026 | Kashima | 1 - 0 | Kawasaki Frontale | J1 League | Mercari Stadium |
| 07/05/2025 | Kawasaki Frontale | 2 - 1 | Kashima | J1 League | Kawasaki Todoroki Stadium |
| 05/11/2025 | Kashima | 2 - 1 | Kawasaki Frontale | J1 League | New National Stadium |
| 11/01/2024 | Kawasaki Frontale | 1 - 3 | Kashima | J1 League | Uvance Todoroki Stadium by Fujitsu |
| 03/17/2024 | Kashima | 2 - 1 | Kawasaki Frontale | J1 League | Kashima Soccer Stadium |
| 11/24/2023 | Kawasaki Frontale | 3 - 0 | Kashima | J1 League | Kawasaki Todoroki Stadium |
| 02/25/2023 | Kashima | 1 - 2 | Kawasaki Frontale | J1 League | Kashima Soccer Stadium |
| 08/27/2022 | Kawasaki Frontale | 2 - 1 | Kashima | J1 League | Kawasaki Todoroki Stadium |
| 02/26/2022 | Kashima | 0 - 2 | Kawasaki Frontale | J1 League | Kashima Soccer Stadium |
04/12/2026
03/14/2026
07/05/2025
05/11/2025
11/01/2024
03/17/2024
11/24/2023
02/25/2023
08/27/2022
02/26/2022
Kashima Win
Kawasaki Frontale Win
Draw
League Standings
P: 6 GD: +7
P: 6 GD: +7
P: 6 GD: +6
P: 6 GD: +6
P: 6 GD: +3
P: 6 GD: +3
P: 6 GD: +3
P: 6 GD: +4
P: 6 GD: 0
P: 6 GD: +4
P: 6 GD: +1
P: 6 GD: -1
P: 6 GD: +3
P: 6 GD: +2
P: 6 GD: +1
P: 6 GD: +1
P: 6 GD: 0
P: 6 GD: +1
P: 6 GD: +2
P: 6 GD: -4
P: 6 GD: 0
P: 6 GD: 0
P: 6 GD: -4
P: 6 GD: 0
P: 6 GD: -1
P: 6 GD: -4
P: 6 GD: 0
P: 6 GD: +1
P: 6 GD: -5
P: 6 GD: -10
P: 6 GD: +1
P: 6 GD: 0
P: 6 GD: 0
P: 6 GD: 0
P: 6 GD: 0
P: 6 GD: -4
P: 6 GD: -4
P: 6 GD: -4
P: 6 GD: -5
Match previews and recaps to help you decide which games are worth watching
Kashima
Kawasaki Frontale
Kashima
Kawasaki Frontale
Win Probability
Futmetrix AI estimate
Late Ceara Strike Keeps Kashima in the Title Hunt
Skip It Futmetrix Score: 16/100. A cagey affair built on stubborn defending was ultimately decided by a single moment of attacking clarity late in the second half.
The Stalemate
The Intensity was off the charts — a relentless tempo defined the opening exchanges at Mercari Stadium. Kashima edged possession with 52 percent of the ball, repeatedly attempting to pry open the visitors' stubborn defensive shape. A barrage of 29 combined shots throughout the match turned the pitch into a shooting gallery, yet clear-cut chances were frustratingly rare in the first half. Yuta Higuchi pulled the strings in midfield for the home side, constantly probing for weaknesses, but the backline of Kawasaki Frontale refused to buckle. The visitors absorbed pressure intelligently, with Yuichi Maruyama marshalling his defensive unit to frustrate the hosts. Despite the attacking intent shown by both teams, the final product was missing, leaving the match locked in a tactical deadlock heading into the interval.
The Breakthrough
With the Stakes rising for the title-chasing hosts, the pressure finally told in the 79th minute. After struggling to find a way past the resilient Kawasaki wall, a moment of brilliant execution changed the entire complexion of the afternoon. Y. Suzuki carved out the decisive opening, slipping a perfectly timed assist through the defensive lines. Leo Ceara made no mistake, latching onto the pass to rifle the ball into the back of the net. This sudden shift in Balance turned the tactical chess match upside down, forcing Kawasaki to abandon their cautious approach and commit bodies forward in search of a rapid response. The visitors suddenly found themselves chasing the game after executing their defensive game plan almost flawlessly for over an hour.
Defensive Resolve
With Kawasaki desperately pouring forward to salvage a point, Kashima demonstrated exactly why they are genuine contenders near the top of the J1 League table. Naomichi Ueda delivered an absolute masterclass at the back, winning crucial aerial duels and clearing his lines to ensure the Upset Factor remained completely out of the equation. The home side's defensive discipline restricted Kawasaki to just two shots on target across the entire 90 minutes. This hard-fought 1-0 victory keeps Kashima soaring in second place with 23 points, maintaining their momentum in the title race. For Kawasaki Frontale, the defeat is a bitter pill to swallow; their lack of cutting edge up front leaves them stranded in fourth place, nine points adrift of their triumphant hosts and wondering what might have been.
Key Questions
Who scored the winning goal in this match?
Leo Ceara scored the decisive goal in the 79th minute, beautifully assisted by Y. Suzuki.
Who was the standout defensive performer?
Naomichi Ueda delivered a masterclass for Kashima, earning top marks for a flawless defensive display that preserved the clean sheet.
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.
Archive note: this preview was written after the match was played.
High-Stakes Showdown: Kashima's Fortress Meets Kawasaki's Firepower
Must-Watch Futmetrix Score: 94/100. This is a critical top-four clash where dropping points could fatally damage either side's seasonal ambitions.
The Setup
Welcome to Mercari Stadium for this crunch match on March 14. The Stakes are sky-high. Second-placed Kashima have turned their home turf into an absolute fortress with a flawless win record. Their imposing Form gives them a clear edge, but fourth-placed Kawasaki Frontale arrive desperate to close the gap. A tight Balance metric suggests a fiercely contested midfield battle. With heavy-hitting Stars taking the pitch, expect an intense tactical war between Kashima's disciplined shape and Kawasaki's attacking flair.
Key Battle
Keep your eyes firmly fixed on the physical duel between Kashima defensive anchor Naomichi Ueda and Kawasaki Frontale hitman Erison. The Brazilian striker is tearing up defenses right now, but he faces a brick wall in the home backline. Whichever man wins this direct confrontation will likely dictate the flow of the entire match.
Our Verdict
We expect Kashima to edge a thrilling contest 2-1. Kawasaki will undoubtedly create chances, but the heroics of goalkeeper Tomoki Hayakawa will ultimately keep the visitors at bay. Kashima's perfect home record and defensive resilience should see them grind out all three points in front of their own fans.