J1 League 7th place
Sanfrecce Hiroshima 2 - 1 FT Kawasaki Frontale
Match Statistics
Possession
Shots
Shots on Target
Passes
Pass Accuracy
Corners
Fouls
Yellow Cards
Red Cards
Match Events
↓ Y. Yamamoto ↑S. Kawahara 9'
11' S. Nakamura (T. Matsumoto)
20' M. Kato (A. Suzuki)
Marcinho 35'
K. Mochiyama 37'
T. Ito 43'
HT
67' ↓ A. Suzuki ↑K. Kinoshita
67' ↓ M. Kato ↑Y. Nakajima
↓ Marcinho ↑R. Osa 69'
↓ T. Ito ↑K. Konno 69'
↓ K. Mochiyama ↑L. Romanic 69'
78' ↓ S. Higashi ↑Y. Chajima
88' ↓ S. Nakamura ↑N. Maeda
↓ K. Tachibanada ↑S. Kanda 89'
FT
Player Cards
Our take on every player in this match
Sanfrecce Hiroshima
Goalkeepers
Issei Ouchi 
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
95
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Defenders
Shuto Nakano 
STORMTROOPER
1
Shots
1
Shots
0
Goals
0
On Target
Yamasaki Taichi
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
95
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Sasaki Sho
STORMTROOPER
1
Shots
1
Shots
0
Goals
0
On Target
Midfielders
Arai Naoto 
ARCHITECT
3
Key Passes
3
Key Passes
0
Assists
30%
Pass Acc
Kawabe Hayao
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
95
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Taishi Matsumoto 
PROVIDER
1
Assists
1
Assists
1
Key Passes
7.3
Rating
Higashi Shunki
LATE SHIFT
12
Late Mins
12
Late Mins
78
Total Mins
78
Entry
Forwards
Kato Mutsuki 
SNIPER
50%
Conversion
50%
Conversion
1
Goals
2
Shots
Sota Nakamura
SNIPER
50%
Conversion
50%
Conversion
1
Goals
2
Shots
Akito Suzuki
PROVIDER
1
Assists
1
Assists
3
Key Passes
6.9
Rating
BENCH
Yudai Tanaka 
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Shichi Takaaki
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Daiki Suga
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Chajima Yusuke
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
17
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Yotaro Nakajima
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
28
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Motoki Ohara
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Kinoshita Kosuke
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
28
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Shun Ayukawa
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Maeda Naoki
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
7
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Kawasaki Frontale
Goalkeepers
Louis Yamaguchi
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
95
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Defenders
Reon Yamahara
ARCHITECT
2
Key Passes
2
Key Passes
0
Assists
37%
Pass Acc
Yuto Matsunagane
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
95
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Yuichi Maruyama
STORMTROOPER
1
Shots
1
Shots
0
Goals
0
On Target
Sota Miura
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
95
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Midfielders
Kento Tachibanada 
NPC
88
Minutes
88
Minutes
48%
Pass Acc
6.5
Rating
Yuki Yamamoto
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
9
Total Mins
9
Entry
Tatsuya Ito
SNIPER
100%
Conversion
100%
Conversion
1
Goals
1
Shots
Yasuto Wakizaka 
MAGNET
61
Activity
61
Activity
55
Passes
6
Duels
Marcinho
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
69
Total Mins
69
Entry
Forwards
Kyosuke Mochiyama
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
69
Total Mins
69
Entry
BENCH
Svend Brodersen
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Filip Uremović
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Shunsuke Hayashi
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
So Kawahara
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
86
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Ryuki Osa
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
26
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Kazuya Konno
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
26
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Lazar Romanić
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
26
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Ten Miyagi
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Soma Kanda
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
7
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Head to Head
| Date | Home | Score | Away | Competition | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 05/30/2026 | Sanfrecce Hiroshima | 2 - 1 | Kawasaki Frontale | J1 League | Edion Peace Wing Hiroshima |
| 11/30/2025 | Kawasaki Frontale | 1 - 2 | Sanfrecce Hiroshima | J1 League | Kawasaki Todoroki Stadium |
| 05/31/2025 | Sanfrecce Hiroshima | 1 - 2 | Kawasaki Frontale | J1 League | Hiroshima Big Arch |
| 06/29/2024 | Kawasaki Frontale | 1 - 1 | Sanfrecce Hiroshima | J1 League | Uvance Todoroki Stadium by Fujitsu |
| 04/28/2024 | Sanfrecce Hiroshima | 2 - 2 | Kawasaki Frontale | J1 League | Edion Peace Wing Hiroshima |
| 08/19/2023 | Sanfrecce Hiroshima | 3 - 2 | Kawasaki Frontale | J1 League | EDION Stadium |
| 06/11/2023 | Kawasaki Frontale | 1 - 0 | Sanfrecce Hiroshima | J1 League | Kawasaki Todoroki Stadium |
| 09/10/2022 | Kawasaki Frontale | 4 - 0 | Sanfrecce Hiroshima | J1 League | Kawasaki Todoroki Stadium |
| 03/19/2022 | Sanfrecce Hiroshima | 0 - 2 | Kawasaki Frontale | J1 League | EDION Stadium |
| 08/21/2021 | Sanfrecce Hiroshima | 1 - 1 | Kawasaki Frontale | J1 League | EDION Stadium |
05/30/2026
11/30/2025
05/31/2025
06/29/2024
04/28/2024
08/19/2023
06/11/2023
09/10/2022
03/19/2022
08/21/2021
Sanfrecce Hiroshima Win
Kawasaki Frontale Win
Draw
Match previews and recaps to help you decide which games are worth watching
Early Blitz Gives Sanfrecce the Edge at Peace Wing
Average Entertainment Futmetrix Score: 51/100. An unrelenting first-half attacking display ensured the hosts took a narrow but deserved advantage into the crucial second leg.
The Opening Salvo
The hosts unleashed an absolute barrage right from the opening whistle. Sanfrecce Hiroshima turned the pitch into a relentless shooting gallery, completely overwhelming the visitors in the early stages. An off-the-charts Intensity rating tells the story of a first half where the home side simply refused to let up. It took just 11 minutes for the pressure to tell, as Sota Nakamura fired home a brilliant opener to ignite the passionate crowd at Edion Peace Wing Hiroshima. The onslaught did not stop there. The hosts kept their foot firmly on the accelerator, and nine minutes later, Kato Mutsuki doubled the advantage to put his side firmly in the driving seat. With 18 total shots across the match for the home team, this opening chapter was a masterclass in aggressive, front-foot football that left the opposition scrambling for cover.
The Vital Lifeline
Despite staring down a two-goal deficit, Kawasaki Frontale refused to panic and slowly began to dictate the tempo. They edged possession with 54 percent of the ball, meticulously working to find a way back into this crucial first leg. The Balance of the match shifted dramatically in the 37th minute when K. Mochiyama found the back of the net, only for a tense VAR review to rule the strike out for offside. That marginal call could have easily broken their spirit, but the visitors demonstrated immense resolve. They continued to probe the resilient home defence, and their persistence was finally rewarded just before the interval. In the 43rd minute, T. Ito delivered a pivotal strike, grabbing a vital away goal that completely altered the complexion of this two-legged tie and gave the travelling supporters renewed hope.
The Unfinished Business
The second half evolved into a tense, tactical chess match where neither side was willing to commit a fatal error. With the monumental Stakes of knockout survival looming large, the expansive football of the first forty-five minutes was replaced by gritty defensive organisation. Sanfrecce retreated slightly to protect their precious lead, effectively nullifying the visitors' attempts to find an equaliser. The final whistle confirmed a 2-1 victory for the home side, a result that leaves this tie wonderfully poised. While the hosts will celebrate drawing first blood on home soil, that crucial goal before half-time ensures the visitors remain very much alive. Everything is now set up for a dramatic conclusion in the second leg on June 6th, where this razor-thin margin will guarantee an explosive ninety minutes to decide who ultimately progresses.
Key Questions
Who won the first leg?
Sanfrecce Hiroshima defeated Kawasaki Frontale 2-1 at home.
When is the second leg of the tie?
The decisive return fixture will be played on June 6, 2026.
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.
First Blood Vital in Top Four Showdown
Worth Watching Futmetrix Score: 59/100. Securing a first-leg advantage is non-negotiable for two sides desperate to cement their top-four credentials.
The Setup
On May 30, 2026, Edion Peace Wing Hiroshima sets the stage for a crucial clash between Sanfrecce Hiroshima and Kawasaki Frontale. The Stakes are massive; this is the first leg of a tense tie, with the decisive return leg scheduled for June 6. Hiroshima’s plunging Form—two straight defeats following three wins—adds immense pressure on the hosts to deliver.
Key Battle
The creative engine of Higashi Shunki goes head-to-head with the finishing touch of Kyosuke Mochiyama. Shunki’s elite assist numbers validate his high Stars quality, but keeping Mochiyama quiet will completely dictate who controls the tempo of this tie.
Our Prediction
A high Balance rating guarantees a tight affair. We expect Sanfrecce Hiroshima to leverage their home crowd and grind out a 2-1 victory, taking a slender lead into the second leg.