J1 League Gameweek 7
Machida Zelvia 0 - 3 FT Kashima
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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
66
FT
Mon, Oct 12
Atalanta
3-1
Venezia
⚡ Intensity
86
⚖️ Balance
31
🏆 Stakes
0
🎲 Upset
0
Atalanta strike early, Venezia stay sunk.
Futmetrix Verdict
59
FT
Mon, Oct 12
Al-Wasl FC
1-3
Al-Ahli Jeddah
⚡ Intensity
63
⚖️ Balance
54
🏆 Stakes
12
🎲 Upset
0
Clinical Al-Ahli secure vital away victory.
Match Statistics
Possession
Shots
Shots on Target
Expected Goals (xG)
Passes
Pass Accuracy
Corners
Fouls
Yellow Cards
Red Cards
Match Events
Y. Suzuki 5'
42' Yuta Nakayama
K. Misao (K. Tagawa) 44'
45'+1 Sang-Ho Na
HT
46' ↓ Na Sang-Ho ↑Y. Soma
46' ↓ R. Shirasaki ↑H. Mae
46' ↓ T. Yengi ↑S. Fujio
46' ↓ H. Nakamura ↑K. Hayashi
↓ K. Tagawa ↑A. Cavric 64'
↓ Y. Matsumura ↑H. Hayashu 64'
↓ S. Mizoguchi ↑R. Ogawa 74'
↓ G. Shibasaki ↑K. Chinen 74'
Ryoya Ogawa 79'
82' ↓ N. Lavi ↑K. Sento
A. Cavric (Leo Ceara) 90'
↓ Leo Ceara ↑I. Sekigawa 90'+3
FT
Player Cards
Our take on every player in this match
Machida Zelvia
Goalkeepers
Kosei Tani 
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Defenders
Gen Shoji 
STORMTROOPER
2
Shots
2
Shots
0
Goals
0
On Target
Daihachi Okamura 
WALL
0
Dribbled Past
0
Dribbled Past
2
Tackles
55%
Duel Win %
Yuta Nakayama
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Midfielders
Hotaka Nakamura
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
45
Total Mins
46
Entry
Ryohei Shirasaki
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
45
Total Mins
46
Entry
Neta Lavi
LATE SHIFT
8
Late Mins
8
Late Mins
82
Total Mins
82
Entry
Asahi Masuyama
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Forwards
Erik
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Na Sang-ho
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
45
Total Mins
46
Entry
Tete Yengi
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
45
Total Mins
46
Entry
BENCH
Tatsuya Morita 
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Ibrahim Drešević
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Kotaro Hayashi
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
45
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Henry Heroki Mochizuki
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Keiya Sento
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
8
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Hiroyuki Mae
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
45
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Takuma Nishimura
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Yuki Soma 
ARCHITECT
5
Key Passes
5
Key Passes
0
Assists
12%
Pass Acc
Shota Fujio
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
45
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Kashima
Goalkeepers
Tomoki Hayakawa
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Defenders
Kimito Nono 
PROVOCATEUR
3
Fouls Won
3
Fouls Won
5
Duels Won
0
Pens Won
Naomichi Ueda 
MAGNET
84
Activity
84
Activity
77
Passes
7
Duels
Kim Tae-Hyeon
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Shuhei Mizoguchi
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
74
Total Mins
74
Entry
Midfielders
Yuta Matsumura
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
64
Total Mins
64
Entry
Gaku Shibasaki
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
74
Total Mins
74
Entry
Kento Misao 
SNIPER
100%
Conversion
100%
Conversion
1
Goals
1
Shots
Yuma Suzuki
SNIPER
50%
Conversion
50%
Conversion
1
Goals
2
Shots
Forwards
Léo Ceará 
PROVIDER
1
Assists
1
Assists
1
Key Passes
6.6
Rating
Kyosuke Tagawa
PROVIDER
1
Assists
1
Assists
1
Key Passes
6.5
Rating
BENCH
Yuji Kajikawa
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Ryoya Ogawa
ARCHITECT
2
Key Passes
2
Key Passes
0
Assists
3%
Pass Acc
Ikuma Sekigawa
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
1
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Kei Chinen
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
16
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Yuta Higuchi
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Ryotaro Araki
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
H. Hayashu
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
26
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Aleksandar Čavrić 
CLUTCH HERO
90
Goal Time
90
Goal Time
Goal
Impact
7
Rating
Élber
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Head to Head
| Date | Home | Score | Away | Competition | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 03/18/2026 | Machida Zelvia | 0 - 3 | Kashima | J1 League | National Olympic Stadium |
| 08/27/2025 | Machida Zelvia | 3 - 0 | Kashima | Emperor Cup | Machida Gion Stadium |
| 06/21/2025 | Machida Zelvia | 2 - 1 | Kashima | J1 League | Machida GION Stadium |
| 05/03/2025 | Kashima | 1 - 0 | Machida Zelvia | J1 League | Mercari Stadium |
| 12/08/2024 | Kashima | 3 - 1 | Machida Zelvia | J1 League | Kashima Soccer Stadium |
| 05/22/2024 | Machida Zelvia | 2 - 0 | Kashima | J-League Cup | Machida Gion Stadium |
| 03/09/2024 | Machida Zelvia | 1 - 0 | Kashima | J1 League | Machida Gion Stadium |
| 07/11/2018 | Kashima | 5 - 1 | Machida Zelvia | Emperor Cup | Machida Athletic Stadium |
03/18/2026
08/27/2025
06/21/2025
05/03/2025
12/08/2024
05/22/2024
03/09/2024
07/11/2018
Machida Zelvia Win
Kashima Win
Draw
League Standings
P: 7 GD: +10
P: 7 GD: +10
P: 7 GD: +6
P: 7 GD: +6
P: 7 GD: +3
P: 7 GD: +2
P: 7 GD: +3
P: 7 GD: 0
P: 7 GD: +1
P: 7 GD: 0
P: 7 GD: +4
P: 7 GD: +2
P: 7 GD: +4
P: 7 GD: -1
P: 7 GD: +1
P: 7 GD: +2
P: 7 GD: +2
P: 7 GD: 0
P: 7 GD: +1
P: 7 GD: -3
P: 7 GD: -2
P: 7 GD: +2
P: 7 GD: -5
P: 7 GD: 0
P: 7 GD: +1
P: 7 GD: -5
P: 7 GD: 0
P: 7 GD: 0
P: 7 GD: -5
P: 7 GD: -10
P: 7 GD: -1
P: 7 GD: +2
P: 7 GD: -2
P: 7 GD: 0
P: 7 GD: 0
P: 7 GD: -3
P: 7 GD: -5
P: 7 GD: -5
P: 7 GD: -5
Match previews and recaps to help you decide which games are worth watching
Machida Zelvia
Kashima
Machida Zelvia
Kashima
Win Probability
Futmetrix AI estimate
Ruthless Kashima Dismantle Machida at the National Olympic Stadium
Skip It Futmetrix Score: 39/100. Kashima delivered a ruthlessly efficient statement in this top-of-the-table clash, seizing vital momentum in the title race with a dominant away performance.
Early Authority Established
At the National Olympic Stadium, the Stakes were astronomical for this J1 League top-three collision, but Kashima wasted absolutely no time establishing their sheer authority. They controlled possession from the outset, dictating the tempo with 55% of the ball and silencing the Tokyo crowd just five minutes in. Y. Suzuki found the breakthrough with a clinical strike, proving immediately that the visitors meant business on this massive stage. Machida Zelvia, caught entirely cold by the fierce early onslaught, desperately tried to force their way back into the contest but repeatedly struggled to break through a resolute, highly organized defensive block. The early opener completely altered the tactical landscape, forcing the hosts to chase the game while allowing the visitors to settle into a suffocating rhythm.
The Psychological Dagger
As Machida cranked up the Intensity, peppering the visitors with a barrage of 16 attempts throughout the afternoon, they found an unbreakable wall in Tomoki Hayakawa. The Kashima shot-stopper produced three crucial saves, ensuring the hosts' mounting pressure yielded zero tangible reward despite Yuki Soma orchestrating play beautifully in the final third. The true turning point arrived just before the half-time whistle. While Machida pushed bodies forward for an equalizer, Kashima struck with a devastating sucker punch. K. Misao doubled the advantage in the 44th minute after a smart setup from K. Tagawa, effectively breaking the hosts' spirit. The Balance of the tie was irreparably shattered, as the psychological damage of conceding right before the interval left the home side reeling.
A Clinical Conclusion
The second half saw Machida desperately searching for a lifeline, applying heavy set-piece pressure with seven corners in an attempt to force the issue. However, the visitors' ruthless edge remained the defining storyline of the match. A high Upset Factor materialized not through luck, but through sheer execution against the third-placed side. Kashima thought they had a third when Ryoya Ogawa found the back of the net, only for VAR to intervene and cancel the strike in the 79th minute. Yet, the reprieve was fleeting for the home side. Substitute A. Cavric applied the final dagger in the 90th minute, finishing brilliantly after linking up with Leo Ceara. The 3-0 demolition secures a massive away victory, elevating Kashima's title credentials.
Key Questions
How did VAR change this match?
VAR intervened in the 79th minute to deny Ryoya Ogawa a goal, momentarily giving Machida Zelvia hope, though Kashima eventually scored their third anyway.
How did substitute Tomoki Hayakawa change the game?
Tomoki Hayakawa was actually Kashima's starting goalkeeper, not a substitute. He changed the game by making three vital saves to secure a crucial clean sheet.
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.
Title-Race Tension Reaches Boiling Point
Must-Watch Futmetrix Score: 100/100. A single point separates these two heavyweights, making this an undisputed early-season summit clash that neither can afford to lose.
The Setup
The J1 League title race is heating up as third-placed Machida Zelvia welcome second-placed Kashima to the National Olympic Stadium on March 18, 2026. The Stakes are astronomical in this genuine six-pointer. Both sides boast a terrifying Form rating, with Kashima currently riding a commanding four-match winning streak. Despite the visitors' momentum, a razor-thin Balance rating suggests the home side holds a slight edge, backed by a 40.8% win probability. The pitch will be flooded with Stars capable of flipping the script in a heartbeat.
Key Battle
Machida Zelvia's dynamic Yuki Soma against Kashima's lethal Léo Ceará is a shootout waiting to happen. Soma has been pulling the strings in the final third with elite precision, but he will need to outshine Kashima's Brazilian hitman, who thrives on half-chances and defensive lapses.
Our Prediction
Machida Zelvia 2-1 Kashima. The visitors might strike first through their sheer attacking efficiency, but Machida's relentless home pressure should eventually crack the Kashima defensive line in a thrilling second half.