J1 League Gameweek 4
Kawasaki Frontale 2 - 2 PEN 4-2 Mito Hollyhock
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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
Takumi Mase 30'
C. Kato 45'
C. Kato (A. Watanabe) 45'
Chihiro Kato 45'+6
HT
↓ T. Mase ↑K. Tada 46'
61' ↓ L. Romanic ↑Erison
62' ↓ K. Konno ↑T. Ito
62' ↓ Marcinho ↑T. Miyagi
↓ C. Kato ↑Y. Yamashita 71'
75' ↓ Y. Yamamoto ↑K. Tachibanada
Yuto Yamashita 77'
↓ H. Yamamoto ↑Matheus Leiria 79'
84' Erison
90' Y. Wakizaka
90' ↓ Y. Ozeki ↑S. Kawahara
↓ A. Watanabe ↑Danilo Cardoso 90'
↓ T. Semba ↑K. Yamazaki 90'
FT
Player Cards
Our take on every player in this match
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 
MAGNET
103
Activity
103
Activity
98
Passes
5
Duels
Asahi Sasaki 
ARCHITECT
2
Key Passes
2
Key Passes
0
Assists
86%
Pass Acc
Sota Miura
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Midfielders
Yuto Ozeki
MAGNET
83
Activity
83
Activity
74
Passes
9
Duels
Yuki Yamamoto
MAGNET
67
Activity
67
Activity
60
Passes
7
Duels
Kazuya Konno
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
62
Total Mins
62
Entry
Yasuto Wakizaka 
CLUTCH HERO
90
Goal Time
90
Goal Time
Goal
Impact
7.9
Rating
Marcinho
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
62
Total Mins
62
Entry
Forwards
Lazar Romanić
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
61
Total Mins
61
Entry
BENCH
Louis Yamaguchi 
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
Akihiro Ienaga
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
So Kawahara
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
1
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Kento Tachibanada
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
15
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Tatsuya Ito
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
28
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Erison 
CLOSER
1
Late Goals
1
Late Goals
0
Late Assists
75
Minute
Ten Miyagi
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
28
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Mito Hollyhock
Goalkeepers
Konosuke Nishikawa
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Defenders
Takahiro Iida
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Kenta Itakura 
STORMTROOPER
2
Shots
2
Shots
0
Goals
1
On Target
M. Fofana 
SHIELD
3
Blocks
3
Blocks
1
Interceptions
0
Tackles
Sho Omori
ARCHITECT
2
Key Passes
2
Key Passes
0
Assists
21%
Pass Acc
Midfielders
Takumi Mase
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
45
Total Mins
46
Entry
Koshi Osaki
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Taishi Semba 
SWEEPER
7
Cleanups
7
Cleanups
7
Interceptions
0
Blocks
Hayata Yamamoto
LATE SHIFT
11
Late Mins
11
Late Mins
79
Total Mins
79
Entry
Forwards
Chihiro Kato 
HITMAN
2
Goals
2
Goals
2
On Target
8.3
Rating
Arata Watanabe 
PROVIDER
1
Assists
1
Assists
1
Key Passes
6.2
Rating
BENCH
Shuhei Matsubara
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Danilo Cardoso
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
1
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Mizuki Arai
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Y. Yamashita 
FRIENDLY FIRE
Pen Given
Mistake
Pen Given
Mistake
2
Fouls
6.2
Rating
Y. Nagao
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Kiichi Yamazaki
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
1
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Matheus Leiria
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
11
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Keisuke Tada
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
45
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Head to Head
| Date | Home | Score | Away | Competition | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 05/24/2026 | Mito Hollyhock | 1 - 3 | Kawasaki Frontale | J1 League | Best Denki Stadium |
| 03/01/2026 | Kawasaki Frontale | 2 - 2 (PEN 4-2) | Mito Hollyhock | J1 League | Kawasaki Todoroki Stadium |
| 07/12/2023 | Kawasaki Frontale | 2 - 1 | Mito Hollyhock | Emperor Cup | K’s Denki Stadium |
| 07/11/2018 | Kawasaki Frontale | 2 - 2 (PEN 4-2) | Mito Hollyhock | Emperor Cup | K's denki Stadium Mito |
05/24/2026
03/01/2026
07/12/2023
07/11/2018
Kawasaki Frontale Win
Mito Hollyhock Win
Draw
League Standings
P: 4 GD: +4
P: 4 GD: +4
P: 4 GD: +3
P: 4 GD: +3
P: 4 GD: +2
P: 4 GD: +2
P: 4 GD: +2
P: 4 GD: +3
P: 4 GD: +2
P: 4 GD: +3
P: 4 GD: +2
P: 4 GD: +1
P: 4 GD: +2
P: 4 GD: +1
P: 4 GD: -1
P: 4 GD: +2
P: 4 GD: -1
P: 4 GD: 0
P: 4 GD: +2
P: 4 GD: -2
P: 4 GD: -1
P: 4 GD: +1
P: 4 GD: -3
P: 4 GD: 0
P: 4 GD: -1
P: 4 GD: -3
P: 4 GD: -1
P: 4 GD: +1
P: 4 GD: -3
P: 4 GD: -5
P: 4 GD: 0
P: 4 GD: -1
P: 4 GD: -1
P: 4 GD: 0
P: 4 GD: -1
P: 4 GD: -2
P: 4 GD: -3
P: 4 GD: -3
P: 4 GD: -3
Match previews and recaps to help you decide which games are worth watching
Kawasaki Frontale
Mito Hollyhock
Kawasaki Frontale
Mito Hollyhock
Win Probability
Futmetrix AI estimate
From Two Down to Shootout Glory: Kawasaki's Great Escape
Must-Watch Futmetrix Score: 85/100. A breathtaking late comeback and nerve-wracking penalty shootout victory proved Kawasaki Frontale's sheer resilience after staring down a two-goal deficit at Ajinomoto Stadium.
Mito's Shocking Double
Mito Hollyhock stunned the home crowd with an electrifying end to the first half. A blistering sequence saw Chihiro Kato grab a spectacular brace right on the stroke of half-time, aided by a precise assist from A. Watanabe. With VAR confirming the legitimacy of the chaos, the visitors established a commanding 2-0 lead. The Upset Factor was soaring as Mito completely disrupted the hosts' rhythm, finding clinical edges on the counterattack despite only holding 36% of the ball.
The Penalty Catalyst
Staring down a brutal home defeat, Kawasaki Frontale threw everything forward, resulting in a staggering 64% possession that dominated the second half. The Intensity rating peaked as 25 total shots rained down across the pitch. The turning point arrived from the bench when Erison stepped up in the 84th minute to bury a crucial penalty. That spot-kick shattered Mito's defensive wall of confidence and infused the Ajinomoto Stadium crowd with a belief that the game was far from over.
Shootout Drama
Just as time expired, Y. Wakizaka delivered a crushing 90th-minute equalizer, resetting the Balance and sending the match straight to a penalty shootout. In the ultimate test of nerves, Kawasaki triumphed 4-2 from the spot. The commanding presence of goalkeeper Svend Brodersen, who made four vital saves during regular time, laid the psychological groundwork for the shootout victory, securing crucial league points for the resurgent hosts.
Key Questions
Did Kawasaki Frontale deserve the late equalizer?
Yes. By dominating possession and attempting 15 total shots, Kawasaki's relentless late pressure made the equalizer feel entirely inevitable.
How did Kawasaki Frontale complete the comeback from behind?
Erison's 84th-minute penalty sparked the resurgence, followed by Wakizaka's dramatic 90th-minute equalizer, culminating in a composed 4-2 shootout victory.
How did substitute Chihiro Kato change the game?
He delivered a devastating first-half brace just before the break, asserting complete scoreboard control for Mito and forcing Kawasaki to chase the game.
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.
Top Four Ambitions on the Line in Tokyo
Worth Watching Futmetrix Score: 56/100. Separated by just two points, this top-four showdown represents a massive early-season test for both sides' continental aspirations.
The Setup
March 01, 2026 brings us a mouth-watering fixture at Ajinomoto Stadium. Kawasaki Frontale currently sit in 4th place with 14 points, while Mito Hollyhock are breathing down their necks in 6th with 12 points. A Stakes rating hinting at continental qualification means the pressure is firmly on. However, both teams come into this clash with glaring defensive fragilities, practically guaranteeing goals. A patchy Form rating for both sides suggests inconsistency, but a modest Balance score points toward Frontale having the upper hand. The hosts boast an off-the-charts Stars metric, armed with genuine match-winners capable of turning this crucial tie on its head.
Key Battle
Expect a relentless tactical battle between Kawasaki Frontale's attacking machinery and Mito Hollyhock's deeply vulnerable backline. The visitors have conceded heavily on their travels, and they face the daunting task of containing an offense orchestrated by Yasuto Wakizaka. With F. Uremović anchoring the home defense, Mito will have to rely on clinical counter-attacks to bypass a superior Frontale unit.
Our Prediction
Kawasaki Frontale to edge a chaotic, high-scoring affair. Both backlines are too leaky for a clean sheet, but the hosts possess the attacking firepower needed to outgun their opponents.