J1 League Gameweek 17
Kyoto Sanga 0 - 4 FT Sanfrecce Hiroshima
Match Statistics
Possession
Shots
Shots on Target
Passes
Pass Accuracy
Corners
Fouls
Yellow Cards
Red Cards
Match Events
S. Nakamura (S. Higashi) 29'
HT
46' ↓ T. Matsuda ↑F. Honda
A. Suzuki (M. Kato) 49'
M. Kato (S. Higashi) 52'
52' ↓ R. Nakano ↑H. Arai
N. Arai 61'
64' ↓ Souza Alex ↑M. Okugawa
↓ M. Kato ↑R. Germain 65'
↓ N. Arai ↑T. Matsumoto 65'
66' Joao Pedro
T. Matsumoto (S. Nakamura) 75'
76' ↓ Henrique Trevisan ↑S. Asada
76' ↓ K. Sato ↑T. Hiraoka
↓ S. Nakamura ↑N. Maeda 79'
↓ A. Suzuki ↑K. Kinoshita 79'
↓ H. Kawabe ↑S. Kobayashi 86'
FT
Player Cards
Our take on every player in this match
Kyoto Sanga
Goalkeepers
Masaaki Murakami 
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Defenders
Hidehiro Sugai
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Yoshinori Suzuki
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Henrique Trevisan
LATE SHIFT
14
Late Mins
14
Late Mins
76
Total Mins
76
Entry
Kyo Sato
LATE SHIFT
14
Late Mins
14
Late Mins
76
Total Mins
76
Entry
Midfielders
João Pedro
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Sung-jun Yoon
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Ryuma Nakano
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
52
Total Mins
52
Entry
Forwards
Temma Matsuda
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
45
Total Mins
46
Entry
Rafael Elias
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Alex Souza 
PROVOCATEUR
3
Fouls Won
3
Fouls Won
6
Duels Won
0
Pens Won
BENCH
Gakuji Ota 
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Shogo Asada
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
14
Total Mins
Started
Entry
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
Fuchi Honda
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
45
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Haruki Arai
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
38
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Masaya Okugawa
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
26
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Taiyo Hiraoka
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
14
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Shun Nagasawa
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Sanfrecce Hiroshima
Goalkeepers
Osako Keisuke
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Defenders
Shiotani Tsukasa
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Yamasaki Taichi
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Sasaki Sho 
ARCHITECT
2
Key Passes
2
Key Passes
0
Assists
26%
Pass Acc
Midfielders
Shuto Nakano
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Kawabe Hayao 
NPC
86
Minutes
86
Minutes
27%
Pass Acc
6.3
Rating
Arai Naoto
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
65
Total Mins
65
Entry
Higashi Shunki
ARCHITECT
5
Key Passes
5
Key Passes
2
Assists
22%
Pass Acc
Forwards
Kato Mutsuki 
SNIPER
100%
Conversion
100%
Conversion
1
Goals
1
Shots
Sota Nakamura
SNIPER
100%
Conversion
100%
Conversion
1
Goals
1
Shots
Akito Suzuki 
FINISHER
1
Goals
1
Goals
3
Shots
7.9
Rating
BENCH
Issei Ouchi
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Shichi Takaaki
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Taishi Matsumoto 
CLOSER
1
Late Goals
1
Late Goals
0
Late Assists
75
Minute
Chajima Yusuke
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Motoki Ohara
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Shimon Kobayashi 
ENFORCER
4
Tackles
4
Tackles
4
Duels Won
100%
Win %
Ryo Germain
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
25
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Maeda Naoki
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
11
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Kinoshita Kosuke
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
11
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Head to Head
| Date | Home | Score | Away | Competition | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 02/27/2026 | Sanfrecce Hiroshima | 1 - 2 | Kyoto Sanga | J1 League | Edion Peace Wing Hiroshima |
| 09/12/2025 | Sanfrecce Hiroshima | 1 - 1 | Kyoto Sanga | J1 League | Edion Peace Wing Hiroshima |
| 03/29/2025 | Kyoto Sanga | 1 - 0 | Sanfrecce Hiroshima | J1 League | Sanga Stadium by Kyocera |
| 11/03/2024 | Sanfrecce Hiroshima | 0 - 1 | Kyoto Sanga | J1 League | Edion Peace Wing Hiroshima |
| 05/19/2024 | Kyoto Sanga | 0 - 5 | Sanfrecce Hiroshima | J1 League | Sanga Stadium by Kyocera |
| 09/23/2023 | Kyoto Sanga | 1 - 0 | Sanfrecce Hiroshima | J1 League | Sanga Stadium by Kyocera |
| 06/04/2023 | Sanfrecce Hiroshima | 3 - 1 | Kyoto Sanga | J1 League | EDION Stadium |
| 10/05/2022 | Kyoto Sanga | 1 - 2 (AET) | Sanfrecce Hiroshima | Emperor Cup | Sanga Stadium by Kyocera |
| 07/17/2022 | Kyoto Sanga | 1 - 1 | Sanfrecce Hiroshima | J1 League | Sanga Stadium by Kyocera |
| 05/21/2022 | Sanfrecce Hiroshima | 3 - 1 | Kyoto Sanga | J1 League | EDION Stadium |
02/27/2026
09/12/2025
03/29/2025
11/03/2024
05/19/2024
09/23/2023
06/04/2023
10/05/2022
07/17/2022
05/21/2022
Kyoto Sanga Win
Sanfrecce Hiroshima Win
Draw
League Standings
P: 14 GD: +14
P: 17 GD: +19
P: 17 GD: +5
P: 14 GD: +15
P: 17 GD: +13
P: 17 GD: +5
P: 13 GD: +7
P: 17 GD: +3
P: 17 GD: +6
P: 14 GD: +6
P: 17 GD: +8
P: 17 GD: +6
P: 13 GD: +1
P: 17 GD: 0
P: 17 GD: 0
P: 13 GD: -1
P: 17 GD: -6
P: 17 GD: +3
P: 15 GD: +5
P: 17 GD: -7
P: 17 GD: -1
P: 14 GD: +4
P: 17 GD: -5
P: 17 GD: -7
P: 14 GD: +1
P: 17 GD: -14
P: 17 GD: -8
P: 14 GD: +1
P: 17 GD: -11
P: 17 GD: -9
P: 14 GD: -4
P: 14 GD: -6
P: 14 GD: 0
P: 13 GD: 0
P: 14 GD: -4
P: 14 GD: -7
P: 15 GD: -9
P: 14 GD: -7
P: 14 GD: -6
P: 14 GD: -10
Match previews and recaps to help you decide which games are worth watching
Sanfrecce Hiroshima's Ruthless Siege Silences Sanga Stadium
Skip It Futmetrix Score: 36/100. An absolute attacking masterclass from Sanfrecce Hiroshima turned a possession-heavy Kyoto side into mere bystanders in their own backyard.
Early Intent and Breakthrough
Kyoto Sanga initially controlled possession, attempting to dictate the tempo on home soil. However, the off-the-charts Intensity from the visitors quickly turned Sanga Stadium by Kyocera into a shooting gallery. Sanfrecce Hiroshima pressed relentlessly, utilizing their lethal wide play and set-piece pressure to unbalance the hosts. The relentless barrage finally cracked the defense in the 29th minute when S. Higashi carved open the backline, allowing S. Nakamura to slot home the opener. Kyoto's attackers, including Taichi Hara, were left entirely starved of service as the away side dominated the territory and chances, registering a staggering shot advantage despite holding less of the ball.
The Devastating Double Blow
Any hopes of a home resurgence evaporated immediately after the interval. The Balance of the contest was shattered within a devastating three-minute window. In the 49th minute, A. Suzuki capitalized on a precise delivery from M. Kato to double the advantage, silencing the home faithful. Before Kyoto could even process the setback, Kato himself turned finisher in the 52nd minute, latching onto another sublime assist from Higashi. This rapid-fire onslaught showcased Sanfrecce's clinical edge in the final third, turning a narrow lead into an insurmountable mountain and leaving the hosts completely shell-shocked.
A Final Flourish
With the result beyond doubt, Sanfrecce Hiroshima utilized their depth to twist the knife further. The introduction of fresh legs maintained their offensive chokehold, culminating in a brilliant super-sub moment. T. Matsumoto made an instant impact off the bench, capping off the rout in the 75th minute after being teed up by the exceptional Nakamura. This commanding away victory solidifies Sanfrecce's strong form near the top of the table. Conversely, Kyoto Sanga's miserable run extends, leaving them searching for answers after failing to convert their territorial control into any meaningful threat.
Key Questions
How did substitute Sota Nakamura change the game?
Despite the question's premise, Nakamura actually started the match, dictating the attack with a brilliant 29th-minute goal and later providing the assist for Matsumoto's late strike.
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.
Uncompromising Styles Clash in Kansai
Highly Entertaining Futmetrix Score: 70/100. With both sides remarkably refusing to share the points this season, this fixture guarantees an all-or-nothing offensive shootout.
The Setup
Kyoto Sanga welcome Sanfrecce Hiroshima to Sanga Stadium by Kyocera for a mid-table J1 League scrap on May 17, 2026. What makes this clash irresistible is the absolute refusal of either side to settle for a draw all season. A solid Balance metric underscores the razor-thin tactical margins, despite the visitors arriving as slight mathematical favorites. With a combined goals-per-game average tracking extremely high, a strong Form rating indicates that defenses will be stretched to their absolute limits from the first whistle. The Stakes are clear: Sanfrecce need all three points to consolidate their top-five status, while Kyoto aim to leapfrog into the upper half of the table, hoping Rafael Elias can find the back of the net.
Key Battle
Instead of individual duels, this match hinges on tactical units. The home side's attacking frontline will aggressively test the visitors' defensive structure. The real question is whether the away back line can absorb the initial high press and spring quick transitions into the midfield engine room to punish the spaces left behind.
Our Prediction
The visitors have the edge in pure quality, boasting a higher Stars metric with talents like H. Kawabe pulling the strings in midfield. Expect Sanfrecce Hiroshima to dictate the tempo early, weather a chaotic second-half storm from an urgent Kyoto side, and edge a high-scoring thriller by securing a late decisive goal.