J1 League Regular Season - 18
Kyoto Sanga 1 - 0 FT V-varen Nagasaki
Match Statistics
Possession
Shots
Shots on Target
Passes
Pass Accuracy
Corners
Fouls
Yellow Cards
Red Cards
Match Events
Thiago 9'
28' H. Arai
HT
52' Rafael Elias (M. Okugawa)
↓ M. Sekiguchi ↑T. Kasayanagi 65'
69' H. Appiah Tawiah
↓ H. Yamaguchi ↑N. Campbell 75'
76' ↓ T. Matsuda ↑T. Hiraoka
84' H. Appiah Tawiah
85' ↓ M. Okugawa ↑F. Honda
↓ Diego Pituca ↑T. Matsumoto 85'
↓ Thiago ↑R. Yamasaki 85'
↓ S. Yoneda ↑K. Takahata 85'
89' ↓ R. Nakano ↑S. Nagasawa
89' ↓ H. Arai ↑S. Asada
FT
Player Cards
Our take on every player in this match
Kyoto Sanga
Goalkeepers
Gakuji Ota 
PROVOCATEUR
1
Fouls Won
1
Fouls Won
1
Duels Won
0
Pens Won
Defenders
Hidehiro Sugai 
ARCHITECT
3
Key Passes
3
Key Passes
0
Assists
25%
Pass Acc
Hisashi Appiah Tawiah 
STORMTROOPER
1
Shots
1
Shots
0
Goals
0
On Target
Yoshinori Suzuki 
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
95
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Kyo Sato 
WALL
0
Dribbled Past
0
Dribbled Past
6
Tackles
78%
Duel Win %
Midfielders
Ryuma Nakano
ARCHITECT
4
Key Passes
4
Key Passes
0
Assists
28%
Pass Acc
Sung-jun Yoon
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
95
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Temma Matsuda
ARCHITECT
4
Key Passes
4
Key Passes
0
Assists
20%
Pass Acc
Forwards
Masaya Okugawa 
PROVIDER
1
Assists
1
Assists
1
Key Passes
7.3
Rating
Rafael Elias
ARCHITECT
3
Key Passes
3
Key Passes
0
Assists
19%
Pass Acc
Haruki Arai 
NPC
89
Minutes
89
Minutes
11%
Pass Acc
6.2
Rating
BENCH
Kentaro Kakoi 
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Yusuke Ishida
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Shogo Asada
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
6
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Fuchi Honda
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
10
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Taiyo Hiraoka
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
19
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Shimpei Fukuoka
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Shun Nagasawa
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
6
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Alex Souza
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
David
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
V-varen Nagasaki
Goalkeepers
Goto Masaaki
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
95
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Defenders
Onaga Hijiri
WALL
0
Dribbled Past
0
Dribbled Past
4
Tackles
83%
Duel Win %
Kushibiki Kazuki
STORMTROOPER
1
Shots
1
Shots
0
Goals
0
On Target
Eduardo
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
95
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Midfielders
Masahiro Sekiguchi
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
65
Total Mins
65
Entry
Yamaguchi Hotaru
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
75
Total Mins
75
Entry
Diego Pituca
LATE SHIFT
5
Late Mins
5
Late Mins
85
Total Mins
85
Entry
Yoneda Shunya
LATE SHIFT
5
Late Mins
5
Late Mins
85
Total Mins
85
Entry
Forwards
Matheus Jesus
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
95
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Motoki Hasegawa
PROVOCATEUR
4
Fouls Won
4
Fouls Won
4
Duels Won
0
Pens Won
Thiago Santana
ARCHITECT
3
Key Passes
3
Key Passes
0
Assists
8%
Pass Acc
BENCH
Hatano Go
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Yusei Egawa
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Keita Takahata
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
10
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Hayato Teruyama
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Tsubasa Kasayanagi
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
30
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Norman Campbell
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
20
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Tenmu Matsumoto
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
10
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Sawada Takashi
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Yamasaki Ryogo
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
10
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Head to Head
| Date | Home | Score | Away | Competition | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 03/18/2026 | V-varen Nagasaki | 1 - 2 | Kyoto Sanga | J1 League | Peace Stadium |
| 10/02/2021 | V-varen Nagasaki | 2 - 0 | Kyoto Sanga | J2 League | Transcosmos Stadium |
| 07/03/2021 | Kyoto Sanga | 0 - 2 | V-varen Nagasaki | J2 League | Sanga Stadium by Kyocera |
| 12/02/2020 | Kyoto Sanga | 2 - 1 | V-varen Nagasaki | J2 League | Sanga Stadium by Kyocera |
| 07/25/2020 | V-varen Nagasaki | 1 - 0 | Kyoto Sanga | J2 League | Transcosmos Stadium |
| 09/21/2019 | V-varen Nagasaki | 1 - 0 | Kyoto Sanga | J2 League | transcosmos Stadium Nagasaki (Isahaya) |
| 07/07/2019 | Kyoto Sanga | 1 - 0 | V-varen Nagasaki | J2 League | Kyōto Nishikyogoku Stadium (Kyōto (Kyoto)) |
| 08/27/2017 | V-varen Nagasaki | 1 - 0 | Kyoto Sanga | J2 League | transcosmos Stadium Nagasaki (Isahaya) |
| 03/25/2017 | Kyoto Sanga | 0 - 1 | V-varen Nagasaki | J2 League | Kyōto Nishikyogoku Stadium (Kyōto (Kyoto)) |
| 11/20/2016 | V-varen Nagasaki | 0 - 2 | Kyoto Sanga | J2 League | transcosmos Stadium Nagasaki (Isahaya) |
03/18/2026
10/02/2021
07/03/2021
12/02/2020
07/25/2020
09/21/2019
07/07/2019
08/27/2017
03/25/2017
11/20/2016
Kyoto Sanga Win
V-varen Nagasaki Win
Draw
League Standings
P: 18 GD: +6
P: 18 GD: +3
P: 18 GD: +8
P: 18 GD: +7
P: 18 GD: -1
P: 18 GD: +4
P: 18 GD: -2
P: 18 GD: -7
P: 18 GD: -8
P: 18 GD: -10
League Standings
P: 18 GD: +4
P: 18 GD: +9
P: 18 GD: +2
P: 18 GD: +8
P: 18 GD: -3
P: 17 GD: +5
P: 17 GD: -1
P: 18 GD: -6
P: 18 GD: -8
P: 18 GD: -10
Match previews and recaps to help you decide which games are worth watching
Elias Ignites Kyoto Revival at Sanga Stadium
Skip It Futmetrix Score: 27/100. Kyoto Sanga turned relentless attacking pressure into a season-shifting victory, snapping a painful five-match winless streak.
Relentless Offensive Front
Kyoto Sanga stepped onto the pitch at Sanga Stadium by Kyocera determined to rewrite their recent dismal form. They established early dominance and controlled possession at 55 percent, starving V-varen Nagasaki of the ball in dangerous areas. The attacking thrust was orchestrated brilliantly by Ryuma Nakano, who dictated the midfield tempo with four key passes. A high Intensity rating tells the story of a half defined by a barrage of chances, turning the visitors' penalty area into a shooting gallery. Despite the constant pressure, the Nagasaki defence, marshalled by figures like Matheus Jesus, desperately held the line going into the break.
Breaking the Deadlock
The pivotal moment arrived in the 52nd minute, entirely shifting the Balance of the tie. A precise feed from M. Okugawa unlocked the stubborn defensive block, finding Rafael Elias in prime territory. The Brazilian striker made no mistake, burying the breakthrough goal to ignite the home crowd. The hosts refused to sit back, continually pressing for a cushion. They thought they had doubled their advantage in the 69th minute through H. Appiah Tawiah, but a tense video review disallowed the strike. This VAR intervention offered Nagasaki a brief lifeline, though they struggled to mount any cohesive response.
Snapping the Streak
Trailing by a single goal, Nagasaki attempted to push forward but lacked a clinical edge, failing to register a single shot on target throughout the afternoon. With the Stakes rising for a Kyoto side desperate to end their slump, the hosts showcased impressive defensive discipline to see out the result. The final whistle marked a vital three points that pulls Kyoto Sanga closer to their mid-table rivals. This commanding 1-0 triumph not only resets their season trajectory but serves as a stern reality check for a toothless visiting attack.
Key Questions
What made Rafael Elias the Man of the Match?
He scored the decisive 52nd-minute winner and terrorised the defence, registering three key passes and maintaining a constant attacking threat.
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.
Consistency The Elusive Prize in Tense Mid-Table Encounter
Worth Watching Futmetrix Score: 59/100. Just a single point separates these two wildly inconsistent sides, making this a pivotal clash for establishing much-needed momentum in the J1 League.
The Setup
Sitting 9th on 20 points, Kyoto Sanga recently snapped a dismal four-game losing streak and now welcome 10th-placed V-varen Nagasaki to Sanga Stadium by Kyocera. The away side, trailing by just a solitary point, arrives with an erratic win-loss sequence of their own. A modest Form rating reflects their mutual struggles, particularly Kyoto's poor home record of just two wins from seven outings. However, an exceptionally high Balance rating underlines exactly how evenly matched this contest is on paper. With an average of 2.9 goals per game combined, defensive fragility on both sides could open the door for attackers like Rafael Elias and Thiago Santana to exploit the gaps. The Stakes are crystal clear: a win catapults the victor toward the safety of the upper half, while a defeat drags them further into the mid-table quagmire.
Key Battle
The decisive area will be how Kyoto Sanga's vulnerable backline handles the unpredictable surges of the Nagasaki attack. Given Kyoto's tendency to drop points at home, their midfield pivot must act as a reliable shield, preventing quick transitions to avoid being overrun in front of their own frustrated fans.
Our Prediction
Given the tight margins and shared defensive vulnerabilities, expect an entertaining but flawed encounter. Both sides will find the back of the net in a likely 2-2 draw, with the hosts taking an early advantage before Nagasaki mounts a successful second-half comeback to share the spoils.