J1 League Regular Season - 7
Nagoya Grampus 2 - 1 FT Sanfrecce Hiroshima
Match Statistics
Possession
Shots
Shots on Target
Expected Goals (xG)
Passes
Pass Accuracy
Corners
Fouls
Yellow Cards
Red Cards
Match Events
4' Y. Yamagishi
13' ↓ T. Hara ↑Y. Nogami
19' Yuya Yamagishi
Naoto Arai 25'
Ryo Germain 30'
HT
↓ R. Germain ↑A. Suzuki 46'
↓ N. Arai ↑Kim Ju-Sung 46'
A. Suzuki (H. Kawabe) 50'
58' ↓ H. Koda ↑S. Mori
58' ↓ Y. Yamagishi ↑R. Izumi
↓ S. Sasaki ↑T. Shichi 67'
69' Y. Kimura (T. Takamine)
↓ H. Kawabe ↑N. Maeda 75'
↓ T. Shiotani ↑M. Ohara 84'
85' ↓ Nagoya Grampus ↑K. Mikuni
86' ↓ T. Morishima ↑K. Shiihashi
FT
Player Cards
Our take on every player in this match
Nagoya Grampus
Goalkeepers
A. Pisano 
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Defenders
T. Hara
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
13
Total Mins
13
Entry
H. Fujii 
WALL
0
Dribbled Past
0
Dribbled Past
6
Tackles
87%
Duel Win %
T. Takamine 
ARCHITECT
3
Key Passes
3
Key Passes
1
Assists
28%
Pass Acc
Midfielders
Marcus Vinicius
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
H. Koda 
PROVOCATEUR
3
Fouls Won
3
Fouls Won
5
Duels Won
0
Pens Won
S. Inagaki
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
T. Morishima
ARCHITECT
4
Key Passes
4
Key Passes
0
Assists
44%
Pass Acc
K. Nakayama
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Forwards
Y. Kimura 
SNIPER
100%
Conversion
100%
Conversion
1
Goals
1
Shots
Y. Yamagishi
SNIPER
100%
Conversion
100%
Conversion
1
Goals
1
Shots
BENCH
D. Schmidt 
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
S. Mori
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
32
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Y. Nogami 
STORMTROOPER
1
Shots
1
Shots
0
Goals
1
On Target
K. Mikuni
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
13
Total Mins
Started
Entry
S. Tokumoto
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Y. Asano
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
R. Izumi
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
32
Total Mins
Started
Entry
K. Shiihashi
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
12
Total Mins
Started
Entry
K. Nagai
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Sanfrecce Hiroshima
Goalkeepers
K. Osako
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Defenders
T. Shiotani
LATE SHIFT
6
Late Mins
6
Late Mins
84
Total Mins
84
Entry
H. Araki
PROVOCATEUR
4
Fouls Won
4
Fouls Won
14
Duels Won
0
Pens Won
S. Sasaki
WALL
0
Dribbled Past
0
Dribbled Past
5
Tackles
56%
Duel Win %
Midfielders
S. Nakano
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
H. Kawabe
ARCHITECT
3
Key Passes
3
Key Passes
1
Assists
33%
Pass Acc
T. Matsumoto 
MAGNET
70
Activity
70
Activity
62
Passes
8
Duels
N. Arai
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
45
Total Mins
46
Entry
Forwards
S. Nakamura
ARCHITECT
3
Key Passes
3
Key Passes
0
Assists
27%
Pass Acc
R. Germain
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
45
Total Mins
46
Entry
K. Kinoshita
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
BENCH
I. Ouchi
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
T. Yamasaki
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
T. Shichi
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
23
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Kim Ju-Sung
STORMTROOPER
1
Shots
1
Shots
0
Goals
0
On Target
D. Suga
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
M. Ohara
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
14
Total Mins
Started
Entry
A. Suzuki 
SUPER SUB
1
Goal
1
Goal
45
Minutes
8
Rating
N. Maeda
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
15
Total Mins
Started
Entry
M. Kato
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 | Nagoya Grampus | 2 - 1 | Sanfrecce Hiroshima | J1 League | Toyota Stadium |
| 08/27/2025 | Nagoya Grampus | 2 - 4 | Sanfrecce Hiroshima | Emperor Cup | Toyota Stadium |
| 06/28/2025 | Sanfrecce Hiroshima | 1 - 2 | Nagoya Grampus | J1 League | Hiroshima Big Arch |
| 04/20/2025 | Nagoya Grampus | 2 - 1 | Sanfrecce Hiroshima | J1 League | Toyota Stadium |
| 09/08/2024 | Sanfrecce Hiroshima | 1 - 2 (AET) | Nagoya Grampus | J-League Cup | Edion Peace Wing Hiroshima |
| 09/04/2024 | Nagoya Grampus | 0 - 1 | Sanfrecce Hiroshima | J-League Cup | Toyota Stadium |
| 08/17/2024 | Nagoya Grampus | 1 - 2 | Sanfrecce Hiroshima | J1 League | Toyota Stadium |
| 05/06/2024 | Sanfrecce Hiroshima | 2 - 3 | Nagoya Grampus | J1 League | Edion Peace Wing Hiroshima |
| 09/30/2023 | Sanfrecce Hiroshima | 3 - 1 | Nagoya Grampus | J1 League | EDION Stadium |
| 06/18/2023 | Nagoya Grampus | 2 - 1 | Sanfrecce Hiroshima | J-League Cup | Toyota Stadium |
03/18/2026
08/27/2025
06/28/2025
04/20/2025
09/08/2024
09/04/2024
08/17/2024
05/06/2024
09/30/2023
06/18/2023
Nagoya Grampus Win
Sanfrecce Hiroshima Win
Draw
Match previews and recaps to help you decide which games are worth watching
Nagoya's Clinical Edge Sinks Sanfrecce
Average Entertainment Futmetrix Score: 50/100. Our verdict: Nagoya's ruthless finishing overpowered Sanfrecce's territorial control in a clash that defied the underlying metrics.
Opening Act
Nagoya Grampus didn't waste a single second at Toyota Stadium. Y. Yamagishi ripped up the pre-match script with a massive opener in the 4th minute. That early breakthrough immediately set up a fascinating tactical clash. Sanfrecce Hiroshima controlled possession, holding 56% of the ball throughout the contest. They pressed high up the pitch and forced plenty of corners, desperately trying to break down a stubborn home defensive block. The Balance of the match completely shifted as the visitors pushed hard for an equalizer. They logged plenty of shots from distance but fundamentally struggled to test the goalkeeper. It was a classic clash of styles, with Nagoya perfectly happy to absorb the early pressure and look for quick transitional opportunities to punish their exposed guests.
The Pivot
The turning point arrived immediately after the halftime break. Sanfrecce's coaching staff rolled the dice, and the tactical gamble paid off instantly. Substitute A. Suzuki entered the fray and completely disrupted the game's rhythm. He latched onto a sharp pass from H. Kawabe in the 50th minute, smashing home a deserved equalizer. The Intensity suddenly hit a totally different level. The visitors were flying forward, eventually generating a relentless barrage of 17 total shots across the afternoon. However, Nagoya's rearguard flatly refused to buckle under the weight of those attacks. Haruya Fujii delivered an absolute defensive masterclass at the back. Sanfrecce constantly peppered the penalty area, but their glaring lack of a true sniper's touch kept the scoreline deadlocked as the second half wore on.
Resolution
Against the general run of play, the home side struck the decisive blow. In the 69th minute, Y. Kimura found a pocket of space and ruthlessly buried the winner, courtesy of precise service from T. Takamine. Sanfrecce threw absolutely everything forward in a frantic response. Goalkeeper Keisuke Osako somehow kept the visitors alive with five crucial saves at the other end, denying Nagoya on the counter, but that second equalizer never materialized. This clash registered a notable Upset Factor given Sanfrecce's sheer volume of attacking pressure and territorial advantage. Ultimately, this hard-fought 2-1 victory vaults Nagoya further up the J1 League table and builds crucial momentum. It serves as a stark reminder that clinical final-third execution will always trump sterile possession when the margins are tight.
Key Questions
How did substitute Akito Suzuki change the game?
Suzuki completely shifted the momentum. Coming on just after halftime, he provided an immediate spark, scoring the equalizer in the 50th minute and energizing Sanfrecce's attacking front.
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.
Top-Half Ambitions on the Line in Aichi
Highly Entertaining Futmetrix Score: 75/100. With only three points separating them, this clash is a genuine six-pointer that will severely test the top-table credentials of both sides.
The Setup
This March 18 showdown at Toyota Stadium catches both Nagoya Grampus and Sanfrecce Hiroshima at a crucial crossroads. Despite sitting fifth, the hosts have endured a stuttering run of Form, trading wins and losses over their last five outings. But the visitors arrive in a full-blown crisis, suffering a dire four-game losing streak that threatens to derail their campaign. A high Balance rating suggests the margins will be razor-thin, with Sanfrecce slightly favoured by the oddsmakers despite their recent struggles. The Stakes are escalating quickly; a win for Hiroshima draws them level on points, while a home victory gives Nagoya a critical buffer.
Key Battle
The defining duel pits Nagoya's attacking spearhead against Hiroshima's desperate backline. Yuya Yamagishi is thriving for the hosts, acting as the focal point of their forward thrusts. He faces off against Naoto Arai, whose individual defensive metrics remain excellent despite his team's collective collapse. With exceptional Stars on display, this one-on-one battle could single-handedly tilt the tie.
Our Prediction
Sanfrecce’s brutal losing run cannot last forever, but their fragile confidence makes them vulnerable late in games. We expect a tense, cagey affair where Nagoya exploits spaces left by a desperate away side chasing the result. Grampus edge it 2-1.