J1 League Gameweek 4
Kyoto Sanga 2 - 1 FT Avispa Fukuoka
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Futmetrix Verdict
93
Plzen
vs
Union St. Gilloise
Thu, Sep 17 • 19:00 UTC
⚡ Form
4
⚖️ Balance
100
🏆 Stakes
100
⭐ Stars
45
A gritty start to European nights.
Futmetrix Verdict
56
OFI
vs
1899 Hoffenheim
Thu, Sep 17 • 16:45 UTC
⚡ Form
7
⚖️ Balance
54
🏆 Stakes
100
⭐ Stars
45
Hoffenheim huge favorites in Crete trip.
Futmetrix Verdict
59
Real Betis
vs
Getafe
Thu, Sep 17 • 17:00 UTC
⚡ Form
43
⚖️ Balance
67
🏆 Stakes
33
⭐ Stars
70
Getafe's survival instincts face Betis test.
Match Statistics
Possession
Shots
Shots on Target
Passes
Corners
Fouls
Yellow Cards
Red Cards
Match Events
Kokoro Maeda 10'
Kazuki Fujimoto 30'
↓ Kazuki Fujimoto ↑Yota Maejima 45'
HT
↓ Masato Shigemi ↑Shosei Usui 57'
62' ↓ Everton Maceió ↑Temma Matsuda
62' ↓ Ryuma Nakano ↑Shun Nagasawa
63' Haruki Arai (Rafael Papagaio)
67' Sung-jun Yoon
↓ Werik Popo ↑Shintaro Nago 68'
↓ Kokoro Maeda ↑Keiya Shiihashi 68'
Yu Hashimoto 75'
↓ Shu Morooka ↑Abdul Hanan Sani Brown 81'
Hedhe Halls 86'
89' ↓ João Pedro ↑Shimpei Fukuoka
89' ↓ Weverton Silva de Andrade ↑Kodai Nagata
90'+6 ↓ Haruki Arai ↑Fuchi Honda
FT
Player Cards
Our take on every player in this match
Kyoto Sanga
Goalkeepers
Halls 
CLUTCH HERO
86
Goal Time
86
Goal Time
Own Goal
Impact
7.5
Rating
Defenders
Shinnosuke Fukuda 
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Weverton
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Yoshinori Suzuki
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Kyo Sato 
WALL
0
Dribbled Past
0
Dribbled Past
4
Tackles
64%
Duel Win %
Midfielders
João Pedro 
NPC
89
Minutes
89
Minutes
38%
Pass Acc
6.4
Rating
Yoon Sung-Jun 
SWEEPER
3
Cleanups
3
Cleanups
3
Interceptions
0
Blocks
Haruki Arai 
SNIPER
50%
Conversion
50%
Conversion
1
Goals
2
Shots
Everton
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
62
Total Mins
62
Entry
Ryuma Nakano
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
62
Total Mins
62
Entry
Forwards
Rafael Elias 
FINISHER
1
Goals
1
Goals
4
Shots
8.6
Rating
BENCH
Gakuji Ota 
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Hisashi Appiah Tawiah
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Yusuke Ishida
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Kodai Nagata
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
1
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Ryosuke Yamanaka
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Shimpei Fukuoka
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
1
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Fuchi Honda
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
1
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Temma Matsuda
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
28
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Shun Nagasawa
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
28
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Avispa Fukuoka
Goalkeepers
Takumi Nagaishi
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Defenders
Daiki Fukazawa
WALL
0
Dribbled Past
0
Dribbled Past
2
Tackles
75%
Duel Win %
Teppei Oka
WALL
0
Dribbled Past
0
Dribbled Past
2
Tackles
71%
Duel Win %
Yuma Tsujioka
WALL
0
Dribbled Past
0
Dribbled Past
2
Tackles
69%
Duel Win %
Midfielders
Yu Hashimoto 
STORMTROOPER
2
Shots
2
Shots
0
Goals
1
On Target
K. Maeda
SWEEPER
3
Cleanups
3
Cleanups
2
Interceptions
1
Blocks
Tomoya Miki 
MAGNET
68
Activity
68
Activity
57
Passes
11
Duels
Kazuki Fujimoto
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
45
Total Mins
45
Entry
Shu Morooka
STORMTROOPER
2
Shots
2
Shots
0
Goals
1
On Target
Masato Shigemi
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
57
Total Mins
57
Entry
Forwards
Werik Popó
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
68
Total Mins
68
Entry
BENCH
Kazuki Fujita
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Yota Maejima 
ARCHITECT
3
Key Passes
3
Key Passes
0
Assists
20%
Pass Acc
Masaya Tashiro
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Shintaro Nago
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
22
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Kohei Okuno
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Keiya Shiihashi
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
22
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Shohei Takemoto
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Shosei Usui
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
33
Total Mins
Started
Entry
A. Sani Brown
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
9
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Head to Head
| Date | Home | Score | Away | Competition | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 05/06/2026 | Avispa Fukuoka | 1 - 1 (PEN 5-4) | Kyoto Sanga | J1 League | Best Denki Stadium |
| 02/22/2026 | Kyoto Sanga | 2 - 0 | Avispa Fukuoka | J1 League | Sanga Stadium by Kyocera |
| 07/21/2025 | Avispa Fukuoka | 2 - 2 | Kyoto Sanga | J1 League | Best Denki Stadium |
| 03/09/2025 | Kyoto Sanga | 0 - 1 | Avispa Fukuoka | J1 League | Sanga Stadium by Kyocera |
| 07/07/2024 | Avispa Fukuoka | 1 - 2 | Kyoto Sanga | J1 League | Best Denki Stadium |
| 05/11/2024 | Kyoto Sanga | 2 - 3 | Avispa Fukuoka | J1 League | Sanga Stadium by Kyocera |
| 08/26/2023 | Kyoto Sanga | 2 - 0 | Avispa Fukuoka | J1 League | Sanga Stadium by Kyocera |
| 04/09/2023 | Avispa Fukuoka | 2 - 1 | Kyoto Sanga | J1 League | Best Denki Stadium |
| 07/10/2022 | Avispa Fukuoka | 1 - 0 | Kyoto Sanga | J1 League | Best Denki Stadium |
| 04/29/2022 | Kyoto Sanga | 0 - 1 | Avispa Fukuoka | J1 League | Sanga Stadium by Kyocera |
05/06/2026
02/22/2026
07/21/2025
03/09/2025
07/07/2024
05/11/2024
08/26/2023
04/09/2023
07/10/2022
04/29/2022
Kyoto Sanga Win
Avispa Fukuoka Win
Draw
League Standings
P: 3 GD: +10
P: 3 GD: +5
P: 3 GD: +3
P: 4 GD: +6
P: 3 GD: +1
P: 3 GD: -1
P: 4 GD: -1
P: 3 GD: +1
P: 3 GD: 0
P: 3 GD: 0
P: 3 GD: -2
P: 3 GD: +1
P: 3 GD: 0
P: 3 GD: 0
P: 3 GD: -1
P: 3 GD: -2
P: 3 GD: -2
P: 3 GD: -3
P: 3 GD: -6
League Standings
P: 7 GD: +13
P: 7 GD: +6
P: 7 GD: +3
P: 7 GD: +13
P: 7 GD: +5
P: 7 GD: +4
P: 7 GD: +1
P: 7 GD: +2
P: 6 GD: +1
P: 7 GD: -5
P: 7 GD: +2
P: 6 GD: -3
P: 7 GD: -3
P: 7 GD: -5
P: 7 GD: -5
P: 7 GD: -6
P: 7 GD: -5
P: 7 GD: -2
P: 6 GD: -6
Match previews and recaps to help you decide which games are worth watching
Kyoto Sanga
Avispa Fukuoka
Kyoto Sanga
Avispa Fukuoka
Win Probability
Futmetrix AI estimate
A Clinical Smash-and-Grab Gives Sanga Lifeline
Skip It Futmetrix Score: 36/100. Despite facing an absolute barrage of shots, Kyoto Sanga dug deep to secure a vital early-season victory built on ruthless efficiency.
The Early Blueprint
The pressure was palpable for a home side battling in the early-season relegation zone. Desperate for a spark, Kyoto Sanga found it almost immediately. In just the eighth minute, Rafael Papagaio set the tone with a razor-sharp opening goal, exploding the tension inside Sanga Stadium by Kyocera. But the early lead quickly forced the hosts into a defensive shell. Avispa Fukuoka responded by controlling possession (57%) and pinning Kyoto back in their own half. Despite Fukuoka’s relentless ball circulation, the home side absorbed the pressure magnificently, keeping the visitors frustrated as the first half unfolded. The Stakes were visibly high, with every defensive clearance met by roaring approval from the stands. The defensive unit operated with supreme discipline, shutting down passing lanes to preserve their slender advantage.
Against the Run of Play
As the second half progressed, the match turned into a one-sided shooting gallery. Fukuoka ratcheted up their attacking efforts, ultimately unleashing a staggering 19 shots over the ninety minutes. It was here that goalkeeper heroics defined the narrative. The Kyoto shot-stopper produced eight incredible saves, denying everything Avispa threw on target. This defensive resilience completely shifted the Balance of the tie. Instead of buckling under the sheer volume of attacks, Kyoto struck with a devastating sucker punch. Against the run of play in the 63rd minute, Papagaio turned provider, slipping a brilliant pass to Haruki Arai. Arai made no mistake, doubling the advantage and leaving the visitors completely stunned. The clinical nature of this counter-attack perfectly highlighted the difference in final-third efficiency.
A Frantic Finale
A two-goal cushion felt monumental, but Fukuoka refused to surrender quietly. The Intensity spiked dramatically in the 86th minute when Avispa's Hedhe Halls bundled the ball into the net via a messy own-goal situation, instantly halving the deficit and setting up a frantic conclusion. Suddenly, a comfortable finish transformed into a nerve-shredding defensive stand. Wave after wave of late attacks bombarded the Kyoto penalty area, yet the home side clung to their lead with absolute desperation. When the final whistle blew, the 2-1 result felt like a monumental heist. This smash-and-grab victory provides a crucial lifeline for Kyoto near the bottom of the table, proving that tactical discipline and sheer grit can occasionally overcome immense territorial pressure. It is exactly the kind of battling performance that can ignite a difficult campaign.
Key Questions
What made Rafael Elias the Man of the Match?
He was ruthlessly effective, scoring the crucial eighth-minute opener and providing a pinpoint assist for Haruki Arai's second-half strike to secure the win.
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.
Early Season Grime Trumps Glamour
Skip It Futmetrix Score: 24/100. This early-season encounter at Sanga Stadium by Kyocera lacks the narrative fire to demand your weekend attention.
The Setup
We are only in the opening exchanges of the J1 League season, and neither Kyoto Sanga nor Avispa Fukuoka have found their rhythm. The home side sits in 15th, sporting a poor Form rating after a winless start. The visitors have fared slightly better to sit 8th, but a low Stakes rating means the pressure is off for now. This match boasts an incredibly high Balance rating, with bookmakers unable to split the two sides. Expect a cautious approach, as a low Stars rating indicates a lack of marquee match-winners to blow the game wide open, though players like Rafael Elias and T. Miki will try to spark some life into the fixture.
Key Battle
With both managers prioritizing shape over flair, the defining clash will be a gritty battle of the midfield units. Kyoto's engine room must find a way to pierce through Fukuoka's rigid central block, which has already proven highly effective at frustrating opponents and forcing lateral passes.
Our Prediction
A grinding 1-1 draw. Neither side will want to risk a defeat this early in the campaign, leading to a match played largely between the two penalty boxes with limited clear-cut chances.