J1 League Regular Season - 11
Kashima 1 - 0 FT Urawa
Match Statistics
Possession
Shots
Shots on Target
Passes
Pass Accuracy
Corners
Fouls
Yellow Cards
Red Cards
Match Events
HT
K. Shibato 62'
64' ↓ K. Tagawa ↑S. Morooka
64' ↓ Y. Matsumura ↑H. Hayashu
Matheus Savio 72'
↓ K. Yasui ↑H. Ueki 73'
↓ T. Kaneko ↑R. Hidano 73'
76' ↓ G. Shibasaki ↑K. Chinen
81' K. Nono
↓ R. Watanabe ↑T. Sekine 84'
↓ Matheus Savio ↑H. Abe 84'
87' ↓ K. Anzai ↑R. Ogawa
88' ↓ Leo Ceara ↑K. Tsukui
↓ A. Onaiwu ↑T. Teruuchi 90'
FT
Player Cards
Our take on every player in this match
Kashima
Goalkeepers
Tomoki Hayakawa 
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
95
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Defenders
Kimito Nono 
CLOSER
1
Late Goals
1
Late Goals
0
Late Assists
75
Minute
Naomichi Ueda 
MAGNET
88
Activity
88
Activity
83
Passes
5
Duels
Tae-hyeon Kim
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
95
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Koki Anzai 
PROVOCATEUR
2
Fouls Won
2
Fouls Won
6
Duels Won
0
Pens Won
Midfielders
Yuta Matsumura 
STORMTROOPER
2
Shots
2
Shots
0
Goals
1
On Target
Gaku Shibasaki
LATE SHIFT
14
Late Mins
14
Late Mins
76
Total Mins
76
Entry
Kento Misao
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
95
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Yuma Suzuki
PROVOCATEUR
5
Fouls Won
5
Fouls Won
8
Duels Won
0
Pens Won
Forwards
Léo Ceará
STORMTROOPER
3
Shots
3
Shots
0
Goals
1
On Target
Kyosuke Tagawa
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
64
Total Mins
64
Entry
BENCH
Yuji Kajikawa 
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
8
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Haruki Hayashi
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
31
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Kei Chinen
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
19
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Ryotaro Araki
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Yuta Higuchi
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Shu Morooka
PROVOCATEUR
3
Fouls Won
3
Fouls Won
5
Duels Won
0
Pens Won
Aleksandar Čavrić
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Urawa
Goalkeepers
Shusaku Nishikawa
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
95
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Defenders
Hirokazu Ishihara
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
95
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Yuta Miyamoto
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
95
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Kenta Nemoto
STORMTROOPER
1
Shots
1
Shots
0
Goals
0
On Target
Yoichi Naganuma
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
95
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Midfielders
Kaito Yasui
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
73
Total Mins
73
Entry
Kai Shibato
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
95
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Takuro Kaneko 
DRIBBLER
3
Dribbles
3
Dribbles
3
Attempts
100%
Success %
Ryoma Watanabe
STORMTROOPER
2
Shots
2
Shots
0
Goals
0
On Target
Matheus Sávio
LATE SHIFT
6
Late Mins
6
Late Mins
84
Total Mins
84
Entry
Forwards
Ado Onaiwu
STORMTROOPER
3
Shots
3
Shots
0
Goals
0
On Target
BENCH
Ayumi Niekawa
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Takuya Ogiwara
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Jumpei Hayakawa
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Takahiro Sekine
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
11
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Ueki Hayate
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
22
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Renji Hidano
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
22
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Isaac Thelin
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Hiroki Abe
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
11
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Toshikazu Teruuchi
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
5
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Head to Head
| Date | Home | Score | Away | Competition | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 02/28/2026 | Urawa | 2 - 3 | Kashima | J1 League | Saitama Stadium |
| 09/20/2025 | Urawa | 0 - 1 | Kashima | J1 League | Saitama Stadium |
| 03/16/2025 | Kashima | 1 - 1 | Urawa | J1 League | Mercari Stadium |
| 08/17/2024 | Kashima | 0 - 0 | Urawa | J1 League | Kashima Soccer Stadium |
| 06/22/2024 | Urawa | 2 - 2 | Kashima | J1 League | Saitama Stadium 2002 |
| 10/28/2023 | Kashima | 0 - 0 | Urawa | J1 League | Kashima Soccer Stadium |
Kashima Win
Urawa Win
Draw
League Standings
P: 11 GD: +14
P: 11 GD: +8
P: 11 GD: -1
P: 11 GD: -1
P: 11 GD: -3
P: 11 GD: +1
P: 11 GD: -4
P: 11 GD: -2
P: 11 GD: -6
League Standings
P: 18 GD: +20
P: 18 GD: +14
P: 18 GD: +6
P: 18 GD: -2
P: 18 GD: -4
P: 18 GD: +3
P: 18 GD: -3
P: 18 GD: -2
P: 18 GD: -16
Match previews and recaps to help you decide which games are worth watching
Late Nono Strike Settles Gritty Derby
Average Entertainment Futmetrix Score: 44/100. Kashima’s relentless pressure eventually broke Urawa’s stubborn resistance in a classic rivalry that cemented the hosts' status at the top of the table.
Early Attrition
The high Stakes of this classic rivalry were evident immediately upon kickoff at Kashima Soccer Stadium. Kashima stepped onto the pitch carrying the heavy expectations of undefeated league leaders, and they quickly controlled possession during the early exchanges. Methodically probing a deep, disciplined defensive block, they sought to stretch the play wide. While the hosts confidently enjoyed 58 percent of the ball, clear avenues to goal were firmly shut by an organized rearguard. Urawa, desperate to reverse their dismal recent form, opted for a highly physical, disruptive approach to halt the surging leaders. They focused on breaking up the rhythm, absorbing the pressure, and daring the home side to find a creative spark through increasingly tight central channels. The early phase established a tense, unforgiving atmosphere.
The Tactical Grind
As the first half transitioned into the second, the match's raw Intensity escalated into a fiercely contested midfield battle. Both sides traded robust challenges, combining for an astonishing 28 fouls that frequently fractured any attacking momentum. Kento Misao proved to be an outstanding presence in the center of the park, aggressively anchoring the hosts' structural shape while trying to manufacture vital openings. The home side mounted sustained set-piece pressure, accumulating seven of the game's eleven total corners, yet this aerial barrage initially yielded no tangible reward against a packed penalty area. The visitors were not entirely passive; they registered eleven shots of their own on the counter-attack. However, with only a solitary effort truly testing the target, their lack of clinical cutting edge highlighted the suffocating, defensive nature of this tight affair.
Late Breakthrough
The pivotal defining moment finally arrived in the 81st minute, ultimately shattering the robust Balance of an incredibly tight match. Surging forward with late determination, defender Kimito Nono found the critical breakthrough with a composed finish, sending the passionate home crowd into absolute raptures. That solitary, hard-fought goal proved enough to secure all three points in this grueling derby clash. The dramatic climax underscores exactly why the current table-toppers remain completely undefeated throughout this impressive campaign. They possessed the sheer willpower to grind out a victory when pure footballing fluidity failed them. Conversely, their bitter rivals are left to ponder another frustrating blank. Sinking deeper into a miserable run of form, the visitors must urgently find an offensive spark to pull themselves out of their rut.
Key Questions
What does this mean for Kashima's season?
This tight victory solidifies their position at the summit, extending their impressive unbeaten run and proving they can grind out results in high-pressure classic derbies.
Did the derby intensity affect the quality of play?
Absolutely. With 28 total fouls and a fierce midfield battle, clear-cut chances were scarce. It became a tactical war of attrition rather than a free-flowing contest.
What is the Classic Rivalry?
The Classic Rivalry is the rivalry between Kashima and Urawa, one of football's most historic and fiercely contested fixtures.
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.
A Derby With Title Implications
Highly Entertaining Futmetrix Score: 71/100. Kashima's title ambitions collide with Urawa's desperate need for stability in a rivalry clash where local pride could override league positions.
The Setup
April 18, 2026, brings high drama to Mercari Stadium. Off the back of four wins in their last five, Kashima have turned their home ground into an absolute fortress. Their imposing Form rating reflects a well-oiled machine currently sitting second in the table. Urawa, meanwhile, are languishing in eighth, having suffered four defeats before finally scraping a win. While the relatively low Balance rating points to a clear home favorite, the massive Stakes of a local derby mean form books can often be thrown out the window.
Key Battle
The clash between Yuma Suzuki’s aggressive forward play and Matheus Sávio’s midfield orchestration will dictate the tempo. If Kashima can starve Sávio of the ball, Urawa's attack will quickly blunt.
Our Prediction
Kashima should take this comfortably. Expect the hosts to leverage their home advantage early, overwhelming Urawa's fragile defense to secure a solid 2-0 victory.