J1 League Regular Season - 9
Sanfrecce Hiroshima 0 - 1 FT Avispa Fukuoka
Match Statistics
Possession
Shots
Shots on Target
Expected Goals (xG)
Passes
Pass Accuracy
Corners
Fouls
Yellow Cards
Red Cards
Match Events
Y. Hashimoto (Y. Tsujioka) 16'
HT
46' ↓ S. Nakano ↑S. Higashi
Shosei Usui 50'
57' ↓ Y. Nakajima ↑T. Arslan
58' ↓ K. Kinoshita ↑M. Kato
Masaya Tashiro 63'
↓ K. Shiihashi ↑K. Okuno 63'
↓ M. Shigemi ↑Y. Kitajima 63'
66' ↓ A. Suzuki ↑R. Germain
↓ S. Nago ↑K. Fujimoto 71'
↓ S. Usui ↑Y. Michiwaki 71'
73' Tolgay Arslan
↓ Y. Tsujioka ↑D. Miya 79'
82' ↓ H. Kawabe ↑N. Maeda
Kazuki Fujita 90'+3
90'+4 Naoto Arai
FT
Player Cards
Our take on every player in this match
Sanfrecce Hiroshima
Goalkeepers
K. Osako 
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Defenders
T. Shiotani 
MAGNET
105
Activity
105
Activity
102
Passes
3
Duels
H. Araki
MAGNET
99
Activity
99
Activity
84
Passes
15
Duels
S. Sasaki
MAGNET
114
Activity
114
Activity
105
Passes
9
Duels
Midfielders
S. Nakano
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
45
Total Mins
46
Entry
H. Kawabe 
ARCHITECT
3
Key Passes
3
Key Passes
0
Assists
55%
Pass Acc
Y. Nakajima
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
57
Total Mins
57
Entry
N. Arai
MAGNET
72
Activity
72
Activity
63
Passes
9
Duels
Forwards
A. Suzuki
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
66
Total Mins
66
Entry
S. Nakamura
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
K. Kinoshita
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
58
Total Mins
58
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
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
T. Arslan
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
33
Total Mins
Started
Entry
T. Matsumoto
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
S. Higashi
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
45
Total Mins
Started
Entry
N. Maeda
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
8
Total Mins
Started
Entry
R. Germain
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
24
Total Mins
Started
Entry
M. Kato
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
32
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Avispa Fukuoka
Goalkeepers
K. Fujita
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Defenders
T. Oka
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
M. Tashiro 
STORMTROOPER
1
Shots
1
Shots
0
Goals
0
On Target
Y. Tsujioka 
DRIBBLER
3
Dribbles
3
Dribbles
3
Attempts
100%
Success %
Midfielders
Y. Hashimoto 
SNIPER
100%
Conversion
100%
Conversion
1
Goals
1
Shots
K. Shiihashi
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
63
Total Mins
63
Entry
T. Miki
STORMTROOPER
2
Shots
2
Shots
0
Goals
0
On Target
Y. Maejima
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Forwards
M. Shigemi
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
63
Total Mins
63
Entry
S. Nago
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
71
Total Mins
71
Entry
S. Usui
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
71
Total Mins
71
Entry
BENCH
P. O. Obi
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
D. Miya
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
11
Total Mins
Started
Entry
K. Yamawaki
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
T. Nara
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
K. Okuno
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
27
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Y. Kitajima
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
27
Total Mins
Started
Entry
A. Sani Brown
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
K. Fujimoto
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
19
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Y. Michiwaki
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
19
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Head to Head
| Date | Home | Score | Away | Competition | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 04/05/2026 | Sanfrecce Hiroshima | 0 - 1 | Avispa Fukuoka | J1 League | Edion Peace Wing Hiroshima |
| 09/27/2025 | Avispa Fukuoka | 1 - 2 | Sanfrecce Hiroshima | J1 League | Best Denki Stadium |
| 06/08/2025 | Sanfrecce Hiroshima | 2 - 1 (PEN 4-3) | Avispa Fukuoka | J-League Cup | Edion Peace Wing Hiroshima |
| 06/04/2025 | Avispa Fukuoka | 1 - 0 | Sanfrecce Hiroshima | J-League Cup | Best Denki Stadium |
| 05/03/2025 | Sanfrecce Hiroshima | 2 - 1 | Avispa Fukuoka | J1 League | Hiroshima Big Arch |
| 07/14/2024 | Sanfrecce Hiroshima | 1 - 0 | Avispa Fukuoka | J1 League | Edion Peace Wing Hiroshima Stadium |
| 04/13/2024 | Avispa Fukuoka | 1 - 1 | Sanfrecce Hiroshima | J1 League | Best Denki Stadium |
| 12/03/2023 | Avispa Fukuoka | 0 - 1 | Sanfrecce Hiroshima | J1 League | Best Denki Stadium |
| 05/07/2023 | Sanfrecce Hiroshima | 3 - 1 | Avispa Fukuoka | J1 League | EDION Stadium |
| 09/25/2022 | Sanfrecce Hiroshima | 0 - 0 | Avispa Fukuoka | J-League Cup | EDION Stadium |
04/05/2026
09/27/2025
06/08/2025
06/04/2025
05/03/2025
07/14/2024
04/13/2024
12/03/2023
05/07/2023
09/25/2022
Sanfrecce Hiroshima Win
Avispa Fukuoka Win
Draw
Match previews and recaps to help you decide which games are worth watching
A Smash-and-Grab Masterclass in Hiroshima
Skip It Futmetrix Score: 30/100. Sanfrecce dominated the ball, but Avispa’s ruthless counter-punch and stubborn defence delivered a massive shock to the J1 League table.
The Opening Act
The script at Edion Peace Wing Hiroshima was torn to shreds inside the opening twenty minutes. Sanfrecce Hiroshima expected to control this fixture. They dominated possession, holding the ball for an absurd 75% of the match. But possession without penetration means absolutely nothing. Avispa Fukuoka arrived with a clear, ruthless game plan. They absorbed the early pressure and waited for the perfect counter-punch. It arrived in the 16th minute. Y. Tsujioka carved open the home defence with a precise setup, finding Y. Hashimoto. The midfielder made no mistake, silencing the home crowd with a clinical finish. From that moment, the entire dynamic shifted. The visitors completely abandoned the ball, setting up a low block that thoroughly tested the home side's patience and creativity.
The Pivot
The reaction was fierce, pushing the match's Intensity through the roof. A barrage of 27 combined shots turned the pitch into a chaotic shooting gallery. The home side peppered the visitors' penalty area with 14 attempts and accumulated an expected goals tally of 2.05. Yet, they found a brick wall blocking their path. Even their defensive rock, Hayato Araki, put in a monumental shift to keep the transitions at bay. His flawless tackles and interceptions earned him widespread praise, but his heroics couldn't fix the blunt edge of his team's frontline. They practically lived in the opposition box, launching twelve shots from close range. Despite this constant wave of pressure, the ball simply refused to cross the line. The visitors' keeper pulled off four crucial saves to preserve their slender advantage.
Resolution
Surviving that level of onslaught requires serious grit. Tomoya Miki provided exactly that in the middle of the park for the away side. He chased every loose ball, disrupted passing lanes, and anchored a defensive structure that completely refused to buckle. This gritty display resulted in a massive Upset Factor. A team sitting with just 25% possession walking away with three points is the textbook definition of a smash-and-grab. The result leaves the home side reeling. They extend a miserable run of form, highlighting deep flaws in their attacking execution. Meanwhile, the visitors take immense pride back to Fukuoka. They executed a classic away performance, proving that tactical discipline and one moment of magic can topple even the most possession-heavy systems.
Key Questions
How did Avispa Fukuoka pull off this shock result?
They scored an early 16th-minute goal and then sat deep in a resolute low block, surviving 14 shots despite holding just 25% possession.
What made Hayato Araki the Man of the Match?
Araki was defensively immense, breaking up dangerous counter-attacks and organizing the backline perfectly while Sanfrecce pushed high up the pitch searching for an equalizer.
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.
Searching for the Turning Point
Worth Watching Futmetrix Score: 54/100. This mid-table collision is essential viewing as both sides desperately seek to iron out erratic early-season form and mount a push toward the top half.
The Setup
Sanfrecce Hiroshima (7th) welcome Avispa Fukuoka (9th) to Edion Peace Wing Hiroshima on April 05, 2026. Hiroshima's troubling Form of one win and four losses in their last five suggests deep vulnerabilities, though they maintain a solid Stars rating driven by key presences like Hayao Kawabe in the middle of the park. Fukuoka roll into town on a rollercoaster of their own, having followed three straight wins with consecutive defeats. This volatility creates a fascinating Balance on the pitch. With only two points separating the sides, the Stakes revolve entirely around establishing momentum in the J1 League before the gap to the frontrunners becomes insurmountable.
Key Battle
Naoto Arai against Shintaro Nago. Arai has been a critical creative outlet for the hosts, consistently pushing forward to dictate play. He faces a direct challenge from Nago, whose high-impact attacking contributions make him a constant threat on the counter for Avispa.
Our Prediction
Sanfrecce Hiroshima to edge it 2-1. Expect the hosts to leverage their home advantage by dominating early possession, eventually exploiting Fukuoka's defensive frailties late in the second half to secure maximum points.