J1 League Regular Season - 4
Machida Zelvia 2 - 1 FT JEF United Chiba
Match Statistics
Possession
Shots
Shots on Target
Expected Goals (xG)
Passes
Pass Accuracy
Corners
Fouls
Yellow Cards
Red Cards
Match Events
5' Y. Soma
HT
51' Daihachi Okamura
59' Erik
D. Ishikawa (Z. Issaka) 64'
↓ Carlinhos Junior ↑H. Goya 65'
↓ Z. Issaka ↑M. Himeno 65'
↓ Eduardo ↑Y. Igari 66'
70' ↓ T. Yengi ↑Na Sang-Ho
79' ↓ N. Lavi ↑H. Mae
↓ T. Tsukui ↑K. Yonekura 79'
80' ↓ Erik ↑S. Fujio
Yuma Igari 87'
90'+2 Hotaka Nakamura
90'+4 ↓ R. Shirasaki ↑H. Shimoda
90'+4 ↓ H. Nakamura ↑A. Masuyama
FT
Player Cards
Our take on every player in this match
Machida Zelvia
Goalkeepers
K. Tani 
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Defenders
G. Shoji
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
D. Okamura 
STORMTROOPER
1
Shots
1
Shots
0
Goals
1
On Target
Y. Nakayama
STORMTROOPER
1
Shots
1
Shots
0
Goals
0
On Target
Midfielders
H. Nakamura
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
R. Shirasaki 
NPC
89
Minutes
89
Minutes
22%
Pass Acc
6.3
Rating
N. Lavi
LATE SHIFT
11
Late Mins
11
Late Mins
79
Total Mins
79
Entry
K. Hayashi 
ARCHITECT
4
Key Passes
4
Key Passes
0
Assists
40%
Pass Acc
BENCH
T. Morita 
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
I. Dresevic
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
H. Shimoda
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
1
Total Mins
Started
Entry
A. Masuyama
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
1
Total Mins
Started
Entry
H. Mae
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
11
Total Mins
Started
Entry
T. Nishimura
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Na Sang-Ho
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
20
Total Mins
Started
Entry
K. Kuwayama
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
S. Fujio
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
10
Total Mins
Started
Entry
JEF United Chiba
Goalkeepers
T. Wakahara
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Defenders
I. Takahashi
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
D. Suzuki 
MAGNET
103
Activity
103
Activity
92
Passes
11
Duels
T. Kawano
ARCHITECT
3
Key Passes
3
Key Passes
0
Assists
82%
Pass Acc
M. Hidaka
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Midfielders
Forwards
D. Ishikawa 
SNIPER
50%
Conversion
50%
Conversion
1
Goals
2
Shots
Carlinhos Junior
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
65
Total Mins
65
Entry
BENCH
R. Suzuki
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
K. Yonekura
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
11
Total Mins
Started
Entry
R. Kuboniwa
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Y. Kobayashi
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
T. Iwai
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Y. Igari
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
24
Total Mins
Started
Entry
T. Amagasa
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
M. Himeno
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
25
Total Mins
Started
Entry
H. Goya
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
25
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Head to Head
| Date | Home | Score | Away | Competition | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 02/27/2026 | Machida Zelvia | 2 - 1 | JEF United Chiba | J1 League | Machida Stadium |
| 07/22/2023 | Machida Zelvia | 1 - 3 | JEF United Chiba | J2 League | Machida Gion Stadium |
| 06/03/2023 | JEF United Chiba | 0 - 2 | Machida Zelvia | J2 League | Fukuda Denshi Arena |
| 08/14/2022 | JEF United Chiba | 1 - 2 | Machida Zelvia | J2 League | Fukuda Denshi Arena |
| 04/03/2022 | Machida Zelvia | 1 - 1 | JEF United Chiba | J2 League | Machida Gion Stadium |
| 10/10/2021 | Machida Zelvia | 0 - 1 | JEF United Chiba | J2 League | Machida Gion Stadium |
| 05/23/2021 | JEF United Chiba | 1 - 1 | Machida Zelvia | J2 League | Fukuda Denshi Arena |
| 10/17/2020 | JEF United Chiba | 0 - 0 | Machida Zelvia | J2 League | Fukuda Denshi Arena |
| 08/09/2020 | Machida Zelvia | 0 - 2 | JEF United Chiba | J2 League | Machida Gion Stadium |
| 09/01/2019 | Machida Zelvia | 1 - 1 | JEF United Chiba | J2 League | Machida Athletic Stadium (Tokyo) |
02/27/2026
07/22/2023
06/03/2023
08/14/2022
04/03/2022
10/10/2021
05/23/2021
10/17/2020
08/09/2020
09/01/2019
Machida Zelvia Win
JEF United Chiba Win
Draw
Match previews and recaps to help you decide which games are worth watching
Soma's Early Spark Keeps Machida's Title Charge Alive
Average Entertainment Futmetrix Score: 37/100. An explosive opening five minutes set the tone for a thrilling contest where Machida Zelvia’s lethal attacking transitions proved too much for a possession-heavy JEF United Chiba.
The Opening Salvo
The Intensity at Machida Stadium was off the charts from the very first whistle, catching the visitors entirely off guard. It took a mere five minutes for Y. Soma to announce himself. The forward latched onto a fleeting opportunity, slotting home a precise finish to put Machida Zelvia firmly in the driving seat. Shell-shocked but defiant, JEF United Chiba responded by methodically wrestling back control of the midfield engine room. The visitors eventually controlled possession with an imposing 59% share, moving the ball with purpose, yet the hosts remained a constant, terrifying menace on the break. The sheer volume of chances—with 28 total shots exchanged over the ninety minutes—turned the pitch into an open battlefield where neither side was willing to back down.
The Midfield Chess Match
The true turning point arrived during a breathless, chaotic five-minute spell in the second half. Just as the visitors looked capable of finding a well-deserved equaliser, Erik delivered a crushing blow. The attacker doubled Machida's advantage in the 59th minute with a devastating strike that sent the home supporters into raptures. However, the Balance of the tie shifted almost immediately, refusing to let the story end there. Unwilling to surrender, Chiba struck back fiercely when D. Ishikawa converted a neat, incisive pass from Z. Issaka in the 64th minute. That rapid response injected fresh jeopardy into the contest, forcing both sides to push their physical limits as the frantic search for the next crucial goal intensified.
Standing Firm
As the clock ticked down toward the final whistle, the visitors threw absolutely everything forward in desperation. Defensive stalwarts Daisuke Suzuki and Takashi Kawano anchored Chiba’s aggressive high line, while the latter distributed smartly from the back to sustain the mounting pressure. Despite facing sustained late waves of attacks, Machida’s gritty rearguard simply refused to buckle. Heroic goalkeeping across both ends resulted in eight crucial saves, ensuring the narrow 2-1 scoreline remained intact until the end. This hard-fought triumph tightens Machida’s grip on third place, underscoring their legitimate championship credentials in a grueling season. Meanwhile, Chiba’s spirited but fruitless performance leaves them stranded in mid-table, searching for answers and defensive solidity after suffering yet another frustrating defeat.
Key Questions
What made Yuki Soma the Man of the Match?
Soma set the aggressive tone with a clinical 5th-minute opener, giving Machida Zelvia early momentum and proving 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.
Desperation Meets Dominance at Machida Stadium
Worth Watching Futmetrix Score: 56/100. Chiba's alarming free-fall meets a Machida side eyeing the title, setting up a brutal clash where survival instincts collide with sheer momentum.
The Setup
Third-placed Machida Zelvia are flying. Four wins in their last five fixtures underscore a Form rating that signals massive danger for the visitors. Meanwhile, JEF United Chiba arrive at Machida Stadium in complete disarray, staring down a brutal relegation battle after losing four of their last five. The massive gap in the table reflects a very low Balance score, heavily favoring the home side. With both teams bleeding goals—combining for an average of 3.7 conceded per game—the Stakes couldn't be higher for Chiba as they desperately try to stop the rot on February 27. High Stars ratings suggest the attacking talent on display will absolutely punish any defensive lapses.
Key Battle
Yuki Soma against Daisuke Suzuki is where this game is won or lost. Soma is tearing defenses apart from the wing, while Suzuki is desperately trying to marshal a porous Chiba backline. If Suzuki cannot track Soma's relentless runs, the visitors will be picked apart before half-time.
Our Prediction
Machida Zelvia 3-1 JEF United Chiba. The hosts will exploit Chiba's fragile confidence early. Expect Machida to overwhelm the visitors in the first half, coasting to a comfortable victory despite their own habit of leaking goals.